Doctor Roiketa Strand always knew she would be a doctor. As early as the age of four, her parents didn’t give her the nickname “Baby Girl,” “Pumpkin” or even “Sweet Pea, they called her “Doc” because of her nurturing spirit.  “I wanted everyone around me to feel better and it was just in my nature to help others,” Dr. Strand remembers. 
To a young Roiketa, that meant one day becoming a Pediatrician or an OB/GYN. Her parents were there every step of the way to support this dream. One day, her dad began steering her dream in a way they never hoped would happen. “My dad became like a vegetable. He couldn’t turn over in bed. He couldn’t feed himself. He couldn’t brush his teeth. He couldn’t do anything on his own.” Doctors told the Strand Family what families dread ever hearing about a loved one, but they refused to give up on him. Then, one chiropractic adjustment this changed his life, and hers, forever.
Dr. Strand’s father received his first adjustment in 2001. He immediately began to get movement back, and so began a road to recovery that he remains on today.  He is now handling his own personal hygiene, driving and exercising. 
After witnessing this breathtaking moment, Strand exclaimed, “Oh my goodness!! If this can help my daddy, then I want to be this type of doctor so that I too can help millions of people!” It was an eye-opening moment and so her chiropractic journey began.
By 2006, Strand completed her schooling, and she was ready to take on a career as a chiropractor. “I had my own plans for my life, but I knew I was destined to be a chiropractor,” Strand said.
That destiny took Dr. Strand from Georgia, to North Carolina, to our Tuck Chiropractic office here in Virginia. In just one short month on the job, Dr. Strand says she can already understand Virginia’s motto and she knows this is where she belongs. 
“They say Virginia is for lovers and it must be, because everybody I have met has been so full of love. From my Tuck Chiropractic Family, to the patients, to people I run into at Walmart, everyone is so full of love.” 
Dr. Strand says that while her first month in Southwest Virginia has been mainly full of new job and new home adjustments, she can hear the mountain’s many hiking trails and festivals calling her name. She plans to head outdoors the first chance she gets. 
“Moving here was an easy decision.” Easy, not just because of the natural beauty packed into every inch the eye can see. It was easy because it was a chance to give people the gift of life she was once given, in the first movements of her father. It was the perfect opportunity to pursue what has defined her from the start: making everyone around her feel better. 
 

By day she is playing with children, working with families, and bettering our local community as an in-home social worker. By night, she is pulling trucks, between 10,000 and 15,000 pounds, at the local gym preparing to compete for a national title. Meet Shanice Hairston.
Shanice recently won a Strong Man Open Division League Competition, hosted in Charlottesville, Virginia. As a result of this major win, she is headed to Las Vegas to compete as a strongwoman in the Strongman Corporation North American National Championships on November 10th and 11th.
An accomplishment this incredible didn’t happen overnight. Shanice has been a lifetime athlete. While attending college at Virginia Tech she was a division one shot put and discus thrower for three years. After college, she was ready to find something else that would satisfy her athletic craving. For a time, she participated in cross fit training but found it to be too demanding on her joints. It was around that time that she became a Tuck Chiropractic patient at our Christiansburg Clinic.
There wasn’t one single thing that caused Shanice to experience debilitating neck and back pain, it was an issue that built up and emerged over time. This is something that is more common than people realize. All the years of different throwing positions and pushing her body to the max physically had gradually caused damage. Shanice recalled, “My head and neck were literally crooked. Once I started going consistently, it fixed itself.”
After moving to Roanoke, someone she knew mentioned power lifting and Shanice’s interest was piqued—her background in throwing created a connection and familiarity that drew her in. Around this same time, Shanice transferred to a more convenient Tuck Clinic location and began seeing Dr. Skinner in our Roanoke Clinic.
Are you wondering why someone would find competing in a Strongman competition enjoyable? Shanice really appreciates the functional aspects of Strong Man style workouts. This means that rather than only striving to lift heavy weights, she must also match heavy weights with movement.
Picture this situation described by Shanice:
There is a lead that goes from your back to the front of the truck. You put on a harness and the harness goes around your chest. You have to get low like a lineman—you have to lean your body weight into it as if you are trying to dive into the ground. Once the truck gets rolling you need to have quick feet and drive your knees up to pull it. We had to pull it 50 feet. It was a slight downhill followed by an uphill. There is also a car at the other end attached to a rope, so you can pull with your arms too. Everything is hurting–your arms and your legs. It’s hard to breath under that amount of load.
With such a grueling competition, Shanice knows it is critical she stays on top of her overall wellness. Her advice for anyone, regardless of his or her level of athleticism, is straight to the point:
I think people overcomplicate the staying well piece. Good sleep goes a good way. Letting your body rest and recover. Definitely making sure I’m eating right and taking supplements if I need it. I see Dr. Skinner regularly—before and after competitions.
When asked about what it feels like to be such an accomplished athlete, Shanice can’t help but reflect on those who have supported her and encouraged her forward. She said, “The strength in this community is like a family. I couldn’t do it without them motivating me.” Shanice also shared that Dr. Skinner is a huge supporter, beyond the physical relief and treatment he provides. She said, “For me, it is having an extra support as far as physically helping my body stay well. Mentally and emotionally he checks in too.”
We are honored that Dr. Skinner and the staff at our Roanoke Clinic are able to serve Shanice and help her optimize her physical condition for training and competition. We are thankful to be part of the team backing her, cheering her on, and supporting her as she competes nationally.
Be part of her journey as she trains for the national championships by following her on Instagram @thenames_shina and Shanice Hairston on Facebook.

