Sports performance was forever changed in the 1970’s, when chiropractor Dr. LeRoy Perry met legendary track coach Tracy Sundlun. Their relationship would put the sports world on notice, showing the media and athletes that chiropractic works. But, while Dr. Perry had the media, athletes, and basketball great Wilt Chamberlain behind him, the medical establishment was still against him. Despite Dr. Perry being taken by police and barred from track events for being a chiropractor, his work carried on and his athletes became his messengers. Due to the success of Dr. Perry’s athletes on the track and their activism off of it, chiropractic finally gained the respect it deserved. From this point on, sports chiropractic only grew in influence and in practice.

In 1985, chiropractic reached new heights with the Prefontaine Classic, an annual track and field event held in Eugene, Oregon. It was here that Dr. Richard Gorman was named the meet chiropractor, a decision that helped chiropractic become the standard of care at meets across the globe.

In The Aligned Athlete, 8 respected chiropractors and 10 accomplished track and field athletes speak on how chiropractic can not only maximize athletic performance, but can improve the overall quality of one’s life. Among these 10 athletes, 8 Olympic gold medals and 29 World Championship gold medals have been won.