Written by Dr Carlos Tavares, Portugal, DC, ICSC
My Experience with FICS at the World Games 2025 in Chengdu
Being with FICS at the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, as a sports chiropractor was more than just another professional experience. Not only did I have the opportunity to be amongst top athletes in their respective disciplines, but it was also a time for cultural exchange and for meeting people from all over the world with a common denominator: a passion for sport.
I met and reunited with colleagues and friends from all over the globe, and we were able to share clinical experiences, new approaches to injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as techniques to enhance athletic performance and recovery. It was a time to expand the sports chiropractic network, as I made new friendships with sports chiropractors from every continent. And, of course, we had time for fun and to experience the Oriental culture.
FICS events are always a great opportunity to introduce and educate athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers about the benefits and safety of chiropractic care, as they experience it firsthand. Many received adjustments for the first time in their lives, and the response was unexpected and vibrant. Some were so overwhelmed that they brought friends and colleagues to share the experience – m even a few who had been watching from a safe distance. We were able to successfully implement the FICS motto, “Every Athlete Deserves Access to Sports Chiropractic”, and extend that care to the many volunteers, referees, and officials without whom these games would never be possible.
A multi-sport event such as this, with teams from worldwide, allows us to have contact with different morphotypes – so many different bodies in such a short amount of time. This is true learning in the field. We need to rapidly adapt our techniques to provide the best chiropractic care. It is also a challenge, as athletes trust us to help them perform better and recover faster. The feedback from athletes and coaches was amazing.
My time in Chengdu with FICS reaffirmed a core truth of our profession: while the science of chiropractic is universal, its art lies in adaptation. The games were a masterclass in this art, pushing me to refine my techniques for an incredible array of bodies and sports in the most dynamic environment imaginable. The trust placed in us by the world’s top athletes was both a privilege and a profound responsibility. Beyond the adjustments and the networking, the most enduring memory will be the look of relief and enhanced performance on an athlete’s face – a universal language of success. I return home not only with new techniques and global friendships but with a renewed passion for the vital role we play in the ecosystem of sport.
A huge thank you to FICS for making this all possible.