Are you ready for some good news? Our very own Dr. Ray Tuck has been re-appointed to Virginia’s Board of Medicine by Governor Terry McAuliffe.
McAuliffe, appointed Dr. Tuck to the 18-member board for a second, four-year term. He will work alongside other statewide physicians on a panel to oversee competent patient care by licensing health professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to health care practitioners and the public.
At Tuck Chiropractic, we know that there is power in collaboration— internally amongst our team of chiropractors and also extended into the medical community at large. We honored to know that Dr. Tuck will be partnering with other healthcare professionals to protect the citizens of Virginia.  Dr. Tuck shared, “It truly is an honor to be named by the governor to this crucial board of esteemed medical professionals, and I look forward to representing not just the chiropractic profession, but our region as well.”
We can’t share good news like this without also celebrating the many people who make moments like this possible–our patients. Without your belief in our team, led by Dr. Tuck, and your willingness to trust us with your care, we would not have leadership opportunities like this. Thank you for being the reasons we do what we do–and the reason we love what we do! Your support for Dr. Tuck, and the rest of the Tuck Chiropractic team, is incredible.

We’ve asked our doctors for advice on how to get the most out of chiropractic care.

1. Come in With an Open Mind. This may be your first appointment, or you may be a seasoned patient. Nonetheless, come to your appointment with an open mind. Dr. Tiffany Grace Huffman from our Rocky Mount Clinic shared, “My best advice to new and prospective patients is to come with an open mind. Chiropractic care can treat a lot of conditions without invasive measures. Most patients present to us with pain in some area of their body. By allowing the nervous and musculoskeletal systems to function optimally, pain levels are reduced and function is restored.”

2. Be Clear About Your Issue and Goals. Be specific with the doctor as to where your pain is and what you ultimately want out of your treatment. Honesty and open communication are the foundations of trust between you and your doctor. A.J. LaBarbera of our Botetourt Clinic suggested, “When you consult initially with a chiropractor, or any physician or healthcare provider for that matter, make sure that they are listening intently to what your issue is and what your goals are. Also make sure when you are presented with a treatment plan, that they have your goals in mind and are accomplishing those goals with a care plan that doesn’t have any add-ons, gimmicks, or additional costs.”

3. Be Patient. Healing the body is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time. Dr. Lee Matthis of our Christiansburg Clinic emphasized, “A majority of our patients come in with a “repetitive use” injury. What this means is even if symptoms show up unexpectedly; they have often been building up for a longer while. As bad as we would like to have symptoms disappear as fast as they show up, the body doesn’t heal quite that fast. We usually see good relief within a few weeks of the onset of care.” Dr. Jeremy Keene from our Cave Spring Clinic echoed these sentiments “Do not get discouraged if results aren’t happening overnight as it is a process to correct most spinal conditions. If you follow through with your doctor’s recommendations, then positive results will occur and your goals will be met.” Dr. Tiffany Grace Huffman stressed, “Be patient! In most cases you didn’t get in this shape overnight, so it may take some time to fix the underlying cause of the problem.”

