Dr. Keith Jeffers
Doctor of Chiropractic, C.C.S.P.
Keith Jeffers is an American chiropractor, sports injury specialist, and former competitive distance runner based in San Diego, California. He is the founder of Jeffers Chiropractic & Sports Injuries and is known as The Running Doctor for his expertise in treating running and athletic injuries. Jeffers has also served as a lecturer, author, and certified chiropractic sports practitioner.
Background
Jeffers was born and raised in San Diego, California. He graduated from Point Loma High School in 1966. He then attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned a B.A. in Exercise Physiology in 1970. During his time there, he received a grant to conduct graduate research on the effects of water versus electrolyte drinks during long-distance running. He also earned a Secondary Teaching Credential in 1971 with a focus on physical education.
From 1971 to 1973, Jeffers completed graduate work in Exercise Physiology at the University of California, and later joined a special education program at San Diego State University, where he focused on teaching students with learning disabilities. Between 1974 and 1981, he worked as a special education teacher and served as head coach for high school track and cross-country teams.
In 1981, Jeffers enrolled at Palmer College of Chiropractic-West in San Jose, California, and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 1984. In 1985, Jeffers opened his own private chiropractic practice, Jeffers Chiropractic & Sports Injuries, in San Diego.
In 1991, Jeffers became a Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner (C.C.S.P.), specializing in the care and treatment of sports injuries.
Career
Chiropractic career
Jeffers started his chiropractic career in March 1985 by opening Jeffers Chiropractic & Sports Injuries in San Diego, California. For over 40 years, he has run a private practice focused on treating and preventing sports-related injuries. His clinic specializes in injuries from running, track and field, and golf, providing personalized care that combines chiropractic techniques with knowledge of athletic movement. He also served as president of the San Diego Track Club, showing his strong ties to the running community.
As a former competitive runner, Jeffers uses his own experience to better understand and treat athletes’ injuries. This makes him a trusted chiropractor for runners, triathletes, and endurance athletes across Southern California. His practice focuses on helping patients recover function, prevent injuries, and improve performance. With decades of experience, his clinic is known as one of the top chiropractic sports injury centers in the San Diego area.
Educational involvement
Jeffers has been actively involved in chiropractic education and sports injury training, contributing through lectures, seminars, and professional development programs over several decades. He is recognized for his expertise in sports-related injuries, particularly those affecting runners and endurance athletes, and has presented at various national and international conferences.
In 1989, Jeffers was the only Doctor of Chiropractic invited to speak at the Sports Medicine Symposium during the World Veteran Championships. That same year, he was a featured speaker at the Sports Injury Seminar held during the Homecoming event at Palmer College of Chiropractic-West, his alma mater.
His educational outreach expanded in 1990 when he participated as a guest speaker at a 12-hour re-licensing seminar on sports injuries organized by the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association. He also presented at a week-long seminar hosted by the Motion Palpation Institute in Hawaii, with a focus on sports injury care, and returned to Palmer College of Chiropractic-West as a guest lecturer.
In 1991, Jeffers was featured in a series of 12-hour Motion Palpation Institute Sports Injury Seminars held in cities including Toronto, Atlanta, and Chicago, as well as on a professional cruise. His international engagement continued in 1992, when he lectured at the Interscandinavian Conference in Helsinki.
In both 1993 and 1994, Jeffers delivered lectures on sports injury management at Los Angeles Chiropractic College. In 2004, he returned to Palmer College of Chiropractic-West as a guest lecturer and was appointed to the Council on Chiropractic Guidelines and Practice Parameters for the Lower Extremity. The following year, he completed 12 hours of advanced study in Whiplash and Brain Injury Traumatology.
In addition to his teaching and seminar work, Jeffers is a regular contributor to chiropractic and athletic publications, where he shares insights on topics such as injury prevention, rehabilitation, and sports performance.
Awards and recognition
Jeffers has won two National Masters Championships as a member of the San Diego Track Club. He placed 5th nationally in the Masters Track and Field Championships in Steeplechase. In August 1989, he competed at the VIII Annual World Veterans Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he won a Gold Medal as part of the United States Cross Country Team. He also placed 10th in the world in Steeplechase.
Jeffers has received many honors for his success as a competitive runner and for his work in chiropractic care and sports injury treatment.
– 1968: National Junior College 10K Record
– 1971: Winner of San Luis Obispo Marathon
– 1977: Winner of Santa Barbara Half-Marathon
– 1981: Winner of San Jose Half-Marathon
– 1983: Boston Marathon – 2:38 finish time
– 1986: Winner of San Diego County Grand Prix Standings
– 1989: Winner of two National Masters Championships with the San Diego Track Club
– 1989: 5th place, Masters Track and Field Championships – Steeplechase
– 1989: Gold Medal, U.S. Cross Country Team – VIII Annual World Veterans
Championships, Eugene, Oregon
– 1989: 10th place in the world – Steeplechase, World Veterans Championships
– 1989: San Diego County Chiropractic Society New Doctor of the Year
– 1989: California Chiropractic Association New Doctor of the Year
– 1991: Certification as Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner (C.C.S.P.)
