Episode 126 with Guest Dr. Tommy John

With Master Degrees in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University, Dr. Tommy John brings over 17 years of health experience to the table. At completion of his studies Dr. Tommy played professional baseball for three years with teams such as the Schaumburg Flyers, Tyler Roughnecks and the LA Dodgers.  After his career was abruptly ended from a rare infection in his throwing shoulder, Dr. Tommy developed his own baseball performance company providing over 11,000 baseball training sessions for baseball enthusiasts from ages six to thirty. Additionally, he expanded his practice of personal training, sports performance training and rehabilitation of all types of soft tissue injuries.  Dr. Tommy was drawn to chiropractic because he realized there was a higher element missing from the healing, performance process and proper function of the human body in the innate intelligence and the nervous system: brain, brain stem and spinal cord. That paramount observation led him to obtain his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree from Life University, (a 4-year program), in Marietta, Georgia, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.  As the son of renowned Major League Baseball pitcher Tommy John who played in the Major Leagues for 26 seasons and was the first person to comeback in 1974 from the revolutionary surgery named the Tommy John Surgery, it is not surprising that Dr. Tommy developed a passion for proper healing and physical function as he witnessed firsthand the outcomes of injury, innovation and principled healing. The primary goal of Dr. Tommy John Performance and Healing Center is to provide entire families with integrative, individualized care plans and treatment to improve their quality of life by reducing physical and emotional pain from injury and aging and minimizing the use of pharmaceuticals or surgery. Dr. Tommy John also has a book coming out in June 2018(Da Capo) which is a unique program: a diet, lifestyle, and movement plan (Rethink. Rebuild. Replenish. Recover) for injury- and performance-proofing young athletes in every sport. Beginning as early as age 6 and continuing through the teenage years and on into their twenties, both male and female athletes are more at risk of serious injuries at younger ages than ever before. Concussions are up 500%, ACL surgeries have increases 60% over the last 20 years in 6-18 year olds and are a public health issue, and Tommy John Surgeries are occurring 57% of the time in 15-19 year olds. The book covers all sports and discusses the specialization of sports, what’s happening to our kids today, and how they can correct the mistakes being done so they can grow up healthier. Not just from a physical standpoint, but from a nutritional and emotional standpoint as well. It’s about approaching the game the right way, no matter what game, sport, or activity a young athlete participates in.  Dr. John’s book is a fusion of thousands of hours of research, clinical experience, and personal experimentation he has used with kids and clients alike for years, merged with the same simple philosophy of healing his Dad used 40 years ago. But his book isn’t just about injury avoidance—and it’s more than just sports. It’s about correcting the developmental deficiencies that are happening right now in youth athletes. It’s a return to traditional methods and techniques—through making the right diet, exercise and lifestyle choices—to reestablish the functional movements lost today.            It’s not just about saving an elbow—it’s about saving a life.            And it’s about finally attaching the name Tommy John to something positive again.            Dr. Tommy John’s name used to be associated to a legendary pitcher, and now, it’s connected to a crisis.  Soon, the next time someone says the name “Tommy John,” they won’t just think about injury.  They will remember his Dad…and hopefully the son that showed them a set of principles that not only saved their own child’s arm, but allowed them to reach their greatest potential in life.