Taken From Dynamic Chiropractic, 1/1/03; Vol.21 No. 1

"You can have a Ferrari body, but your wheels need balancing ...I felt if I took care of my body, I could still function when I got older."

If you compare Emmitt Smith with the other great running backs in pro football history, he doesn't necessarily stand out from the rest.  He doesn't have the speed of a Gale Sayers, the elusiveness of a Barry Sanders or the size of a Bo Jackson, and he's never been considered a "complete" running back, a la current stars Marshall Faulk or Edgerrin James.

One thing the five-foot-nine, 212-pound Smith does have is durability.  Since he burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys in 1990, he's missed only seven regular season games, and only four on account of injury.  Not bad for an occupation in which the average person's career lasts less than three seasons.

Emmitt's longevity, combined with his ability to stay injury-free, has enabled him to become the National Football League's all-time leader in rushing yards.  On October 27, 2002, playing against the Seattle Seahawks, he rushed 24 times for 109 yards and a touchdown; in the process, he broke the career rushing record previously held by the Chicago Bears' Walter Payton.

There was a time earlier in Emmitt's career, however, when he was less concerned about setting records and taking care of his body.  In 1993, he was criticized by the Cowboys' coaching staff for poor work habits, and in 1994, he suffered a nagging hamstring injury that limited his effectiveness.

After that season, "I decided to invest in me, to keep me going," Emmitt told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "You can have a Ferrari body, but your wheels need balancing...I felt if I took care of my body, I could still function when I got older."

The main reason Emmitt still functions as well as he does is Rob Parker, DC, the grandson of chiropractic legend Dr. Jim Parker and son of Karl Parker, creator of the Karl Parker seminar series.  Emmitt was introduced to Parker by former Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston seven years ago, and the two began a routine of chiropractic treatments - sometimes up to two or three per week - that continues to this day.