After getting knocked around, hit, tackled, trampled and bruised, an arena football athlete probably could use a good checkup.
Enter Dr. Robert Irwin, team chiropractor for the once-again Albany Firebirds, the former Albany Conquest.
Irwin has been the team’s spinal expert for five years and, he said, in such a physically demanding sport, it is vital to keep an eye on the bone structure.
Irwin graduated from Averill Park High School and went to school to study to be a chiropractor at Life University in Georgia. He also has taken courses in sports management some extra specialization in sports related injuries.
I tend to look at people in a biomechanical perspective, Irwin said.
Irwin said a `ground up` approach is the easiest way to explain how he examines the athletes. He said the foundation is the most important, and having even feet will lead to less knee, hip and shoulder stress.
`If you have an un-level foundation, you’ve got problems,` Irwin said.
He said one possible solution for an uneven base is `orthotics,` or shoe inserts that raise the arch of a foot and balance the weight for either side of the body.
The Arena Football League, which is similar to the National Football League in some ways, such as the 16-game-schedule, has several key differences, which add to the physical demands of the players.
The players in the NFL usually play offense or defense exclusively, allowing them to rest for half of the action. In arena football, players often play `both sides of the ball,` meaning they play offense and defense.
Irwin said he often sees linemen and wide receivers, two positions that see many aches and pains from the high physical stress of the game.
Irwin said linemen will block on offense and try to rush the quarterback on defense, while wide receivers double as defensive backs, trying to deflect passes from the opposing quarterback to his receivers.
Jonathan Scherzer, vice president of marketing for the Firebirds, said the team enjoys having Irwin in its corner. He said in Irwin’s five years he has received positive feedback from the players.
`He’s a professional and the guys love him,` Scherzer said.
Irwin also treats area runners and track athletes, and has always been an avid runner himself. He said treating runners and football players often yield a variety of different injuries, some that overlap, and others not as often.
Irwin said athletes from local colleges often schedule appointments with him and said he recently treated a runner with hip-tendonitis.
He attacked the issue with `cold laser` technology which, in essence, gives tissues cells in the muscle more energy to fight inflammation.
The treatment works the same way other laser treatments do, and changing the wavelength of the light provides different results.
Irwin also trained runners as a coach on the Guilderland High School track team. The days of 12-or-more hour meets and the difficulty of slating dozens of runners for their best events are behind him, but are still a part of what he does everyday.
He is running a seminar that explains injury prevention for runners, including those young and developing, and said utilizing several measures could save runners a good deal of aggravation down the road. He includes suggestions about proper rest, warm-up, strengthening, stretching and nutrition.
To schedule an appointment with Irwin or for information about injury prevention, call 456-8805.“