Interview

What inspired you to become a chiropractor, and what has kept you passionate about the profession for nearly three decades?

There are many people in our world who suffer from various aches and pains. Headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, foot and ankle pain. What people may not realize is that one of the few professions that can work on all of these areas and actually FIX most problems is Chiropractic. As a profession, we talk to patients, understand their pain, and look at the whole body to put together the puzzle of what is ailing them. Often, this involves overlapping body systems because the area someone points to as the pain may not be the actual source. The detective work, the personal relationships we develop with patients, and the satisfaction of identifying the patterns in what is going on in a patient’s body are all reasons I love this job. We use our hands, along with some of our adjunct tools and therapy machines, to help patients feel better naturally. No prescription drugs, no surgery, no covering up symptoms. This profession has been around since 1895, so it works. I absolutely love becoming part of people’s lives and helping them to feel their best and be happy.

Your practice specializes in everything from sports injuries to pediatric care and foot biomechanics. How has that broad perspective shaped the way you approach patient care?

Over my 30 years of practice, I have been honored to teach numerous chiropractic continuing education classes across the United States and internationally. One of my golden rules is “the more techniques and therapies you know how to use, the more patients you will help”. I am 5′ 6″ and shrinking. As a smaller, shorter Chiropractor, I have to get resourceful to handle larger, taller patients. Being able to treat infants, children, adults, the elderly, athletes, non-athletes, and all kinds of people is important. Having a diversified practice with people, chiropractic techniques, and modalities provides me the ability to treat just about everyone. I put special emphasis on the jaw, shoulders, feet, and ankles, which are my favorite parts of the body to work on. The body’s entire foundation is your two feet. The way they support you and bear weight establishes patterns that will be visible from the toes to the nose. My practice philosophy and foundation are “supporting your body from the ground up.”

Many people think discomfort starts in the back, but you’ve often emphasized the importance of the feet and overall biomechanics. Why is that connection so important?

Your feet are the foundation of your body. They support your weight, help align your posture, and absorb the impact of daily movement. Each step creates a force that travels from the ground up through your body. When your heel strikes the ground, it experiences forces of up to 5Gs. Ideally, your feet absorb about 30% of that shock, reducing the stress transmitted to the joints, spine, and even the head.

However, nearly 90% of people have some degree of flat feet, which limits this natural shock absorption. As a result, more force travels upward through the body within milliseconds, increasing the likelihood of joint stress, strain, and dysfunction.

Because the body is interconnected, problems in the feet can contribute to pain elsewhere. Conditions such as plantar fasciitis, flat arches, or improper footwear can alter biomechanics and lead to issues in the knees, hips, lower back, and neck. This is why I emphasize a foot-focused approach to identifying and treating pain at its source.

Common conditions related to foot dysfunction include:

• Plantar fasciitis: Chronic heel pain caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia.
• Flat feet or high arches: Structural imbalances that affect weight distribution.
• Knee, hip, and lower back pain: Often linked to poor foot mechanics.
• Neuropathy: Nerve-related pain, tingling, or numbness in the feet and legs.
• Postural issues: Misalignment stemming from improper foot support.

Proper posture has become increasingly challenging with today’s work-from-home lifestyles. What simple adjustments can people make throughout the day?

I love talking about the proper setup of your workstation (ergonomics) because it is an important part of my practice. Here is how you can make some simple adjustments to any workstation, whether it is at home or work:

1. Sit in an appropriate, adjustable chair. This means the chair should have an adjustable height, armrests, and a seat area so you can keep your rear end in a neutral or slightly downward-sloping position. There should be adjustable low-back (lumbar) support and wheels. Overall, it should just feel comfortable.
2. When you are seated or standing, let your arms hang at your sides. Then bend your elbows to 90 degrees; that is the proper height for the desk and keyboard. The keyboard should literally be right at your fingertips. The mouse should be close by—to the right or left edge of the keyboard—to encourage this proper arm placement.
3. The top of the monitor should be at eye level so your neck does not strain to look at it. If you are working off a laptop, then either get a secondary monitor or, if you have a big enough laptop screen, get an external keyboard and put a book or something to raise your laptop monitor to horizon level. 
4. Take breaks every 30 minutes where you stand up and move around. I understand this may be disruptive to your workflow. So take breaks when you can, but avoid periods of 1+ hour straight at the keyboard.
5. Keep the top of your cell phone level with the horizon. Holding them too low will cause you to flex your neck too much. 

