5 Things I Learned Treating 50+ NFL Players (That Apply to Everyone in Ann Arbor)

By Dr. Tim Dehr, CCSP

Over the course of my career, I've had the opportunity to work with more than 50 NFL players — treating everything from chronic back pain to post-game recovery to pre-season injury prevention. These are world-class athletes with access to the best strength coaches, physical therapists, and medical teams money can buy.

But here's what surprised me early in my career: the principles that keep NFL players healthy are the exact same principles that keep office workers, parents, and recreational athletes in Ann Arbor healthy.

The biomechanics don't change. A misaligned pelvis causes problems whether you're taking hits from a 280-pound linebacker or sitting at a desk in downtown Ann Arbor for eight hours a day. The difference is that NFL players have learned — often the hard way — to take these principles seriously.

Here are five lessons from treating professional football players that I apply to every patient who walks through my door.

Lesson #1: Pain Is Information, Not the Enemy

What NFL Players Know

When an elite athlete feels a twinge in their hamstring or tightness in their lower back, they don't ignore it. They don't "tough it out" or wait to see if it gets worse. They report it immediately.

Why? Because they understand that pain is your body's way of telling you something mechanical is off. It's an early warning system. Ignoring it doesn't make you mentally tough — it turns a minor mechanical issue into a major injury that costs you weeks or months.

Professional athletes treat pain like the check engine light in your car. It's annoying, but it's giving you critical information. You wouldn't ignore that light until your engine seizes, so why would you ignore your body's warning signals?

What This Means for You

If your lower back hurts after sitting at your desk for a few hours, that's not just "normal aging" or "part of getting older." It's information. Your body is telling you that something in the way you're sitting, standing, or moving is creating stress.

If your knee hurts during your weekly run around Gallup Park, that's not bad luck. It's a sign that your knee isn't tracking properly, usually because something upstream (your hip, your pelvis, your foot mechanics) isn't functioning correctly.

NFL players address these issues immediately. You should too.

Early intervention is exponentially more effective than waiting until a minor issue becomes a chronic problem. A tight hip flexor is easy to fix. A herniated disc from years of compensation? Much harder.

Lesson #2: Recovery Is Where Improvement Happens

What NFL Players Know

Most people think professional athletes are successful because they train harder than everyone else. That's only half the equation.

NFL players are obsessive about recovery.

They get regular soft tissue work (massage, myofascial release). They prioritize sleep. They get adjusted regularly, even when nothing hurts. They use ice baths, compression boots, and other recovery modalities. They take rest days seriously.

Why? Because they understand that you don't get stronger during the workout — you get stronger during recovery. Training breaks your body down. Recovery is when your body adapts and rebuilds.

If you're constantly breaking down faster than you're recovering, you're not getting fitter — you're accumulating damage. Eventually, something breaks.

What This Means for You

You don't need an ice bath or a hyperbaric chamber to apply this lesson. You just need to understand that recovery is not optional — it's where the magic happens.

If you're working out six days a week and wondering why you're not getting stronger, the problem might not be your training — it might be your lack of recovery.

If you're constantly sore, tight, or dealing with nagging injuries, you're probably not giving your body enough time or resources to adapt.

Simple recovery strategies that work:

- Sleep 7-9 hours per night (this is non-negotiable)

- Get regular chiropractic adjustments to maintain proper joint mechanics

- Incorporate easy days or rest days into your training

- Address muscle tightness and restrictions before they become injuries

- Don't train through pain (see Lesson #1)

NFL players treat recovery as seriously as training. That's why they're able to perform at such a high level for so long.

Lesson #3: Maintenance Prevents Breakdowns

What NFL Players Know

NFL players don't wait until they're injured to see a chiropractor or physical therapist. They get adjusted regularly — sometimes multiple times per week — even when they feel fine.

Why? Because they understand that small mechanical dysfunctions, left unchecked, become big problems.

