From Saanichton to Chengdu: Sports Chiropractic at the 2025 World Games
- Saanichton Chiropractic Group
- 1 day ago
- 9 min read
In August 2025, Dr. Mike Hadbavny — lead chiropractor at Saanichton Chiropractic Group and Fellow of the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences of Canada (FRCCSS(C)) — travelled to Chengdu, China, to serve as team chiropractor at the 2025 World Games. Over eleven days of competition, he treated athletes from across the globe competing in lacrosse, canoe water polo, karate (all disciplines), Brazilian jiu-jitsu, martial arts, floorball, and more.
This post shares what it looks like to provide chiropractic care at one of the world's largest multi-sport events — and what that kind of experience means for athletes in Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula who want access to genuinely elite-level sports healthcare close to home.
The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China — August 7–17, 2025 — featured 34 sports, 60 disciplines, and 256 medal events, with athletes representing nations from every corner of the globe. It is one of the most diverse international multi-sport competitions in the world, showcasing non-Olympic sports at the highest level. Dr. Hadbavny was there as part of the Canadian team's chiropractic support, treating Canadian athletes and connecting with practitioners and athletes from around the world.
What the World Games Is — and Why It Matters
The World Games is the premier international competition for sports that fall outside the Olympic program. Sanctioned by the International World Games Association (IWGA) and recognized by the International Olympic Committee, it has been held every four years since 1981. For many of the athletes who compete, it represents the pinnacle of their careers — the equivalent of an Olympic gold in their discipline.
What makes the World Games particularly interesting from a sports medicine perspective is the sheer diversity of movement demands across the event. In the space of a single day, a team chiropractor might move from treating a BJJ athlete with cervical strain from a match, to assessing a lacrosse player with a shoulder contusion from stick contact, to working on a floorball player's knee, to helping a canoe water polo athlete with thoracic stiffness from paddling and throwing. The breadth of sport-specific knowledge required is significant — and it is exactly the environment that the FRCCSS(C) and ICSC credentials prepare a chiropractor for.
The Sports — and What Each One Demands of the Body
Each sport at the World Games has its own distinct injury profile, shaped by the specific movements, loads, and contact patterns involved. Here is a breakdown of the main sports Dr. Hadbavny covered and what chiropractic care looks like for each.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
BJJ is ground-based grappling: takedowns, guard work, sweeps, and submission holds that load the neck, shoulders, ribs, and lumbar spine in complex, often asymmetrical ways. Elite BJJ competitors arrive at major tournaments carrying cumulative strain from years of drilling and competition — stiff cervical spines, compressed facet joints, and tight hip external rotators are extremely common. Pre-match chiropractic work focuses on restoring cervical and thoracic mobility, releasing the deep hip rotators, and addressing any shoulder capsule restrictions that could predispose to injury during takedowns or arm locks. Post-match, the priority shifts to managing the acute loading from the match itself and preparing the athlete to compete again the following day.
Karate — All Disciplines (Kata, Kumite, Full Contact)
Karate at the World Games level includes multiple disciplines with very different physical demands. Kata athletes perform precise technical sequences requiring extraordinary hip mobility, thoracic extension, and controlled explosive power through the full kinetic chain — restrictions anywhere in the spine or extremities show up directly in their performance. Kumite involves repeated striking and blocking that loads the shoulders, wrists, and forearms, and the rapid direction changes demand excellent ankle and knee stability. Full contact karate adds the cumulative effect of impact absorption on the torso and legs. For all karate disciplines, maintaining symmetrical spinal mobility and addressing the chronic muscular imbalances that develop from years of one-sided techniques is central to the chiropractic approach.
Lacrosse
Field lacrosse is a high-speed, full-contact sport that demands exceptional shoulder function for throwing and catching, hip and ankle stability for cutting and pivoting, and trunk rotation power for both offensive and defensive plays. The stick checking and body contact common at elite levels creates a pattern of shoulder joint sprains, acromioclavicular (AC) joint injuries, and upper back stiffness that respond well to targeted chiropractic care. The cervical spine is also frequently involved, particularly in athletes who have taken head-level stick contact or body-to-body collisions over a long season. Getting a lacrosse player's thoracic spine moving freely is one of the most direct ways to improve both their throwing power and their shoulder injury resilience.