What role does restorative sleep play in recovery, pain management, and long-term musculoskeletal health?

Sleep has become a large part of my practice. Every new patient gets asked about their mattress on the first day they come in for care. Sleep is key, and we are learning more and more about the effects of proper and insufficient sleep on the human body. The way a person sleeps will also determine the kinds of stress patterns that exist in their body during the 6-9 hours they are supposed to be sleeping. Most people I encounter do not know how old their mattress is or what brand it is. Remember, a mattress’s lifetime is usually 7-10 years. But many people sleep on them much longer than that. It is routine for me to hear about someone sleeping in the “divot” left by their body sinking into the mattress.  Research on sleep has been more prevalent over the last 5-10 years, so we know there can be negative effects on everything from brain and heart function to healing, mental clarity, and concentration as a result of a bad night’s sleep. So many systems and organs of the body are affected by sleep, and people are just now becoming more aware of them.

Sleep really boils down to position and a proper mattress and pillow. Most people sleep on their side, which can be good for certain digestive issues, snoring, and pregnancy. But sleeping on your side puts stress on your neck, shoulders, lower back, pelvis, hips, and knees. Sleeping on the back is the best position for the spine, but some people snore louder like this, and people with Gastrointestinal problems find this position makes their symptoms worse. Sleeping on the stomach is bad for the spine because people turn their heads in order to breathe. This puts stress on the neck, shoulders, and upper back. 

Which Saatva sleep or bedroom products do you believe best support healthy recovery and restorative sleep, and why?

Before getting my Saatva Classic Mattress in Luxury Firm, I researched the full lineup of Saatva products, from the beds to bedding accessories and bedroom furniture. I was able to visit the San Francisco Viewing Room, lie on all the beds available at the time, and explore their curated collection of bedroom furnishings. The three top-selling “medical mattresses” Saatva offers are the Saatva Classic, Saatva Rx, and Saatva Zenhaven. Any of these mattresses will especially support healthy recovery and restorative sleep. I chose the Classic for the extra lumbar support in the middle 1/3 of the mattress and how comfortable it was to lie on. Let’s not forget the Saatva adjustable base, which can elevate the head and feet. I love this under our bed. I went all in on the mattress cover, sheets, and duvet cover as well. The way the mattresses are made and the natural materials used are important to patients as well, because there is no off-gassing or weird smells in their sleep environment.

What are some of the most common everyday habits that contribute to pain or discomfort without people realizing it?

Let me give you a list of the common everyday habits that are bad for our bodies:

1. Sitting on the couch. Couches are usually too soft, so your body sinks into them. This is unsupportive for the mid to lower back and pelvis. Add in people who cross their legs while sitting on the couch, and that could be disastrous.
2. Perching on the edge of your chair. People often sit on the edge of their chairs while working, which creates upper- and mid-back strain and worsens “Tech Neck.” You want to always push your butt to the back of the chair before sitting down. Always “butt to the back” to make proper posture easier to achieve.
3. Sleeping on either side at night. The side-lying position is stressful on the shoulders, so they tend to roll forward. The more supportive the pillow, the better for the neck and shoulders. A pillow between the knees will help protect the lower back.
4. After 30 years of teaching people about their feet, it still astonishes me how many don’t realize we have 3 arches in each foot. That’s right, 3 arches, not just 1. These arches are fully formed by age 7, so that is when we start to see people developing collapsed arches or flat feet. People do not realize this, so their feet get flatter with time. This can cause all sorts of issues, such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, ankle sprains, knee pain, hip pain, and spinal pain. Having proper 3-arch, flexible, custom orthotics will not only support the arches of the feet, but the rest of the body as well.

How do you help patients create healthy routines that support both movement and recovery outside the treatment room?

• Chiropractic adjustments (every 2-4 weeks, depending on the patient’s condition)
• 3-arch, flexible, custom-made orthotics to balance the body from toes to nose.
• Sleeping with an appropriate supportive cervical pillow.
• Stretching and strengthening exercises to keep flexibility, strength, and balance.
• Ergonomic and lifestyle modifications to make everyday tasks safer. Sitting, standing, sleeping, working at the desk. We find out all aspects of their life so we can take stress off the body.