Interview with Jeremy Scott, Olympic athlete
This blog post is part of our Olympics Series on Qi. Find out which other Olympic athletes use acupuncture here.
Nebraska native Jeremy Scott, also nicknamed El Grande for its 6-foot-9¾-inch height, is getting ready to compete for an Olympic medal in the pole vault this week. Scott started pole vaulting when he was 16 and his long list of accomplishments in this sport reads like a bestselling novel. Scott has been ranked under the Top Ten US male pole vaulters for nearly a decade and achieved 2nd place at this year’s US Olympic trials.
Aside from his continuous training under coaches Earl Bell and Terri Scott, the 31-year-old has also relied on his medical staff, including chiropractor Dr. Jason Sherrod, to stay in top shape and recover from injury. But Scott hasn’t just received chiropractic treatments, he has also turned to acupuncture and other alternative modalities to make the most out of the health care options available to him.
1. When have you turned to acupuncture as a treatment option and have you achieved the results you were looking for when getting treated by an acupuncturist?
Jeremy Scott (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
I actually did not seek out acupuncture until my physical therapist suggested it. I have been dealing with a chronic knee injury and he felt that I just need some way to stimulate the body’s natural response of healing. At that point I felt that I had tried everything else, why not acupuncture?
It wasn’t something that seemed to make an immediate impact, but after a day or two, things felt like started to loosen up. A day or two after that, things started to feel better. When I had the next treatment, I noticed the same response. Although, I am not physically back to where I would like to be, I feel like the acupuncture opened the door for the body to start benefiting from the rehab and strengthening exercises.
2. What modalities in addition to acupuncture do you use for treating and preventing injuries?
In addition to the acupuncture, I have used ultra-sound, several different types of electric stimulation, and different types of laser therapy. I also have done hot and cold whirlpools as well as massage.
3. In your own experience, how does acupuncture compare to other treatments that you have received?
Acupuncture I think is just a great tool to have in your bag. I think that it helps open your body up to really accept the other things that you are doing. If there are blockages or things aren’t flowing correctly through your body, all of the other treatments and rehab you are doing aren’t going to help.
4. What else have you gained from your experience with receiving acupuncture?
Pole vaulter Jeremy Scott is ready for the Olympic games in London.
The biggest gain from receiving acupuncture treatments is just a better understanding of how your body works. With anything new, of course, you want to ask questions and learn as much as you can about what is being done, why it is being done in a certain spot as well as the general theories behind the treatment.
I think that the exposure to some new theories gives you a better overall understanding of what your body is doing, which will hopefully help you treat injuries or avoid future injuries altogether. Ultimately, it will help make you a better athlete.
5. Are you planning on using acupuncture treatments during the competition at the London games? And if so, why?
I am not sure I will use acupuncture during the games, mainly because I am not sure who we will have on medical staff. If there is someone that is familiar with the treatment and has good experience, I would definitely consider receiving acupuncture treatments.
6. What advice do you have for other athletes who are considering acupuncture as part of their health and wellness regimen?
I think the most important thing is to have an open mind about it. Since it is still considered an alternative form of treatment in the United States, I think a lot of people are quick to just write it off. If you don’t give something an honest chance, nothing you do – treatment or training wise – will work for you.
Watch Jeremy Scott compete in the pole vault preliminary round on Wednesday, August 8. If he were to make the finals, you could watch it live streamed on Friday, August 10, at 1 pm. Wish Jeremy luck!
This blog post is part of our Olympics Series on Qi. Read another blog post in this series here and here and here.
photo credit featured image: tpower1978 via photo pin cc
other photos courtesy of Jeremy Scott