A slightly restricted joint in your mid-back doesn't hurt today. But over time, that restriction changes how your body moves. Other joints have to compensate. Muscles get tight. Movement patterns shift. Eventually, something downstream — your shoulder, your lower back, your hip — starts to hurt.

By the time you feel pain, the problem has been building for weeks or months. Professional athletes know this, so they invest in maintenance to catch small issues before they become injuries.

What This Means for You

Most people only think about their spine when something hurts. But your body doesn't go from "perfectly fine" to "injured" overnight. There's a continuum.

The continuum looks like this:

1. Small joint restriction or muscle tightness (no pain yet)

2. Compensation patterns develop (still no pain, but movement quality decreases)

3. Overuse of compensating structures (tightness, fatigue, mild discomfort)

4. Tissue breakdown (pain, inflammation, injury)

NFL players get treated at Stage 1 or 2. Most people wait until Stage 4.

Maintenance care — regular adjustments and soft tissue work even when you feel good — keeps you in Stage 1. It's not about "staying loose" or "feeling good." It's about maintaining optimal joint mechanics and catching dysfunctions before they cascade into injuries.

Think of it like this: You change the oil in your car every 5,000 miles, even though it's running fine. You don't wait until the engine seizes. The same principle applies to your body.

Lesson #4: Strength Doesn't Fix Dysfunction

What NFL Players Know

NFL players are incredibly strong. But strength alone doesn't prevent injury.

In fact, I've treated plenty of 300-pound offensive linemen who could squat 500+ pounds but couldn't extend their hips properly or had chronic lower back pain because their pelvis was misaligned.

Here's what they know: If you build strength on top of dysfunction, you just create a stronger dysfunction.

Let's say your right hip has limited range of motion because of a restricted joint or tight hip flexors. If you go to the gym and start doing heavy squats, deadlifts, or lunges, your body will compensate. Maybe your lower back hyperextends to make up for the lack of hip mobility. Maybe your left side works harder to compensate for the weak right side.

You'll get stronger. But you'll also reinforce the compensation pattern. Over time, that pattern leads to injury.

What This Means for You

Strength training is incredibly important. But it's not a substitute for proper joint mechanics and movement quality.

If you're dealing with chronic pain — whether it's your lower back, your knee, your shoulder — and you've been told to "just strengthen it," that advice is incomplete.

The correct sequence is:

1. Restore proper joint mechanics (chiropractic adjustments, mobility work)

2. Address muscle tightness and imbalances (soft tissue work, stretching)

3. Build strength on top of a foundation of good movement

Skipping Step 1 and 2 is like building a house on a crooked foundation. It might stand for a while, but eventually, it's going to have problems.

This is why NFL athletic trainers work closely with chiropractors and physical therapists. They understand that you can't train out of dysfunction — you have to fix the dysfunction first, then train.

Lesson #5: The Best Athletes Think Long-Term

What NFL Players Know

The average NFL career is short — just 3.3 years. But the players who last 10, 12, 15 years in the league all have one thing in common: they think long-term.

They're willing to sit out a game to let a minor injury heal properly, rather than playing through it and turning it into a season-ending problem. They invest in maintenance and recovery even though it takes time and money. They address small mechanical issues before they become big injuries.

Short-term thinking says: "I'll push through this. I don't want to miss the game / the race / the workout."

Long-term thinking says: "If I address this now, I'll be healthier and stronger in six months than if I push through and make it worse."

The players who last in the NFL are the ones who prioritize long-term health over short-term performance.

What This Means for You

You don't need to play in the NFL for this lesson to matter. Whether you're training for the Ann Arbor Marathon, trying to stay active for your kids, or just want to be able to move without pain in your 60s and 70s, long-term thinking wins.

Short-term thinking:

- Ignoring pain until it forces you to stop

- Skipping recovery because you "don't have time"

- Only addressing problems after they become injuries

- Training through pain to hit a short-term goal

Long-term thinking:

- Addressing mechanical issues early

- Investing in maintenance care

- Prioritizing recovery as much as training

- Being willing to modify or skip a workout to let something heal properly

The best time to fix a mechanical problem is before it becomes an injury. The second-best time is now.

