How former Iowa LB and Super Bowl champion Mike Humpal turned a career-ending injury into his lifelong career

A former Super Bowl champion with neck issues parlayed his troubles into a fruitful second career.

When former Iowa Hawkeye Mike Humpal was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008, he didn't expect to get bounced from the league by neck injuries.

Those challenges ultimately led Humpal to a new career, opening Humpal Chiropractic in North Liberty to change what people expect from chiropractic care.

Humpal, originally from New Hampton, was a talented linebacker for the Hawkeyes from 2005 to 2007, earning second team, All-Big Ten honors as a senior and finishing his career with 192 total tackles. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a member of the 2009 Super Bowl-winning Steelers squad that defeated Arizona, 27-23, bolstered by an iconic touchdown grab from Santonio Holmes.

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A short NFL career derailed by neck pain

Humpal's NFL stint nearly ended almost as soon as it started, hampered by nagging injuries.

The 6'2" linebacker suffered from regular "neck stingers" that affected his strength and range of motion. The pain led to failed pre-season physicals, forcing Humpal out of the league after just one season.

Humpal intended to transition into a second act after his 2009 retirement, even if it meant entering a new territory.

The transition was relatively natural for Humpal,  who studied health sciences at the University of Iowa and used those learned techniques during his playing days to aid the stressors placed on the body.

“Later on in my playing days, I had these neck issues going on, and I thought, 'Well, what else can I do and give myself the best chance to heal,'” Humpal said. “I revisited chiropractic and realized there’s something to this.”

After completing his coursework at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Humpal returned to the Iowa City area after considering where he could find a supportive community that doubled as a good place to raise a family.

“It’s been great being back in the area, and North Liberty was and is a rapidly expanding town. So when it came time to figure out where to start the practice, North Liberty felt right,” Humpal said. “I’m very glad we did. It’s been a great community and great being a touch point with other nearby communities like Tiffin, Solon, and Coralville.”

Humpal's neck pain ultimately allowed him to open his own business in a place that helped springboard his athletic career.

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A new career built on knowledge and experience

Chiropractic is derived from the Greek words cheir and praxis, meaning hand and practice. The words refer to treatment done via hands-on therapy.

Humpal was motivated by his pain on the gridiron, using it to help others.

“I liked chiropractic because it gave me a shelter and an opportunity to continue to utilize the experiences I gained as an athlete,” Humpal said. “The ability to communicate and utilize those experiences in my daily patient care.”

Humpal Chiropractic has been serving the Iowa City and North Liberty communities for six years with no intentions of slowing down, relocating to a larger space to accommodate the needs of patients and growing clientele.

Humpal describes chiropractors as “non-surgical spine specialists. Humpal Chiropractic offers typical chiropractic adjustments but expands the vision of care by looking at the body as a whole. The organization looks at care from a wide angle, working with physical and massage therapists to target other issues.

Humpal knows pain is not normal and stresses how chiropractic care can help.

“We take a lot of pride and effort in our care, and our main focus is treating the spine first through non-surgical methods, but we also look at the body as a whole and utilize other supportive therapies in addition to our chiropractic adjustments,” Humpal said. “Getting adjusted helps with back pains, neck pains, headaches, migraines.”

As the scope of Humpal Chiropractic's care expanded, the need to relocate became obvious.

In July, the office moved to a larger space in North Liberty to accommodate a growing clientele and patient needs. The clinic hosted a ribbon cutting on Oct. 3 and is accepting new patients.

Humpal emphasizes how chiropractic care and other therapies have a positive impact, whether through preventive care or rehabilitation, sharing what he has learned through his education and personal experience.

“Pain is common, but pain is not normal, and we don’t sweep it under the rug,” Humpal said. “Most of what we treat is a matter of quality of life, and quality of life can make a huge difference, and we want to share those results with people.”

Humpal Chiropractic is located at 1210 Jordan St., Suite 2, North Liberty.

Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@presscitizen.com.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: How former Hawkeye Mike Humpal used neck pain to open a local business