This Blog's Purpose

I chose to become a chiropractor because I am fascinated by biomechanics (my first love!), enjoy working one-on-one with patients to help them improve, and I have been treated by a lot of great chiropractors whom enabled me to continue training and racing despite my own obsessive training regime.

It was a visit to my brother-in-law, Dr Daniel Jacobsen, back in the early '90s that opened my eyes to what a chiropractor could do. At that time, I was running 80-90 mile weeks training for a marathon. My hip had been hurting so badly for a few weeks that, while I could still run, I could no longer stand without intense pain. It was my sister who convinced me to see Dr Dan (after I had already sought relief from my general practitioner, my running coach and a massage therapist). Prior to this, I had no idea what a chiropractor could or would do. After treating me twice that first day and teaching me a dozen stretches and exercises, I was able to run that evening pain-free! "WOW", I said.

So, my own journey to this profession took me to working for a major running shoe manufacturer (where I honed my observations on running biomechanics) to becoming a strength coach for professional athletes and weekend warriors alike.

Because of my history of athletics as well as the specialized knowledge that I've amassed, on a weekly basis I receive numerous requests for help from injured people all over the world. Despite the obvious limitations of email and telephone, I help however I can.

With this column, I hope to preemptively "attack" some of those requests for help. This blog is a combination of what's new in health and fitness, case reports (of both the mundane and not-so mundane type) and injury/illness avoidance advice. Please, if you have an injury or problem that you are concerned about, find a health care practitioner that can diagnose you.

I firmly believe that the type of provider is not important---whether he or she is a chiropractor, medical doctor, physical therapist, osteopath, nurse practitioner, acupuncturist, et al, the most important attribute is that the practitioner listen to you. Secondly, find a provider who "does" what you "do". Only a runner truly understands running injuries, and surfers best understand surfing injuries, etc.

I hope you find this helpful. I also hope to see you out there on the water, trails or roads sometime soon!
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