Secrets Behind Prefontaine Athletes’ Performance

Eugene, OR May 28, 2006 The Prefontaine Classic was loaded with the world’s top athletes this year; however, the behind the scenes pre/post race healthcare professionals keep these athletes in top form. The Classic, named after the famous long distance runner Steve Prefontaine, is held in his home state at the Hayward Field on the University of Oregon campus.

Before the athletes such as co-world record holder Justin Gatlin ever step on the track, they are seen by sports professionals ranging from chiropractors to massage therapists that work over the athlete's joints and muscles so they can compete at their highest capacity. This is considered performance care. “Unfortunately, most runners only seek injury care once they are unable to run,” says Dr. Ted Forcum, an elite sports chiropractor at the Prefontaine.

Soft tissue treatment is a large component of the athlete’s needs at such an event. An athlete may utilize a chiropractor to restore their normal joint function and allow for a rapid firing and muscular balance. Likewise, massage therapists will utilize a variety of techniques to facilitate the proper firing of musculature, elongate shortened tissue, and work out the tightness and knots that can occur.

“The goal of pre-race performance care is for taking out the minor kinks in their form due to high-level training and travel as well as evaluation and assessment of their injuries that crop up associated with the same,” says Dr. Forcum. “Some techniques focus on activating the athletes’ senses and warm the body’s tissues, in contrast to the relaxation massage that sedates the individual.”

“Post-event treatment will utilize these same components with the addition of flushing style massage therapy to reduce the extra cellular exudates or muscular byproducts that develop between the fascial layers,” says Chris Whetsine, LMT, massage therapist for Justin Gatlin and on-site healthcare team coordinator. “This year, more so than most, laser therapy was incorporated into the treatment to accelerate the body's ability to recover. In addition, cooling analgesics such as Biofreeze^® and a specialized technique utilizing Kinesio Taping^® was used for those individuals that had more significant injuries,” says Whetstine.

These treatments are not exclusive to the pros. The same type of care can be provided to the everyday runner to improve their performance and quality of life. The pros at this event may receive treatment on Friday, Saturday, and before and after their event on Sunday, as seen in the photo of Robert Duran, LMT working on Olympic Gold Medalist and Prefontaine Sprinter, Shawn Crawford.

“These athletes understand the element of training that most of us neglect—recovery,” says Dr. Forcum. “You are only as good as your ability to recover from hard workouts and races. These treatment techniques not only treat injuries, but also improve an athlete's ability to recover from the daily rigors of training and travel.”