Steel City Chiropractic

Dynamic Chiropractic,  Mar 26, 2005  

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One reason the Pittsburgh Steelers may have been so successful this past season (they went an NFL-best 15-1 and made it to the AFC Championship Game) was the play of their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, who was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year for 2004. Another reason, however, may have been the work of Drs. Joel Smooke and Jeff Cohen, a pair of chiropractors from the Steel City.

Dr. Cohen has been treating NFL players since the late 1970s. Since then, Steelers players have been visiting his office regularly - Dr. Cohen has even traveled with the team, treating them in hotel rooms.

Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist L.C. Greenwood, who played for the Steelers from 1969-81, first saw Dr. Cohen in 1977. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,1 Greenwood credited Dr. Cohen with helping him get through some of his games:

"Chiropractic was taboo at that time, so we were sneaking off to go see him," said Greenwood. "He's partly responsible for a lot of us being able to play during the time we were in the Super Bowl."

Dr. Smooke, a lifelong Steelers fan, has been practicing in the Pittsburgh area for 15 years. The first Steelers player he treated was running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'Afala, five years ago. (Chris now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars.) Dr. Smooke currently treats about a dozen members of the Steelers team.

"In this game you have to take care of your body," said Steelers wide receiver Mines Ward in an interview with Pittsburgh's Post-Gazette.2 "Over the course of a game your body just feels wrecked. Every Monday it hurts to get out of bed. I told Smooke, I want to feel good in the morning.' A lot of my credit goes to him for keeping me healthy."

References

1. Tolliver S. Chiropractor still working out the kinks. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jan. 14, 2005.

2. Levin S. Greenfleld chiropractor scores big with Steelers, other patients. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jan. 20, 2005.

Copyright Dynamic Chiropractic Mar 26, 2005
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