NFL players who think long-term have longer, healthier careers. The same principle applies to everyone else — whether you're an athlete, a weekend warrior, or someone who just wants to stay active and pain-free.

How I Apply These Lessons in My Ann Arbor Practice

As the only Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) in Ann Arbor, I've spent nearly two decades applying the lessons I learned treating professional athletes to everyone who walks through my door.

Here's what that looks like:

I Listen to What Pain Is Telling You

When you come in with lower back pain, knee pain, or sciatica, I'm not just treating the symptom. I'm asking: *What mechanical dysfunction is causing this pain? Why is your body breaking down in this specific spot?*

I Focus on the Root Cause, Not Just Symptoms

Chasing symptoms is like bailing water out of a sinking boat without fixing the hole. I'm looking for the hole — the joint restriction, the muscle imbalance, the movement dysfunction that's creating the problem.

I Emphasize Maintenance, Not Just Crisis Care

The goal is not just to get you out of pain. It's to keep you out of pain long-term by maintaining optimal joint mechanics, catching small issues early, and building resilience.

I Correct Dysfunction Before Building Strength

If you have a mechanical problem, strengthening around it will just reinforce the compensation. We fix the mechanics first, then build strength on a solid foundation.

I Help You Think Long-Term

Whether you're training for a race, dealing with chronic pain, or just trying to stay active, I'm helping you make decisions that prioritize long-term health over short-term convenience.

Who Benefits from This Approach?

Athletes:

High school, college, and recreational athletes who want to stay healthy, recover faster, and perform better.

Active Adults:

Runners, cyclists, weightlifters, CrossFitters, yoga practitioners — anyone who asks a lot of their body and wants to keep doing it for decades.

Office Workers:

People dealing with chronic neck pain, lower back pain, or headaches from sitting at desks in downtown Ann Arbor all day.

Parents:

People whose bodies are breaking down from the physical demands of lifting kids, carrying car seats, and staying active with their families.

People with Chronic Pain:

Anyone who's tired of chasing symptoms and wants to address the root cause so they can finally get lasting relief.

What Makes My Approach Different

There are a lot of chiropractors in Ann Arbor. Here's what makes my practice different:

1. CCSP Credential

I'm the only Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician in Ann Arbor. That means advanced training in biomechanics, sports injury diagnosis, and kinetic chain analysis.

2. Experience with Elite Athletes

I've treated 50+ NFL players, worked with Olympic athletes (including 3-time Olympian Sam Mikulak), and provided care at championship-level events. I apply those same principles to every patient.

3. Whole-Body Approach

I'm not just adjusting your spine. I'm looking at how your feet, ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, and spine work together as a system. Pain in one area is often caused by dysfunction somewhere else.

4. Long-Term Focus

I'm not interested in quick fixes that don't last. I want to help you build resilience, prevent injuries, and stay active for the long haul.

Schedule Your Evaluation

If you're dealing with chronic pain, recovering from an injury, or just want to move and feel better, these five lessons apply to you.

Call (734) 929-4523 or [schedule online]

Performance Health Chiropractic

2330 E Stadium Blvd #3

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Hours:

Monday – Thursday: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Friday – Sunday: Closed

Related Articles:

- [Sports Rehabilitation in Ann Arbor]

- [Lower Back Pain Treatment]

- [What I Learned Treating Olympic Gymnast Sam Mikulak]

About the Author:

Dr. Tim Dehr is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) and the only CCSP practicing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has nearly two decades of experience treating musculoskeletal conditions in athletes and active individuals. Dr. Dehr has worked with more than 50 NFL players, Olympic athletes including 3-time Olympian Sam Mikulak, and NCAA Division I athletes. He combines precise chiropractic adjustments with biomechanical analysis to help patients prevent injuries, recover faster, and perform at their best.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Individual results vary, and the information provided is based on the author's clinical experience. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment program.

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