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How does chiropractic help prepare you for an NFL game?

Earlier in the week [in between games], I get adjusted. There are a lot of times where you go for full contact and are hitting. Your body gets jarred sometimes, is in the wrong position or you hit awkwardly. So after the game, I try to go to the chiropractor right away, just to make sure I am lined up so that my body is not in a bad position. If you are working out or practicing, and your body is not aligned, it can cause injuries. Usually, right before the game and right after the game, I make sure I'm lined up. [During the game], I'm full speed ahead, and I'm not worrying about something being off-center or unbalanced on one side, pulling a muscle or knocking something out, making it worse.

Has chiropractic ever helped you recover from an injury?

There have been times when I've knocked something out [of alignment]. I leave the field right away, we go adjust it and it fades. I've had injuries where my hamstrings tightened up because my lower back was off. I knew what was causing it. I would go get adjusted right then and come back out feeling fine.

As a linebacker, its all about speed and power. How does chiropractic help you in that regard?

It keeps you able to use your speed and power. If you are out of balance, you feel stuff pulling, and your hamstrings and back are tight. You aren't able to move as fast. When the body is lined up and everything is moving right, it allows you to be fluid, agile, feel good and take those hits over and over. Our bodies are used to the contact, but sometimes we get caught awkwardly. If your body is able to bounce back or be put back in alignment, it helps a great deal.

What other things do you do to stay healthy?

I train hard. I take supplements. I do a lot of stretching. I try to do exercises that complement my body type [Willie is 6' 5," 270 lbs] and I do custom workouts. I soak in the hot tub.

I work with a masseuse, of course. He's a deep-tissue specialist who keeps my lymphatic system right. He takes care of my body from head to toe. He's another reason I've been able to play at the level I've been playing all these years. I can't call him just a masseuse or a deep-tissue guy. I call him a muscle tissue specialist because he understands the body. He can see what's causing what in the body and is able to do things to open your body up and get that lymphatic system working right. He's probably the biggest key, along with the chiropractor, to my success.

You mentioned an ounce of prevention. Any advice for a young athlete just entering the NFL?

You feel good now, and everything is great because you're young. But after a while, it will start to catch up with you. You might not think you need it, but try it sometime. If you go to a really good chiropractor and can find a guy to keep you lined up, you'll feel a whole lot better when you are playing.