4. Follow the Doctor’s Recommendations. This one should be a no-brainer, but just a friendly reminder to always follow doctor’s recommendations for you; they are here to help you feel better so you can live better. Dr. Anna Occhiuzzi-Flynn from our Botetourt Clinic explained, “Follow your doctor’s recommendations. If you cancel your appointment due to feeling better or just due to things coming up in life, you will not have the foundation that your doctor has set for you. Most of the time, these problems have been there a long time, and they take time to stabilize. When your chiropractor gets you to a point of maintenance care, it is very important to stay on that maintenance schedule. We have found that the patients that stay on maintenance care are healthier and their spine is healthier.” Dr. Jennifer Rathmann of our Blacksburg Clinic added, “To make the most of your chiropractic care, ice or heat as instructed by your chiropractor at home. Keeping the inflammation down or the muscles relaxed can really aid in the healing process. Also, stretch and exercise as instructed. More is not necessarily better. Listen to your chiropractor’s recommendations as far as frequency of care.”

5. Stay Active After Your Treatments. A body in motion stays in motion. Take a walk or a bike ride. You will typically feel less pain after each treatment, so enjoy the increased abilities you will have. Dr. Jeremy Keene shared, “We want you to stay active after your treatments. A chiropractic adjustment creates mobility in the joints of the spine and activity helps facilitate more mobility within the spine, which in return will help decrease pain.”

6. Be Positive. Positivity has a dramatic effect on the outcome of treatment. According to a study from Rosalind Franklin University, people who spoke, or thought, positive things about their treatment or condition experienced a cognitive shift that transformed some of their behaviors. The positive affirmations allowed for those participants to have significantly lower levels of negative outcomes then those who thought negatively. Sean Skinner, of our Roanoke Clinic stated, “Most of the people we see on a daily basis are dealing with a significant amount of pain levels, so it can be hard to be positive. The patients that seem to get the best results are the ones that have a positive, optimistic outlook on their treatment. We try really hard to let the patient know that we will do everything we can for them. As long as they are confident in that and can stay positive, we will get them moving in the right direction.”

We are here to help you. Call us, or visit us at one of our convenient locations, to see how we can put together a customized treatment plan for you so you can embrace life and live pain-free! Feel Better. Live Better.

Kid-sized rubber is flying up on three wheels around the corner. Blades of autumn grass are slicing underneath the wobbly course of the red joy mobile. Water is dancing through the creek in a shining, crystal background. This is going to be perfect. A squealing three-year-old at the wagon’s helm is bounding into focus. Just have to crouch down a little more. There, that’s it. Joy is about to be forever captured in a matter of “One, two, three, CHEESE!” Nailed it.
This is what it’s like for Kristina Rose to live out her dreams. Her idea of success: a child in one hand, a camera in the other, and a smile on her face. Today, with three kids and a photography business eight years in the making, that’s exactly what she has. But it hasn’t always been that way. In fact, just a few years ago, it seemed woefully out of reach.
One morning, Kristina realized she couldn’t move. The pain was searing. Her back seemed locked. Her feet were swollen beyond recognition. It’s a familiar place for many women navigating the joys and trials of pregnancy. For Kristina, it begged the question: If she couldn’t even get off the ground, how could her vision for a happy life get off the ground?
Beep, beep, beep. She dialed in the numbers to begin a desperate phone call, accompanied by uncertain expectations, to our Christiansburg clinic. Kristina detailed her plight of pregnancy paired with pain and a lack of mobility. She left her contact information, then hung up. She figured she would have to wait her turn for relief – weeks, maybe even months.
Then, almost immediately, on a Sunday morning, her iPhone ringtone shattered the silence. Much-needed hope came in the form of Doctor Lee Matthis’ voice, returning her call from our Christiansburg clinic. His concern for her condition was not constrained by business hours, and neither was his take-charge spirit when it came to making sure she had a convenient and quick appointment.  “Can you come in tomorrow?” he asked.
Kristina was now floored emotionally, not just physically. Dr.Matthis called her back on a weekend, and got her in the next day.  “I was blown away, because that just doesn’t happen,” Kristina recalled.  
As if that wasn’t unique enough, her experience at our Christiansburg clinic made her jaw drop even farther. She had received compassionate, effective care at other places in the past. She had also, on occasion, been treated quickly. But never both at once. The simplicity, convenience, and compassion was life-changing and opened up new possibilities for what it could mean to live pain free.  Kristina said, “I like that it was quick. I got the service I needed, and I felt better.”
Just like that, Kristina was hooked and has been a consistent Tuck Chiropractic patient ever since. We were honored to be part of her second and third pregnancies, which meant the crippling swelling that accompanied her first pregnancy was not a reality she had to relive with her other pregnancies. Kristina said, “My OB was so surprized. Even my deliveries were better.”
These days, Kristina is living her version of the American dream. Whether it be kneeling to get that perfect shot, or hoisting a curious child on her shoulders, she still calls Dr. Matthis the moment any stiffness or soreness creeps in on the rhythm of her busy life. But it’s not one-sided. Every year on her birthday, she hears from her Tuck team. It’s that care, in every sense of the word, which keeps her coming back.  “Somebody went out of their way to do something extra. I was valued.”