Canoe Water Polo
Canoe water polo combines the paddling demands of sprint canoe with the throwing and defending mechanics of water polo — all while seated in an unstable kayak. The shoulder complex takes extraordinary loading from the combination of high-volume paddling and the explosive overhead and lateral throws required to score. Thoracic rotation range of motion is critically important: restricted thoracic mobility forces the shoulder to compensate with increased glenohumeral loading, which accelerates rotator cuff fatigue and injury. Lumbar stability in the seated paddling position is the other key focus — athletes who have been training and competing for years often develop significant lumbar extension strain from the repeated trunk-forward paddling posture.
Martial Arts (Wushu and Other Disciplines)
Wushu and other martial arts disciplines at the World Games feature some of the most extreme ranges of motion seen in competitive sport — full splits, high kicks, aerial techniques, and rapid transitions between standing and ground positions. The hip flexors, hamstrings, and lumbar spine are under constant high-velocity loading, and thoracic and lumbar mobility is a direct performance variable. Athletes in these disciplines often present with chronic hip flexor strain, lumbar facet irritation from hyperextension movements, and hamstring attachment issues at the ischial tuberosity. Pre-competition mobility work and joint mobilization are particularly valued by martial arts athletes at this level.
Floorball
Floorball is a fast-paced indoor sport similar to field hockey, played with a lightweight stick and hollow plastic ball. The sustained low-stance skating posture demands significant hip and lumbar mobility, and the high volume of stick-handling creates repetitive rotational strain through the thoracic spine and shoulders. Knee injuries — particularly medial compartment strain and IT band syndrome from the wide-stance running mechanics — and ankle sprains from rapid direction changes are common presentations. Like hockey players, elite floorball athletes benefit enormously from regular maintenance work on the thoracic spine and hips to counteract the postural loading of the sport.
The Privilege of Treating Athletes from Around the World
One of the most memorable aspects of serving as team chiropractor at the World Games is the opportunity to work with athletes who have dedicated their lives to sports that most people have never watched at an elite level — and to appreciate firsthand how much skill, sacrifice, and body durability that dedication requires.
At the 2025 Chengdu Games, Dr. Hadbavny had the opportunity to treat and connect with athletes and practitioners from countries across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and beyond. That exposure to different training cultures, different approaches to athlete preparation, and different injury presentations enriches clinical practice in ways that no textbook or seminar can replicate. It also deepens the professional network that ultimately benefits patients at home — when a complex case requires input from a colleague with specialist expertise, those relationships matter.
A significant number of the athletes treated were Canadian — representing their provinces and the country at the international level in sports that are deeply embedded in Canadian athletic culture, including lacrosse, BJJ, and karate. Supporting Canadian athletes on an international stage is an honour that Dr. Hadbavny takes seriously, both at events like the World Games and in the day-to-day clinical work at Saanichton Chiropractic Group.
What International Sports Experience Means for Athletes in Victoria
The assessment skills, clinical judgment, and treatment techniques refined at elite international events like the World Games and the Canada Winter Games translate directly to the care provided at Saanichton Chiropractic Group. The athlete sitting across from Dr. Hadbavny in Saanichton benefits from the same diagnostic rigor and treatment precision developed working under the time pressure of multi-day international competition.
You do not need to be an international competitor to receive elite-standard care. The same principles apply whether you are a recreational BJJ practitioner dealing with a nagging neck issue, a master's lacrosse player managing a rotator cuff strain, a youth hockey player with hip impingement, or a weekend hiker recovering from an ankle sprain. The difference is in the depth of assessment and the specificity of the treatment plan — and that depth comes from clinical experience at the highest levels of sport.
Dr. Mike Hadbavny, DC — Sports Chiropractor, Saanichton BC
FRCCSS(C) ICSC DC — CMCC BPE — Brock University
Dr. Hadbavny completed his Bachelor of Physical Education at Brock University and his Doctor of Chiropractic at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College (CMCC). He holds a Fellowship in the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences of Canada (FRCCSS(C)) and the International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic (ICSC) — credentials earned through rigorous post-graduate study, supervised clinical experience in elite sport, and comprehensive examination. He has served as team chiropractor at both the 2023 Canada Winter Games (PEI) and the 2025 World Games (Chengdu, China), and brings that international experience to every patient at Saanichton Chiropractic Group.
