Media  Jan 03 - Elite sports pros

"I just finished working on one of the guys from the Detroit Lions," he said, as though it was another day at the office.

The Richmond Hill resident and chiropractor works with doctors Mark J Scappaticci and Alejandro Elorriaga. They pioneered a method of treating sports related injuries called Functional Integrated Therapy system in 1996.

The three doctors work out of three Athlete's Care clinics throughout the Greater Toronto Area, including one at York University's Track and Field Centre.

Athletes from the national Hockey League, National Football League, National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, as well as track field's elite athletes, turn to Dr. Prebeg and his colleagues for relief.

The therapy works under the philosophy the normal function of the body's joints, soft tissue and nervous system are essential in speeding up recovery from sports related injuries and their proper function improves performance.

When an athlete comes to the clinic, Dr. Prebeg uses electro-acupuncture to treat the nervous system, a number of soft tissue techniques and joint manipulation techniques to treat the athletes.

The only equipment used in the therapy are needles for acupuncture and the doctor's hands.

"People are looking for magic gizmos. People have forgotten the magic of their hands," he said. "An excellent practitioner can get with his hands better results then with ultra sound and electric stimulation units. We use the needles as an extension of our hands."

"We address everything in a functional manner. You think of what muscles are being used in (an action)."

For example, Dr. Prebeg said, if a hockey player has injured his or her groin muscles, the therapy takes into account all the supporting structures in the skating movement, not just the injured muscles, itself.

Typically, the skating motion only strengthens certain areas of the leg, leading to injuries by creating stress against the weaker ones, he said. This imbalance must be corrected to facilitate recovery and prevent further injury.

The therapy also makes use of exercises to correct muscle imbalances which can lead to injures in the future. The therapy is not only used to treat musculoskeletal problems, it is also used to diagnose problems before they get worse. Athletes come to Dr. Prebeg, perform their sport movement and he'll look at the mechanics of their motion.

"Every sport has similar injuries," he said. "You could watch them walk or skate. You look for an equal stride length and equal stride speed."

Dr. Prebeg will look at how the muscles are fireing and try and perfect the movemnts.

Newmarket's Nick Stewart, the two time Canadian 400-metre hurdle champion, said Dr. Prebeg's services are essential for good track performance.

"He's good at what he does," he said. "A person in Mike's position can definitely make the difference between a world-class athlete and (an amateur one), especially where a half a second makes a big difference.

Mike can look at you and figure out your (body) mechanics."

The therapy not only helps athletes recover from their injuries, it helped Nancy Shea get back on her feet.

"I had a car accident in December 1984, and was diagnosed with whiplash," she said.

Ms. Shea developed chronic shoulder and neck pain and suffered from debilitating headaches.

She went to a series of doctors, chiropractors and physiotherapists but the pain continued.

In March 2002 she saw Dr. Prebeg and felt relief almost immediately.

"I'm much better now," she said. "I did find relief from the pain. I rarely have (headaches) now."

Dr. Prebeg has also brought a level of comfort to Ms Shea's son Mark, who was injured in a separated car accident. Mark was left bedridden by severe migraines.