This talk will be about many of the bad patterns patients, as well as athletes, have that they are unaware of that can lead to injury with increased activity level. These habits lead to body imbalances that can be prevented with guided self-care awareness to make you a better performing D.C. & your patients as well.  Take your patients’ physical & mental health to another level by learning how these basic lifestyle habits can prevent injuries.

Quote from Dr. Athens patient Christian McCaffrey, NFL comeback player of the year 2026, Offensive NFL MVP finalist 2026, NFL overall MVP finalist 2026 & San Francisco 49ers running back:

“Awareness of improper lifestyle habits is extremely important. Some of the littlest lifestyle changes can make the biggest differences in maintaining health & wellness.”

Dr. Athens graduated in 1982 from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. Besides spinal care, Dr. Athens also specializes in extremity conditions (e.g. shoulder and hip bursitis, knee tendonitis, Plantar Fasciitis, Morton’s Neuromas, heel and foot pain, elbow and wrist conditions, and carpal tunnel syndrome, among others). He has two sets of boy/girl twins, ages 27 yrs. and 22 yrs., and is very comfortable working with various child ailments.

He was awarded ICA’s 1st Sports Chiropractor of the Year in 1990!  Dr. Athens was a team chiropractor for the San Francisco 49ers football team. He was a team chiropractor for the San Francisco Giants baseball team, from 1997-2002. He is the only chiropractor to be on a Super Bowl pre-game show when in 1990, he adjusted former quarterback Joe Montana on national TV, before the game with the Denver Broncos. Some of his celebrity patients include Tom Brady, Joe Montana, and Michelle Wei (LPGA).

Dr. Athens has been in practice for 38 years and he has been featured in many local and national publications. His motto is to always give the patient the best care and service, along with teaching them ways to take their health to another level.

• Brain anatomy/physiology
• How to perform neuro exams for the brain and their findings
  • Cerebellar tests
  • Cortical tests
  • Eye movement test
  • Balance
  • Reflexes
• Common sports injuries
  • Hypermobility
  • Concussion
  • Rehabilitation for joints

Specializing in clinical neuroscience and holistic healthcare without the use of drugs or surgery. Primarily taking care of patients who are suffering from complex neurological conditions such as post-concussion syndrome, headaches, dizziness, and many forms of chronic pain. Uniquely qualified to care for athletes due to additional training in extremity management and sideline concussion assessment skills. Focus in neurology, acting as a secondary healthcare practitioner, accepting referrals from wellness-based chiropractors and Medical doctors alike.

Breathing is a critical topic in rehabilitation and performance. Having a detailed and sophisticated understanding of the diaphragm is essential for knowing the primary driver for posture and spinal alignment. How we manage the diaphragm is critical for treatment of axial skeletal conditions: The diaphragm is a major spinal and pelvis position and movement muscle. In addition, an understanding of airflow management delivered by the diaphragm and how it relates to gait and sport performance is critical for the 21st-century chiropractic practice.

Robert “Skip” George DC, CCSP, CSCS, PRC has been practicing chiropractic since 1980. Over the years his practice approach expanded to integrate chiropractic, rehabilitation and sports performance training into a community based wellness care model.  He has certifications in rehabilitation, functional movement, strength and conditioning as well as a strong focus on the diaphragm and breathing.

Over the course of his career he has treated a wide variety of patients including grade school to college level athletes. He has also treated and provided performance training to professional athletes, elite military personal as well as aging weekend warriors that want to stay vital and continue to function at the highest level.

Dr. George was the first chiropractor to become a Postural Restoration Certified (PRC) practitioner by the Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) in 2014. He then had the honor to be invited to become a faculty member for PRI in 2015. He currently presents PRI course work nationally as well as internationally. Dr. George practiced in La Jolla, CA until 2021 when he then moved to North Logan, Utah to continue private practice, mentor other health professionals and teach for PRI. In addition, his motivation to move to Utah was to pursue his passion for the outdoors and photography of nature and wildlife.

Physical Rehabilitation of the Injured Athlete

Athletes frequently present with musculoskeletal conditions that impair movement efficiency, limit performance, and increase the risk of further injury. Successful rehabilitation requires more than symptom management; it requires a comprehensive approach that restores functional movement, neuromuscular control.and return to sport or activity strategies.

This two-hour session will present a practical framework for evaluating and rehabilitating injured athletes once the acute phase of injury has resolved. Emphasis will be placed on identifying dysfunctional movement patterns, understanding biomechanical relationships within the kinetic chain, and applying corrective exercise strategies that restore efficient and coordinated movement.

Participants will review common issues encountered in athletic populations and explore rehabilitation strategies designed to improve mobility, stability, strength, and movement control. Through lecture, demonstration, and breakout sessions, attendees will gain practical tools that can be applied in clinical and performance settings to help athletes safely return to sport while reducing the risk of reinjury and improving performance.

Integrating Rehabilitation into Chiropractic Practice

This two-hour clinical presentation is designed for chiropractic physicians seeking to enhance patient outcomes by effectively integrating physical rehabilitation into everyday practice. As musculoskeletal care continues to evolve, chiropractors are increasingly expected to move beyond passive treatment approaches and incorporate active care strategies that restore function, improve movement quality, and reduce the risk of reinjury.

