Palmer College of Chiropractic

When Carina Moreno walks into the Watsonville, Calif., office of West Campus alumna Goldi Jacques-Maynes, D.C. (’07), many of the other patients waiting for their appointments recognize Moreno as the small woman with the big smile who often warms tortillas and runs the cash register at her family’s Tacos Moreno taqueria, located in the downtown area of this central-valley farming community. What many don’t know about Moreno is that this 5-foot woman is a petite-but-powerful three-time world-champion boxer who has utilized chiropractic rather extensively while amassing a 21-3 professional record during her collective 10-year (pro and amateur) career.    

In fact, the current International Boxing Association (IBA) junior flyweight (108 pounds) champion and former Golden Gloves champion credits the care she receives from Dr. Jacques-Maynes at Golden Chiropractic for helping her stay in shape, especially during the physically grueling training schedule (eight hours a day for six weeks) she maintains while preparing for a bout.

When Moreno’s long-time chiropractor moved out of the area, she couldn't find a chiropractor to fit her needs. During a lunch visit by Dr. Jacques-Maynes to the Moreno family restaurant last year, Carina learned that the customer she was serving also happened to be a hometown chiropractor. She’s been a steady patient ever since.

“Seeing Dr. Goldi makes a world of difference and makes me a better athlete,” said Moreno. “She’s really helped my neck, which gets stiff and sore from taking punches to the face. The adjustments really help. I also had some shoulder issues, and she’s really helped with that as well (with soft-tissue therapy and cold laser treatment). Dr. Goldi takes time, talks to me and asks questions to find out how I’m doing, and I appreciate that.”

Dr. Jacques-Maynes was introduced to chiropractic when her mother took her to receive care from West Campus alumnus Thomas Smith, D.C. (’88), in Santa Cruz for chronic neck pain she suffered as a member of her high school swim team in nearby Soquel.

After graduating from UC-Santa Cruz with a degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Dr. Goldi began working at a pharmaceutical research and development start-up company, which is when she met West alumna Mary Reimer, D.C. (’84).

“Dr. Reimer introduced me to the chiropractic philosophy of the importance of keeping your spine and nervous system functioning properly without interference. It was game-changing for both my husband (professional cyclist Ben Jacques-Maynes) and I,” said Dr. Jacques-Maynes, who also considers Dr. Smith as one of her “most valued mentors” for introducing her to the field of sports chiropractic.

Dr. Jacques-Maynes credits the Sports Council program as the main reason she decided to attend Palmer’s West Campus. Since graduating, she has worked with many athletes, but Carina is her first patient whose primary sport is boxing.

Carina recognizes that she’s already had a rather lengthy career by boxing standards. However, she’s focused in her quest to reclaim her two former world titles. Especially with Dr. Jacques-Maynes in her corner.

“I see Dr. Goldi as part of my team; she keeps my body feeling good, especially after long days of training for a fight,” said Carina, a former Pan American Games champion, who was selected World Boxing Council (WBC) “Female Fighter of the Year” in 2007.