My name is Marco Antonio Belizaire and I am a Doctor of Chiropractic and a former Olympian from Panama in the 100 and 200. I competed in Division I track for 3 years at Fairleigh Dickinson University back in the mid 80’s and competed on an international level until 1997. I have been working with a number of elite track and field runners since the mid 90’s.
As a former Olympic athlete, I translate the knowledge and expertise of a keen understanding of biomechanical functions of the human body as it relates to increased peak performance from a neuro-musculoskeletal point of view combined with extensive post graduate training in Sports Chiropractic to work with athletes at all levels.
I have assisted with groups of elite athletes on the field as a critical eye when it comes to proper biomechanics of sprinting, not only to ensure they maximize peak performance but to also help reduce the possibility of future injury due to faulty mechanics or imbalances.
As a Sports Chiropractor I make sure the athletes bodies are healthy enough to withstand the sheer volume of time and stress they place on it, which is quite often remarkable. I should know, since I did this caliber of training for many years and can attribute my ability to compete in my later years with minimal injuries due to regular chiropractic care.
As an on the field chiropractor, I am able to demonstrate and explain from a scientific standpoint, yet in simple terms, to these athletes the things the coach and myself stress to them regarding their running mechanics since I also, at times, run by their side as they are training. As a Sports Chiropractor I am able to determine if a faulty mechanic is a trained response or compensation due to an injured or weak muscle. Many of times we are able to see much improvement by merely pointing out simple changes in body position as well as being able to correct on the spot any biomechanical faults and misalignment, by treating the injury with hands-on work so that these athletes are able to return back to running or jumping better.
As a Sports Chiropractor I don’t simply adjust a spine and the extremities; I adjust a person, and know that the adjustment will impact that person’s performance.
I currently practice part time Overseas in the country of Panama, one week out of every month as well as in Atlanta. My true passion is to practice out on the field as a Sports Chiropractor and biomechanics coach.
When consistency is created in the care of an athlete we are able to see differences in their performance. At times we need to evaluate the athlete before and after competition/training to see true improvement, not to say that they would have not performed well in our absence, however, since working with these athletes on a consistent basis you get to know their bodies better and the understand some of the things we have been working on all season long. That is why it makes sense to go with an athlete to National and international Track & Field Championships evaluating them as they prepare for another stage of track career.
In past years, I worked with the Finnish Olympic team in their 2000 pre-Olympic training camp, I was part of a team of chiropractors for the 2000 Costa Rican Olympic team as well as member of their technical committee and worked with the Guatemalan Olympic team evaluating and preparing their athletes for the 1999 Pan-American as well as in many international Pre-Olympic regional games. In 2011 I worked as the on site Chiropractor for the DB Track Club under Coach Rana Reider, who ran a camp comprised of 17-21 Elite Athletes. Coach Reider was also named USATF-Nike Coach of the year in 2011. He also became the only one in World championship history to have coached both he Long Jump and Triple jump world champions.
When working with an athlete for the first time I like to build a good relationship with you and let you see the value of my service with your team. Among some of the athletes I presently work with on a regular basis are Dwight Phillips, Kenta Bell, David Oliver, Justin Gatlin, Walter Davis, Shara Proctor, Nikkeisha Wilson, Stephanie Durst, whom by the way, all have made the US, British and Jamaican Team for The 2011 World Championships and/or Pan-American Games.
I have also been named to the USA Track & Field 2012 Medical Staff as Team Chiropractor for the IAAF World Indoor Championships. Glory to GOD!!
