DW Wood: I travel on tour NSYNC as a full-time masseur and physical therapist.
Bop:How did you get into this field?
DW: I was an athlete, but I knew that I couldn't play professionally, so I went
to college and then took special classes at the University of South Florida. It
took a good four and a half years of training. Then, I worked at hospitals.
Bop: During the NSYNC tour, what kind of physical work do you do with the guys?
DW: I designed specific stretching programs for all the guys--it's preventive
care.
Bop: How do the guys handle the more painful procedures?
DW: With Joey, I'll occasionally hear an "Ow!" I do a lot of knee work
on him and it's painful. Justin, on the other hand, just laughs. It'll be
painful and you'll just hear "ha-ha-ha" at which point, I can't help
but laugh too. You never hear a thing out of Lance--he knows it's really
beneficial and he enjoys it. JC isn't always into it. He's really active, has a
high energy level and doesn't have too many problems. When I first started,
Chris was difficult because he had prior problems. So far, he's been doing okay,
outside of his neck hurting from stress or jet lag.
Bop: Are you on call at anytime, day or night?
DW: Yeah. Chris once called me in at two in the morning. They know I'm here for
them.
Bop: Who in your professional opinion is in the best shape?
DW: Justin is, but he still has chronic back problems. It's hereditary because I
worked on his mom for three hours one day, just so she could walk.
Bop: What are some of your occupational hazards?
DW: Sometimes I'll have to fly through the stage if something happens with
Joey's knee. I have to run and catch them to put on a knee brace between
changes. When we were in Cleveland, it was pouring rain and I was on top of the
stage about to get struck by lighting. Also, a golf cart can roll over you if
you're not paying attention. I play security on occasion too.
Bop: Anybody else you'd like to work with?
DW: The only way I could top this would be to work with Madonna or Michael
Jackson.
Bop: Any advice?
DW: Get into it because you enjoy taking care of people. Also, if you're young,
go out and play. And never forget that stretching is the key to life.