Life is full of opposites. Up or down. Left or right. Happy or sad. There are some things in life that simply should not be polarized or seen as mutually exclusive—chiropractic is one such example. In error, chiropractic is often seen as a direction of care that excludes other medical disciplines. Specifically, it is treated as if you much choose between chiropractic exclusively or not choose it at all—that is a faulty mentality. At Tuck Chiropractic Clinic we know that chiropractic does not have to be a hero or a zero when it comes to an individual’s care plan.
Chiropractic can serve in a complementary or alternative role within a healthcare plan.  Although it is best to avoid surgical procedures and choose a conservative care approach, there are times that surgery unavoidable and required for health or quality of life reasons. Patients who have had surgery should not feel that they have somehow opted out of chiropractic care by choosing or requiring surgery. In fact, chiropractic can be a helpful compliment to someone recovering from a procedure.
As the American Chiropractic Association shared on their website it is helpful for those within various medical disciplines too, “move past our differences toward a multidisciplinary cooperation and collaboration, we all stand to benefit.”
While this sounds great in theory, what can it look like in practice? Let’s take a look at a specific case, to bring these ideas of multidisciplinary cooperation to life within the context of kids and ear infections. Is very common for children under the age of 5 to suffer from acute infection of the middle ear, the medical term is “otitis media”. Common treatments include antibiotics and ear tubes placed during a surgical procedure.  
The conservative care approach for chronic ear infections in children is to first use chiropractic treatment in hopes of promoting drainage within the ears (the eustachian tubes) and thus avoiding antibiotics and surgery. While this is a great first approach and something we always recommend, we know that there are still times where ear infections do persist and tubes are indicated. In this case, chiropractic does not need to become a “zero”. Even after ear tubes have been placed chiropractic should be used to promote optimal drainage in the child’s ears.
The reality is, a health care provider is not the one living the life of the patient. It requires an empathetic approach to offer wisdom, expertise, and best practices for care but ultimately acknowledging the patient as the final decision maker about care. It takes teamwork and it takes collaboration to create a custom treatment plan that will best serve the needs of the patient.
Our doctors collaborate with each other, as well as additional physicians you may be seeing; we call this collective power. We know that you receive the best treatment when healthcare providers bring their experience together for your benefit. We know that when we stop positioning chiropractic in opposition to other medical disciplines and allow them to work cooperatively, great things are achieved for our patients—the maximum positive impact is felt.

Have you ever experienced an ache or pain that seems to have appeared out of the blue? While you might feel your pain popped up out of nowhere, this isn’t always the case. The reality may be that the issue you are “suddenly” experiencing isn’t sudden at all. Rather, it is an issue that has been around and has finally decided to rear its head.
You see, the body is resilient and has the incredible ability of compensating for minor bumps and bruises, allowing it to continue functioning as optimally as possible. However, over time these bumps and bruises can add up; and the body begins to adapt less and less and the injuries are expressed as pain. This process can take days, month, years, or decades to lead to pain that prompts a person to visit their doctor.
Additionally, the healing time for persistent problems is often proportionate to the amount of time the injury has been present, and increases if the problems have been ignored after its initial occurrence.  For these reasons, our team at Tuck Chiropractic suggests treatment specifically designed for individual patients and their needs, with the attempt to get rid of not only the painful symptoms that brought them to our office, but the root cause of those symptoms as well.
One patient success story that demonstrates the importance of proper care is that of Charity – an 11-year-old girl who suffered from hip problems dating back to when she was an infant. No doctor could pinpoint the cause, until Charity’s mom called our office. Dr. Matthis was able to relieve Charity of her pain. Initially, Charity visited our office three times a week for the first two weeks, then two times a week, and finally she was able to go a full month in between adjustments. What took years to develop required time and persistence to resolve.
In this instance, Dr. Matthis explained how injuries are similar to a vehicle hitting a pothole. At first, everything with your vehicle seems fine as you continue on down the road. However, problems may arise and emerge the longer and further you drive.
We all know how important it is to take care of your body. However, it’s just as important to listen to your body. If your back is aching or you have been suffering from neck pain your body is trying to tell you something is out of whack. Rather than waiting until the pain is unbearable, consider contacting your chiropractor. Chiropractic care utilizes a variety of different methods to ensure optimal patient outcomes and long-term solutions.
A few common reasons people come see our team is if they are suffering from back pain, headaches, stress or arthritis. Getting patients back to their normal quality of life and living pain-free is our ultimate goal, and we find patients who commit to the necessary care overcome long-term wear and tear that has caused problems. However – this won’t happen overnight. Our team typically recommends a treatment plan to ensure the issue is resolved, rather than a quick-fix solution that acts as a Band-Aid.
Are you suffering from pain? Do you want to get back your quality of life? If you answered yes to either of those questions, we encourage you to make an appointment today at one of our 10 locations across the New River Valley. Our team is dedicated to helping you feel better and live well. 

