Life U hosts 2nd annual Baseball and Sports Performance Conference

This outstanding conference had some of the top minds in baseball. Along with the MLB team affiliated experts, the event also had great research presented by one of the top baseball researchers from the University of Florida and an applied presentation from the Director of Player Development (Strength and  Conditioning) from the renowned Georgia Tech Baseball program.

“This education event was outstanding. It was a unique conference that brought together multi-disciplinary experts across the sport of baseball and highlighted the latest applied methods of treating and rehabbing baseball athletes. Having all these experts on campus to discuss the latest on baseball-specific training and injury prevention was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the campus; provide continuing education for practicing doctors and trainers throughout the Southeast; and provide great learning opportunities for our students in the Doctor of Chiropractic program and our undergraduate and graduate degree programs. A number of students last year made connections that have led to internships and job opportunities, and this year many further connections were made,” comments Mark Kovacs, DC,Director of the LIFE Sport Science Institute and Associate Professor in the Sport Health Science Department, who also served as the chair of the conference.

Some of the highlights from the event were two Life University Alumni who came back to campus and shared their experience and expertise to the audience. Mickey Cohen, DC,(Team Chiropractor for the Miami Marlins) and Shawn Caldwell, DC, (Team Chiropractor for the Colorado Rockies and Denver Broncos) presented great information. Cohen talked about his role as the chiropractor for the World Baseball Classic and Caldwell presented a phenomenal practical session highlighting how he delivers chiropractic care to the hundreds of professional athletes he treats on a yearly basis.

Alongside the LIFE alumni, the conference had the current Head Athletic Trainer from the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs highlighting how he works with issues in the scapulothoracic region and the hip. Mark Letendre who was the former Head Athletic Trainer for the San Francisco Giants and now oversees all the medical services for MLB Umpires shared the history of the integration of Chiropractors into the MLB team infrastructure and the strong working relationships and athlete care models that have developed.

Current Life University experts also were presenting, including John Downes, DC, (current VP of Global Programs and Executive Director – Emeritus) of LSSI presented his Global Mechanical Assessment protocol for evaluating nervous system interference when evaluating athletes. Mark Kovacs, DC (Director of LSSI) opened the conference with a thought provoking presentation on high performance teams and the models that exist in professional sports today. Michael Longyear, DC, from the NeuroLIFE Institute also presented varied areas where chiropractic neurology can aid in the treatment of baseball athletes.

Overall, the 2017 Baseball and Sports Performance Conference was a major success. Below is some of the immediate feedback from a select few of the MLB Team Chiropractors who attended and presented.

“Life University hit it out of the park! The Baseball & Sports Performance Conference was one of the best and well rounded informative conferences that I have been to. It had a wide array of speakers and topics that are being incorporated into my day-to-day practice. This seminar exceeded all expectations. Dr. Kovacs did outstanding work chairing the conference and leading such a wonderful and rewarding event.” -Eric Blum, D.C., Los Angeles Dodgers Team Chiropractor

“The presenters each shared their unique expertise, which combined harmoniously into a wealth of information. Where else can you learn from experts who are at the top of their respective fields, representing the multidiscipline
approach in the care of athletes? In addition, the venue was perfect, and the food was great. I can’t wait to see next year’s line up!” -Alan Palmer D.C., CCST, Arizona Diamondbacks Team Chiropractor

“Wow! By far the most impacting and detailed sports chiropractic conference I have had the opportunity to attend in my chiropractic career. To hear from some of the top athletic trainers and chiropractors from within Major League Baseball, all under one roof, was spectacular!” -Rick Bishop D.C., CCSP, Director, Professional Baseball Chiropractic Society

“There were fantastic presenters, and I learned so much and was very impressed with the facilities at Life University. Thanks go to Life University and the LIFE Sport Science Institute for hosting such a fantastic event.” -Brian Prieto, D.C., Team Chiropractor Los Angeles Angels