DR. GILLES LAMARCHE, AN ACCOMPLISHED CHIROPRACTOR and dynamic speaker, has a profound personal story that intertwines health, perseverance, and athletic achievement. Originally from Northern Canada, Dr. LaMarche practiced as a chiropractor for 25 years in Timmins, Ontario.
Chiropractic care has been a significant part of his life since he was 12, and he’s spent decades as a strong advocate for natural health and healing. He currently serves as Vice President of University Advancement and Enrollment at Life University in Marietta, Georgia.
In this interview, he reflects on his remarkable health journey — overcoming a life-altering diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension and cardiomegaly by fully embracing the chiropractic principles that had shaped his career.
After being told he had only two years to live without invasive surgery, Dr. LaMarche chose to follow the path of chiropractic care, trusting in the body’s innate ability to heal itself. This decision defied medical expectations and restored his health.
Beyond his professional expertise, Dr. LaMarche’s return to competitive athletics in his late sixties adds a new layer to his inspirational story. This conversation delves into his disciplined training regimen, the role chiropractic played in his recovery, and his commitment to natural health and healing.
In an interview with The American Chiropractor (TAC), Dr. Gilles Lamarche (GL) shares his incredible journey of defying the odds, embracing a second lease on life, and chasing gold on the track.
TAC: Dr. LaMarche, you’ve had quite a unique health journey, starting with a serious diagnosis back in 2003. Can you tell us more about that?
GL: Absolutely. In the spring of 2003, I was diagnosed with primary pulmonary hypertension, which was creating back pressure from my lungs into my heart. This caused my heart to grow two and a half times its normal size — a condition called cardiomegaly.
It was a very serious situation, and after seeing several specialists, they all told me the same thing. Without a double lung and heart transplant, I had two years or less to live.
TAC: That must have been devastating news.
GL: It was. I remember feeling like my world had just been flipped upside down. Here I was, a successful chiropractor who had been under chiropractic care since I was 12 years old, and yet I was facing a terminal diagnosis. The doctors told me that surgery could extend my life by about five years, but the thought of it was so outside my paradigm. I just couldn’t accept that it was the only option for me.
TAC: After receiving such a difficult diagnosis, what led you to choose chiropractic care as your primary path to recovery?
GL: It was an epiphany that came to me about a month after I had retired, fully expecting that my time was running out. One morning, I woke up with a clear thought, “You’ve been preaching the power of chiropractic care for 25 years. There must be something seriously wrong with your spine and nervous system.”
It struck me that despite being a chiropractor, I had never been a regular practice member in anyone’s office. I was only getting checked and adjusted by DC friends.
TAC: So that realization changed your approach?
GL: Exactly. I went in for a full chiropractic evaluation, including X-rays and nerve scans. It turned out I had major subluxations from C7 to T4 that were severely impacting the neurological flow to my heart and lungs. I began receiving chiropractic adjustments five days a week.
Within three months, my pulmonary pressure, which had been dangerously high at 57 millimeters of mercury, dropped by more than 50%. Within a year, it returned to normal, and after two years, my heart was back to its normal size.
TAC: After your recovery, you made a remarkable return to competitive athletics. How did that come about?
GL: In July 2022, I had what I call a “God flash” — an urge to go to the track. Once there, memories of my high school and college track days came rushing back, and I realized how much I missed running. I told my wife, “I think I’m going to start training again and compete one more time.”
That’s when I began training three days a week on the track and two days in the gym, usually starting at 5:00 a.m. It’s a strict schedule, but I feel energized as I’m still doing it to this day.
TAC: Your training routine sounds intense. Can you walk us through what it looks like and how it developed?
GL: Initially, I trained three days a week on the track and two days in the gym. A few weeks into it, I met a former Jamaican Olympian who was coaching at the Life University track. He watched me run, and after a conversation, he offered to coach me. That changed everything.
Under his guidance, I started refining my form and working on my speed. Even though I had decent form from my younger days, my coach showed me there was still room for improvement, especially in the 400-meter race. My training intensified, and I also began preparing for the 200-meter dash, which I competed in during the summer of 2023.
TAC: How did the gym sessions complement your track work?
GL: In the gym, the focus was on building strength and endurance, which is critical for both sprinting and mid-distance running. I also started using blood flow restriction (BFR) bands (purchased from B3 Sciences) during warm-ups and strength exercises, like stair runs and hill workouts.
The bands restrict blood flow to the muscles, making the workout more efficient and helping with muscle performance and recovery. I noticed a significant increase in muscle mass, especially in my thighs, within just a few months of using them.
TAC: And it seems your training really paid off in competition.
GL: Definitely. Initially, my goal was to compete in just one meet, but by December 2022, my coach said I was ready for more. I started competing in Indoor Masters track events, winning several gold medals along the way. I even qualified for the World Championships in Poland as a member of Team USA. Competing at that level after so many years away from the sport was surreal and incredibly rewarding.
TAC: Did nutrition play a role in your athletic comeback?
GL: Nutrition really played a huge role. Standard Process sponsored me and put me on a supplement protocol, including a pre-workout drink made with strawberries and beets. After I started using it, I noticed results that surprised me. Within just a few weeks, I saw improvements in my energy levels and performance.
TAC: So it was noticeable fairly quickly?
GL: Absolutely. I could feel that my recovery was quicker, and my energy during workouts was higher. It wasn’t something I expected to make such a big difference, but it did. The supplements helped me train more consistently and perform better, especially as I pushed through harder training sessions.
TAC: Looking ahead, what’s next for you in terms of your athletic journey?
GL: My big goal is to compete in the 2025 World Championships in Florida, which will be a special milestone. I’ll be turning 70 that year, and it’ll mark the twentieth anniversary of when I was supposed to be dead. Winning a medal at the World Championships would be the perfect way to honor that journey and to honor chiropractic.
TAC: Your story is such a powerful example of the impact of chiropractic care. How do you see it inspiring others?
GL: I believe my journey can help show people how powerful chiropractic care can be, even for serious health challenges. It’s not just about relief from pain; it’s about giving the body what it needs to heal and thrive. My experience speaks to the potential that chiropractic has to change lives.
Begin your chiropractic journey at Life University and experience the transformative power of education. Visit www.life.edu to join us today.
NEW PODCAST EPISODES
Find the latest TAC Tic Talk podcast with Dr. Gilles LaMarche at tic-talk.net