Dr. A.J. LaBarbera’s path to chiropractic began back when he was very young. You see, Dr. LaBarbera is a second-generation chiropractor, and his father’s experience as a chiropractor served as his inspiration. Some days he would watch patients literally crawl into his father’s office, only to see them walk out pain-free. These moments led Dr. LaBarbera to passionately pursue a career in chiropractic and follow in his father’s footsteps.
Dr. LaBarbera moved to Roanoke in middle school  and following graduation from high school eventually found himself at Virginia Tech for college, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. Following graduation, he went on to receive his Doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. After spending time practicing in Chicago, the beauty of the New River Valley called him home; and Dr. LaBarbera joined our team in 2010.
Dr. LaBarbera now helps people feel better and live well on a daily basis.  “You are making an impact on someone’s life for the better – whether it be getting them out of pain, improving their ability to do an activity they haven’t been able to do in awhile, or improving their overall quality of life so they can function at their best,” he explained.
However there is an additional layer to Dr. LaBarbera’s success as a chiropractor: the team he gets to work alongside at Tuck Chiropractic. Our staff is welcoming, and truly cares about each individual who walks through the doors. Our team values excellence by providing a comfortable atmosphere and impeccable care unlike any other in the area. “We put all of our energy into meeting patients’ needs and expectations by helping them achieve their health goals, while we take great strides to make sure they are highly satisfied by measuring their outcomes in care,” Dr. LaBarbera shared.
Just like his father, Dr. LaBarbera feels energized when it comes to his profession, and is constantly fueled to continue helping others, despite some of the challenges that arise. One challenging area chiropractic care plays an integral role in is the Opioid crisis impacting our country. For years, chiropractors have treated patients who suffer from chronic pain issues. Chiropractors take conservative care measures, which help people control chronic pain without the use of Opioids.
Whether it’s migraines, sports injuries, back pain or arthritis, Dr. LaBarbera and the team at Tuck Chiropractic are always willing to discuss treatment options with patients. “The great thing about our group is that we will tell you whether or not there is a chiropractic case,” he explained. “We will communicate with their Primary Care Provider to let them know what we think the issue is. If they are not near one of our locations, we will do some research for them and find out where they can go where they will feel comfortable with the care options.”
Throughout his career, Dr. LaBarbera has been a champion for chiropractic care, always striving to ensure his patients are treated with the utmost care. Dr. LaBarbera also takes pride in his leadership roles within the chiropractic community. He has been on the board for the State Chiropractic Association in Virginia for three years, where chiropractors come together to ensure the best in practice development and management training, tools and support positive legislative action for the profession. In addition, he helps with managing mass media marketing and brand development for Tuck Chiropractic.
When Dr. LaBarbera isn’t seeing patients at our Bedford and Botetourt office, he enjoys spending time with his daughter, who loves to dance, and his wife. You may even catch him at a Virginia Tech sporting event (he particularly enjoys the football and basketball games). However, everything Dr. LaBarbera does is with his inspiration in the forefront of his mind, always holding close the memories he made watching his father’s chiropractic journey. We have to admit – whether serving our patients, staying active in the chiropractic community, or leading his everyday life, Dr. LaBarbera lives with the goal of helping people feel better and be the best version of themselves they can be.