A silver medal, a beaming smile, and a quick selfie — that’s all it takes to capture the spirit of the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS) at The World Games 2025. In the photo, Italian wakeboarder Vanessa Tittarelli stands beside Dr. Thomas Jeppesen, the chiropractor who treated her before her final run. She got silver; he got her thanks.
The image is far from unique. “I’ve received tons of photos like this from our team members. Athletes keep coming back to us at the competition venues with their medals to say thank you,” says FICS president Dr Martin Isaksson. “These are the very photos our chiropractors hang in their offices after the Games. Because it’s exactly that feeling — knowing you’ve really helped — that brought the sports chiropractors to China.
Fifty FICS volunteers are on two hands for athletes during the Games. They are joined by three researchers collecting treatment data. Halfway through the Games, the president of the roughly 3,500-member global federation already has a key statistic at his fingertips: the team has delivered 1,700 treatments, about the same number as at The World Games 2022 in Birmingham, USA.
For FICS, “treatment” means assessing any musculoskeletal conditions or functional deficiencies, followed by hands-on care that may include joint manipulation, exercises, stretching, soft-tissue therapy, strapping, or functional taping. They operate free of charge at all 27 competition venues, available to every participant in The World Games.
Since 2005, FICS has been a proud member of The World Games family. Four members of the Chengdu team have served at all six editions since then, including Dr. Brian Nook, who also sits on the IWGA Medical Commission — a testament to the deep ties between the organisations.
One change over the last 20 years has been clearing up a misconception: you don’t have to be injured to seek FICS support. “We’re here to help athletes prepare for competition and recover afterwards,” explains Nook. “The goal is to prevent injuries in the first place.” He likens their work to fine-tuning a Formula 1 car: “We make sure the ‘engine’ runs perfectly so the driver can perform their best. If something goes wrong, we fix it.” In short, it’s about far more than just backs and bones.
And the service is in demand. “The athletes know who we are. They know we’re here. They seek us out,” says Martin Isaksson. Many athletes visit the FICS station simply because they know they’ll be optimally prepared for their next event.
Still, injury care remains a big part of the workload. The most common diagnosis? Overuse of muscles, tendons, or joints — a predictable side effect of the elite-level training required to reach The World Games. Injuries during competition also call for the chiropractors’ expertise.
For the researchers on the team, especially those information delivers valuable data. They track which sports see which injuries most often and the results of the treatment. It proves the effectiveness of FICS interventions. It helps international federations to identify and to reduce injury risk. Tug of war athletes, for example, are prone to lower back pain, while martial artists often face ligament issues.
Which sports use the service most can vary — often for logistical rather than medical reasons. If athletes spend long hours at a venue, they may drop in during breaks. In Wrocław 2017, korfball players topped the list; in Birmingham 2022, it was lacrosse, with nearly every player receiving treatment. In Chengdu, softball is trending high. But long distances between venues and the athletes’ village sometimes limit access, as transport schedules leave little time for post-event care.
Indeed, transportation is one of the biggest challenges for the team. In a city of 21 million, “nearby” can mean hours of travel. Volunteering at the Games is a major commitment. FICS chiropractors take time off work, apply for visas, and take your holidays to be part of the Games. Yet filling the roster is never a problem: “We had over 100 applications for 50 spots,” recalls Isaksson. The excitement has been there since 2005. And really — who wouldn’t want to hang a photo of themselves with a medal winner in their practice? Who wouldn’t want to know they played a part in an athlete’s greatest moment?
FICS is everywhere in Chengdu — 50 volunteer chiropractors at 27 venues, supported by three researchers. By mid-Games, they had delivered 1,700 treatments, matching their total from the 2022 Games in Birmingham, USA. And “treatment” means more than fixing injuries: it’s joint manipulation, stretching, soft tissue therapy, taping — anything to keep bodies performing at their peak.
Since joining The World Games in 2005, FICS has worked to bust a myth: you don’t need to be hurt to see them. “We’re like Formula 1 mechanics,” says veteran chiropractor and IWGA Medical Commission member Dr. Brian Nook. “We tune the body so the athlete can perform. If something breaks, we fix it.”
Still, injuries happen. Overuse is the most common problem, especially in sports like tug of war (lower back pain) and martial arts (ligament injuries). The research team uses this data to help federations reduce risk.
Demand varies by edition — korfball led in Wrocław 2017, lacrosse in Birmingham 2022, and softball in Chengdu. But in a city of 21 million, long travel times can limit access, making transport the team’s biggest challenge.
Working at the Games is no small ask: chiropractors take time off work, apply for visas, and fund their own trip. Yet applications far outnumber spots — more than 100 for just 50 places this year. The reward? Knowing you played a part in an athlete’s greatest moment — and maybe having the selfie to prove it.