This course provides a practical, clinically focused framework for implementing rehabilitation strategies that complement traditional chiropractic care. Emphasis will be placed on the evaluation and management of functional movement deficits and the development of targeted therapeutic exercise programs for common musculoskeletal conditions affecting both the upper and lower extremities.

Participants will review key principles of movement biomechanics and functional assessment, with a focus on identifying mobility restrictions, stability deficits, and dysfunctional movement patterns that contribute to pain and injury. The course will outline practical examination methods that can be easily incorporated into a busy clinical setting and will demonstrate how assessment findings guide rehabilitation programming.

In addition, the course will address the principles of therapeutic exercise prescription, including strategies for improving strength, flexibility, neuromuscular control, and joint stability. Attendees will gain insight into designing individualized rehabilitation plans that progress appropriately through stages of healing while supporting long-term functional recovery.

Pain management strategies will also be discussed, emphasizing how rehabilitation and movement-based therapies can reduce pain, improve tolerance to activity, and enhance patient engagement in the recovery process.

Special attention will be given to patient education and communication strategies that improve adherence to rehabilitation programs. Chiropractors will learn how to effectively explain the role of therapeutic exercise in recovery, empowering patients to take an active role in their care.

Finally, the course will explore practical methods for integrating rehabilitation services into existing chiropractic practices, clinical implementation strategies, and approaches to building a sustainable active care model.

Dr. Mitch Green’s seminars emphasize patient evaluation and the need for active care procedures. With this knowledge, doctors can link the assessment to prescribed exercise. Chiropractors who embrace this paradigm will enjoy better patient outcomes and be better prepared to endure third-party inquiries. His seminars have been described as innovative and challenging and definitely game changers.

Dr. Green is devoted to furthering the clinical acumen of the chiropractic profession, and it’s his mission to help integrate evidence-based rehabilitation principles, the functional paradigm and active care into the chiropractic practice.

Upon graduation from the New York Chiropractic College in 1981, he was hired as an associate professor in the chiropractic division. In 1991 he was invited to join the inaugural faculty at the University of BridgeportCollege of Chiropractic where he taught normal x-ray anatomy. He currently is a faculty member of NYCC’s post-graduate division and frequently conducts rehabilitation seminars that are approved for continuing education credits.

Dr. Green was certified by the American Chiropractic Rehabilitation Board (ACRB) in 2011 and became an approved instructor for the educational wing of the ACRB following an additional year of training. In 2012, he launched an approved diplomate program that leads candidates to certification status with the ACRB.

In addition to running two successful practices in New York City, Dr. Green is the director of the dance injury and rehabilitation clinic for the Manhattan Youth Ballet, a pre-professional ballet school located in New York City. He is also actively involved with training runners for the NYC marathon. He is the president and delegate for the New York State Chiropractic Association’s District 1 in Manhattan.

He has written articles for publications such as the Journal of the North American Rehab Specialist and DC Practice Insights.

Athletes frequently return to sport before their bodies are fully prepared to handle the demands of competition, leading to high rates of re-injury. Chiropractors play an important role not only in reducing pain, but also in helping athletes safely progress from injury recovery to full performance.

This session will introduce a practical, criteria-based framework to guide return-to-sport decisions following common athletic injuries. Using real-world case examples involving knee injuries, shoulder instability in overhead athletes, and elbow pain in active populations, attendees will learn how to assess movement quality, identify key functional deficits, and implement progressive strategies that prepare patients for the physical demands of sport.

Participants will leave with practical tools they can implement immediately in clinical practice to better support athletes through each phase of recovery—from pain relief to performance.

Dr. Lisa Thomson is a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and sits on the Board of Directors for the California Chiropractic Association. She specializes in treating athletes, sports injuries and sports performance. Certified through OnBaseU, the Titleist Performance Institute (level 1 and medical level 2), RacquetFit, Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA levels 1 & 2), Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Y-Balance Test.

Dr. Lisa Thomson was born and raised in Upstate New York. She completed her undergraduate studies at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and her Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Florida.

Dr. Lisa Thomson is an expert in her field and speaks at events all over the country in the areas of human biomechanics and functional movement.

Fascia dysfunction has now been proven to be related to systemic musculoskeletal conditions. I’m teaching how to address the entire kinetic chain from the feet upward to the cranium. Fascial therapy in conjunction with chiropractic manipulation helps patients achieve lasting results and improve performance optimization. Participants will learn-by-doing my fascial evaluation and the powerful strategy for helping people achieve their health goals. I’m using concrete evidence-informed tools for this workshop where we feel our own body and experience fascia stretching. I’ll share how I deliver chiropractic adjustments, modalities, diet, and longevity strategies for systemic coherence and unlocking integrated healing throughout the body.

Dr. Jeffrey Tucker is a rehabilitation specialist, lecturer and healer best known for his holistic approach in supporting the body’s inherent healing mechanisms and integrating the art and science of chiropractic, exercise, nutrition, and attitudinal health.