Working with International Athletes at the Reebok Rebel Renegade Games: What It Taught Me About Sports Chiropractic

Working with International Athletes at the Reebok Rebel Renegade Games: What It Taught Me About Sports Chiropractic

Working with International Athletes at the Reebok Rebel Renegade Games: What It Taught Me About Sports Chiropractic

Lessons From the Medical Team

 

Elite athletes don’t care what letters are after your name.

They care about one thing:

Can you help me perform?

As Co-Head of Medical at the 2026 Reebok Rebel Renegade Games, I had the privilege of working alongside an outstanding multidisciplinary medical team supporting athletes from around the world competing at one of Africa’s premier functional fitness events.

While social media often shows the highlights—big lifts, personal bests and podium finishes—the reality behind the scenes is very different.

It’s fast-paced.

It’s demanding.

And every clinical decision matters.

What Is the Reebok Rebel Renegade Games?

The Reebok Rebel Renegade Games attracts athletes from across South Africa and internationally to compete in multiple tests of fitness.

Unlike traditional sports, functional fitness competitions demand excellence across numerous physical domains, including:

  • Olympic Weightlifting
  • Gymnastics
  • Running
  • Rowing
  • SkiErg
  • Functional endurance
  • High-volume bodyweight movements
  • Maximal strength
  • Power output
  • Work capacity

Athletes often compete multiple times over a weekend with very little recovery between events.

Managing performance in this environment requires more than simply “fixing pain.”

My Role as Co-Head of Medical

As part of the medical leadership team, our responsibility extended far beyond treatment.

We worked collaboratively with event organisers, coaches and other healthcare professionals to ensure athletes received appropriate assessment and management throughout the competition.

That included:

  • Acute injury assessments
  • Return-to-play decisions
  • Managing muscle strains and joint injuries
  • Monitoring athlete safety
  • Providing manual therapy where appropriate
  • Advising athletes on recovery strategies
  • Knowing when not to treat

Sometimes the best clinical decision is helping an athlete continue competing safely.

Other times, it’s having the difficult conversation that continuing isn’t in their best interest.

What Injuries Are Common in Functional Fitness?

Every competition is different, but several injury patterns appear consistently.

Shoulder Injuries

Repeated overhead loading places significant demands on the shoulder.

Common presentations include:

  • Rotator cuff irritation
  • Shoulder impingement
  • AC joint irritation
  • Biceps tendon pain

Low Back Pain

Heavy deadlifts.

High-repetition lifting.

Fatigue.

Poor recovery.

Back pain remains one of the most common reasons athletes seek treatment.

Importantly, most episodes are not serious injuries and respond well to evidence-based management.

Knee Pain

Movements like:

  • Squats
  • Lunges
  • Box jumps
  • Running

can contribute to knee pain when training loads exceed tissue capacity.

Conditions frequently include:

  • Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
  • Patellar tendinopathy
  • Quadriceps tendinopathy

Wrist and Elbow Pain

Olympic lifting places enormous demands on:

  • Wrist extension
  • Front rack mobility
  • Grip endurance

Combined with gymnastics volume, elbow pain also becomes increasingly common.

Achilles and Calf Injuries

Running, skipping, jumping and explosive movements all challenge the lower leg.

Load management often determines whether athletes remain healthy throughout a competition season.

What Does a Sports Chiropractor Actually Do?

Contrary to popular belief, sports chiropractic is far more than spinal manipulation.

Evidence-based sports chiropractic focuses on identifying the reason an athlete cannot perform at their best.

Treatment may include:

  • Manual therapy
  • Joint mobilisation
  • Soft tissue techniques
  • Dry needling (where appropriate)
  • Exercise rehabilitation
  • Load management
  • Recovery advice
  • Return-to-sport planning

The goal isn’t to make athletes dependent on treatment.

It’s to help them become more resilient.

The Importance of Working Within a Team

One of the biggest lessons from elite sport is recognising that nobody works alone.

Successful athlete management involves communication between:

  • Coaches
  • Strength & Conditioning coaches
  • Physiotherapists
  • Chiropractors
  • Sports physicians
  • Massage therapists
  • Event medical teams

Athletes benefit most when healthcare professionals collaborate rather than compete.

Why Experience Matters

Every athlete has different goals.

Some want to finish their first HYROX.

Others are chasing podium finishes.

The treatment approach should reflect those goals.

Working with international athletes reinforces the importance of:

  • Accurate diagnosis
  • Evidence-based treatment
  • Clear communication
  • Efficient decision-making
  • Respecting athlete autonomy

These are the same principles I apply every day in practice.

Helping Athletes Outside Competition

While working at events is exciting, most progress happens between competitions.

That’s where consistent training, sensible programming, recovery and rehabilitation make the biggest difference.

Whether you’re preparing for:

  • HYROX
  • CrossFit competitions
  • The Cape Town Marathon
  • Two Oceans
  • Comrades
  • Trail races
  • Strength competitions

the goal remains the same:

Stay healthy enough to keep training.

Why CrossFit and HYROX Athletes Choose The Cape Town Chiro

At The Cape Town Chiro, I work with athletes ranging from first-time gym members to international competitors.

Every treatment begins with a thorough assessment followed by an individualised plan designed around your goals—not generic treatment protocols.

Whether you’re struggling with shoulder pain during overhead lifts, back pain after deadlifts, recurring Achilles problems or simply want to keep performing at your best, the focus is always on helping you train with confidence.

Because the best treatment isn’t just about reducing pain.

It’s about improving performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do chiropractors work with CrossFit athletes?

Yes. Evidence-based sports chiropractors commonly help CrossFit athletes manage musculoskeletal injuries, improve movement and return to training safely.

Can chiropractic help HYROX athletes?

Many HYROX athletes experience running-related injuries, shoulder pain, back pain and overuse injuries. Chiropractic care may form part of a broader rehabilitation programme alongside exercise and load management.

Do you only treat elite athletes?

No. The same principles used for international athletes are applied to recreational athletes, gym-goers and anyone wanting to move better.

Do I need scans before seeing a chiropractor?

Not usually. Imaging is recommended only when clinically indicated following a comprehensive assessment.

Book a Sports Chiropractor in Cape Town

Whether you’re preparing for your first HYROX, chasing a CrossFit podium, training for a marathon or simply trying to stay healthy in the gym, evidence-based assessment and treatment can help keep you moving.

Book online today and let’s keep you training—not sitting on the sidelines.

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🎙️ Listen to the Podcast Episode

Want to hear what it was really like working behind the scenes at the 2026 Reebok Rebel Renegade Games?
In this episode of Adjusting The Game, Dr Tristan Koekemoer discusses working as Co-Head of Medical, treating international athletes, making return-to-play decisions, managing injuries throughout the weekend and what goes into keeping elite competitors performing at their best.

Enjoyed the episode?


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Whether you’re preparing for HYROX, CrossFit, a marathon or simply looking to stay healthy and active, evidence-based assessment and treatment can help keep you performing at your best.

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