For a detailed overview of what sports chiropractic involves and how the FRCCSS(C) credential shapes clinical practice, see our article on sports chiropractic at Saanichton Chiropractic Group.
Sports Chiropractic and Integrated Care in Saanichton
Dr. Hadbavny's sports chiropractic work is supported by an integrated team at Saanichton Chiropractic Group that includes Registered Massage Therapists, an osteopathic manual practitioner, and an acupuncturist. For athletes, this means that the muscular, fascial, neurological, and joint components of an injury or performance limitation can all be addressed under one roof, with practitioners who communicate and coordinate your care.
Chiropractic care — spinal and extremity adjustments, joint mobilization, nerve assessment
Registered Massage Therapy — sports massage, deep tissue, myofascial release, trigger point therapy
Shockwave therapy — evidence-based treatment for tendinopathies common in martial arts, lacrosse, and floorball athletes
Acupuncture — pain management, inflammation reduction, systemic recovery support
Osteopathic manual therapy — fascial and structural work for complex, multi-region presentations
ICBC and WorkSafeBC coverage is available for eligible injury claims. See our motor vehicle accident and WorkSafeBC pages for details. Most extended health plans include chiropractic coverage — see our fees and policy page for direct billing information.
World-Class Sports Chiropractic. Right Here in Saanichton.
Whether you're competing at a national level, training for your next recreational event, or dealing with a long-standing sports injury, Dr. Hadbavny and the team at Saanichton Chiropractic Group are here to help you perform better and recover smarter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the World Games and how does it differ from the Olympics?
The World Games is the premier international competition for sports that are not part of the Olympic program. Sanctioned by the International World Games Association and recognized by the IOC, it has been held every four years since 1981. The 2025 edition in Chengdu featured 34 sports, 60 disciplines, and 256 medal events. For athletes in non-Olympic sports like BJJ, floorball, and canoe water polo, the World Games gold medal is the equivalent of an Olympic title in their discipline.
Do you treat martial arts athletes at your clinic in Saanichton?
Yes — BJJ, karate, and other martial arts athletes are among the most common sports presentations we see at Saanichton Chiropractic Group. The cervical spine, shoulder complex, hips, and knees are the primary areas of focus for most grappling and striking athletes. Whether you train recreationally or compete at a high level, the same thorough assessment and sport-specific treatment approach applies. See our sports injury page for more detail.
What credentials should I look for in a sports chiropractor?
Beyond the standard Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree, look for post-doctoral credentials that specifically indicate advanced training in sports and exercise science. The FRCCSS(C) (Fellowship of the Royal College of Chiropractic Sports Sciences of Canada) and the ICSC (International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic) are the most rigorous credentials available in Canada. Both require supervised clinical experience in sport settings and comprehensive examination — they indicate a practitioner who has gone well beyond the minimum required to practice. Our full overview of sports chiropractic credentials is in our sports chiropractic article.
Can chiropractic care help with BJJ or karate injuries specifically?
Absolutely. The cervical spine, thoracic spine, shoulder, and hip presentations that are endemic to BJJ and karate all respond very well to chiropractic care — often in combination with massage therapy and, for chronic tendon issues, shockwave therapy. Having worked with BJJ and karate athletes at both national and international competition, Dr. Hadbavny understands the specific demands and injury patterns of these sports at a level that allows for more accurate assessment and more targeted treatment. Read our overview of what a chiropractor does for a broader introduction.
I'm a recreational athlete, not a competitor — is sports chiropractic right for me?
The sports chiropractic assessment and treatment framework is not limited to competitive athletes. If you participate in any physical activity — BJJ classes, recreational lacrosse, tennis, running, cycling, the gym — and you're dealing with pain, restricted movement, or nagging overuse issues, you will benefit from the same evidence-based, functionally-focused approach used with elite competitors. Most of our patients are active adults and recreational athletes, not international competitors. Get in touch to discuss whether sports chiropractic is right for your situation.
Written by Dr. Mike Hadbavny, FRCCSS(C), ICSC, DC (CMCC) — chiropractor and founder of Saanichton Chiropractic Group, Saanichton BC. Dr. Hadbavny served as team chiropractor at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China (August 7–17, 2025) and at the 2023 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island. For appointments, visit our contact page or call 250-223-0200.
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