I am president of the National University of Health Sciences Florida Sports Council.
Our wheelchair rugby club meets weekly and covers a variety of topics to gain hands-on experience while in
chiropractic school and prepare for the athletic events at which we volunteer throughout the year.
Our NUHS Florida Sports Council club attended the Mark Hogan International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament, which is a Wounded Warriors Abilities Ranch (WWAR) tournament. This was the fifth WWAR tournament at which we have volunteered.
Other student volunteers included John Asmus and Edward Madden, with the helpful coordination of Carlo Guadagno, DC, DACBSP, ICSC, FICC, and mentorship from Vasilios Nenos, DC, DIBCN.
During the event, our club members treated 20 athletes using manual and instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization. With one patient, I was able to reduce the number of trigger points in their shoulders, which contains the primary muscle they use to actively push their wheelchair. This helped reduce their pain and discomfort before the match.
These WWAR events provide a fantastic opportunity to give back to those who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country. It is also a unique chance to work with the wheelchair rugby athletes of Team USA, Canada, Britain and France. Last summer we even cheered them on at the Paris Paralympics.
Coming up
Our next volunteer event will be the US Wheelchair Rugby Association (USWRA) Wheelchair Rugby National Championship.
Jacob Rivard is a DC student at the National University of Health Sciences, Oldsmar, Florida. For more information about NUHS, visit nuhs.edu.