An Olympic Dream Deferred

Lisbon, Wis. – Lisa McNeil, BS, M.Ed, LMT, CES, CFSS-M, a leading structural integrationist and owner of Momentum Movement Clinic in Waukesha, was beyond thrilled when she was chosen to serve on the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) medical team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

She’s still excited … but her Olympics dream has been deferred to 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

McNeil, a town of Lisbon resident whose massage therapy clientele range from multimillion-dollar professional athletes to weekend warriors, was chosen to work alongside USOC physical therapists and athletic trainers focused primarily on preparing athletes for competition and rehabilitation. She is one of just four massage therapists, chosen from top medical professionals across the U.S., selected to work with gold medal contenders at the Olympic High Performance Center in Tokyo.

McNeil planned to leave July 10 for Tokyo. The Games of the XXXII Olympiad were scheduled July 24 to Aug. 9. They are tentatively planned to begin July 23, 2021.

“Being chosen for the Olympics medical team remains an incredible honor, and I’m keeping my chin up despite postponement of the Games,” McNeil said. “Helping Team USA Olympians represent our country and achieve their dreams, while working alongside some of the best medical professionals in the world, is both tremendously humbling and an unbelievable opportunity at the same time.”

McNeil undertook a two-year application process for the Olympics medical team, including a two-week clinical rotation at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee training center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Her acceptance letter stated: “Your past successful involvement supporting Team USA’s healthcare needs demonstrates your medical acumen, professionalism and desire to support the athletes within the Olympic and Paralympic movements … Together, we believe integrated medicine and your important skillsets will greatly contribute to the overall health and wellness of the entire delegation.”

McNeil is a structural integrationist with an emphasis on myopain syndromes. She employs fascial stretch therapy, neurokinetic techniques, Oov training and other modalities to take a global approach to pain and sport performance.

Her highly-specialized treatments generate greater stability, strength and flexibility in athletes, achieved by encouraging efficient muscle firing patterns. Baseball pitchers, for example, need a balance of shoulder stability and flexibility to generate power - without the balance, injuries occur.

McNeil has treated professional athletes from the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball, plus Iron Man triathletes and Boston Marathon runners. She typically spends February and March in Arizona providing manual therapy treatment at baseball’s Cactus League, but skipped this year due to her Olympics commitment.

When the 2020 Olympics are held, McNeil expects her work there to focus on soft tissue rehabilitation and recovery, for injuries such as hamstring pulls, shoulder strains and lower back pain. The days will be long – at least 10 clinical hours, treating dozens of athletes. Her role includes a 24 hour call rotation. She is unpaid, with the United States Olympic Committee covering travel and equipment costs.

McNeil’s practice at Momentum Movement Clinic isn’t limited to just elite athletes. She treats anyone suffering from chronic pain or experiencing reoccurring injuries. Often their conditions haven’t responded to traditional therapies such as chiropractic and physical therapy, so they seek her innovative approach to pain and rehabilitation.

Momentum Movement Clinic is at 400 W. Moreland Blvd., Waukesha (across from the Waukesha County Courthouse). More information is available at www.momentum-wwc.com or by calling (262) 373-8765.