Sheehan Chiropractic, serving Medford, Ashland, and Southern Oregon

I had a new patient in the other day, and she mentioned that she had previously been to chiropractors and had had a great experience with two of them but a horrible experience with one of them, and she has been scared to find a new chiropractor ever since, because of that one bad experience. I reassured her that the techniques I use are primarily “low force” and don’t involve any popping of joints. I told her that if these initial low force adjustments didn’t do the trick, I also utilize conventional adjustments, but again, very gently.

I’ve gotten consistent feeedback from my patients who have been to other chiropractors over the years that my adjustments are on average much more gentle than those of other chiropractors. And granted, this initial gentle approach doesn’t fit the needs or wants of every patient. Some patients need or prefer regular high- velocity “popping” adjustments, and feel more relief if they hear a decisive “pop!”, and don’t feel as if “the bone is back in place” if they don’t feel that. I try to remember to let new patients know that if they have a preference, I’m happy to oblige.

This same patient gave me a gift by telling me what was so precious to her personally about her previous chiropactor, namely tha he had patients call him by his first name, and that he treated her as an equal, and explained things as he went along, in laymen’s terms she could easily understand. He also approached her care from the perspective that they were partners in her healing, he wasn’t the healer and she the healed. It was a sacred journey they took together. That was what she held most dear in her relationship with him, and it was a great reminder to me to never forget that. And I can honestly say I have always practiced by the same values, and i’ve always demanded the same of my physicians and practitioners.

Just thought you might like to know.

Cheers, and happy holidays!

Matt