Good, better, best. This tends to be the typical path for the patients treated at Tuck Clinic.
Most patients come in just wanting to feel good. They are sick of being in pain and they want to feel normal again. After starting a treatment plan, they start to feel better. They begin returning to their normal daily routines, gaining more independence, and just feeling “better” over all. Eventually, they come to the conclusion that this is the best they’ve felt in a long time.
This is the path that Judy embarked on with Dr. Flynn at the Tuck Clinic in Botetourt.

Seeking Help

Judy has always been active and does a lot of traveling, so keeping her body healthy is very important to her. Unfortunately, she was not finding the relief she had hoped for after following her doctor’s advice.
“I had been working with my doctor to eat healthier, lose weight, try exercises,” says Judy. “I had to take leave from work due to my hip pain. As you get older, things just happen to your body and it hurts.”
Ten years prior to visiting Tuck Clinic, Judy had her first encounter with a chiropractor for general back pain. Since she found success her first go-round with a chiropractor, she decided to take matters into her own hands and seek out help again.

Feeling at Home With Tuck

Judy did her fair share of research for chiropractors in the area. She was pleasantly surprised to come across the positive reviews of the chiropractic clinic right across the street from her gym in Botetourt.
“I went to a bunch of different websites – this one had great reviews. It so happened that I had a friend who had been here,” says Judy.
She goes on to highlight how quickly she was able to be in contact with Dr. Flynn.
“I go to the Botetourt Athletic Center so it was really convenient. I was at the gym and I just swung by and told them what I needed. They took me in that day,” says Judy.
Even though Judy had previous experience with a chiropractor, she was relived with the ease of her first visit with Dr.Flynn.
“It was very welcoming. The staff is awesome. Jerry (Dr. Flynn’s administrative assistant) is great. I did my initial interview, blood pressure, the whole intake process. According to those results, it was recommended that I got the stimulation treatment first to relax muscles. At that time, it was my hip pain and knee pain and hands were numb,” Judy recalls.
Judy could feel that she really cared about her and improving her health, adding: “She takes interest in her patients, takes notes about my travels. She adjusted me right before I left for Hawaii and as soon as I came back. If something goes awry, you can just call her and she can fix you right up.”

Feeling Her Best

After visiting with Dr. Flynn for only 3 months, Judy has seen a significant change in her body and overall health. She is truly feeling the benefits of the care.
“My mobility has changed. it’s only been 3 months – paired with exercise and eating well. I can go up and down the steps without using a hand rail. Previous to all of this, I was having issues with balance. I now have more improved mobility, like a spry old lady” says Judy.
Judy has also been able to reduce the frequency of her clinic visits because of the improvement. She is happy being able to return to traveling.
“I was going three times a week for a few weeks until it started to level out. Now we’ve reduced to twice a week and that works around my schedule because I travel a lot. Dr.Flynn is very accommodating,” says Judy.
Judy also advocates for anyone considering making a visit to the chiropractor or a Tuck Clinic. With her results, she has been more than pleased with her experience.
“My results have been awesome,”Judy says. “I talk to my friends about it all the time. You need to go for it!”

At Tuck Chiropractic Clinic, we often find ourselves building relationships with our patients beyond the day to day treatments and transactions. We get the opportunity to get to know our patients outside the Clinic walls and hear their stories beyond just how they ended up in our office.
Skip Hebert is no exception! Skip is a retired veteran and avid adventurer. Sometimes, his adventures lead him to bike across the Western Coast of the United States and other times, his adventures lead him to pay a visit to the Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Botetourt.

From the Open Road to the Operation Room

In 2001, Skip took on the challenge of a cross-country bike trip from the mid-West to Oregon’s coast. Before he could reach his final destination, his back decided that it had other plans for him. He had blown a disk in his lower back and received surgery to help correct it. He ended up sedentary and managing the pain with painkillers for about a month of recovery. As he continued to recover, he worked at a low-activity job, gained a lot of weight, and continued to visit the VA Clinic to receive medication for his lower back pain.
At some point, he said, “enough is enough”. His lifestyle wasn’t helping him feel better and neither was the medication.
“They kept giving me painkillers to treat the symptom but never got to the root cause of the pain,” he recalls.

Finding New Ways to Feel Better, Live Better

Skip decided to make a change in his life. He started doing yoga and even became a certified instructor. With his return to an active lifestyle, he lost fifty pounds and made plans to finish the bike trek he had to abandon after his injury.
Unfortunately, no amount of yoga can totally relieve you from the pain of a severe back injury. It may come and go, but it will never go away. In February, Skip spent a lot of time at his house chopping up wood to warm his home. Shortly after a long day of hard labor, he hopped on a plane to Florida for vacation but found himself glued to the couch due to severe neck and back pain. Luckily, his brother, a rheumatologist recommended a chiropractor to see him immediately while he was in Florida. After a manipulation and massage, he was convinced this was the last piece of the puzzle to help him live a pain-free lifestyle.
Once Skip was able to return home, he immediately sought out recommendations for a local chiropractor. As he was leaving the Carilion Wellness Center in Botetourt, he noticed that Tuck Clinic was right across the street! He called up his doctor for a referral through his Medicare program and set his first appointment.
Dr. Anna Flynn sat down with Skip to talk about his history of back pain and any other issues he was experiencing. After 5 spinal manipulation treatments in the first week and a half, coupled with electrical stimulus treatment, and therapeutic exercises, Skip not only regained mobility in the painful areas of his back, neck, and shoulders, but the pain itself began to subside too. Skip now sees Dr. Flynn once a week and plans to digress to monthly maintenance care or as needed.
“By the middle of the second week, I was feeling pretty good,” says Skip. “Now, I can’t really detect it unless I look for it.”

Getting to the Root of The Pain

Now, Skip is able to get back to his active lifestyle of adventuring and traveling. He plans to continue his journey of exploring yoga and it’s benefits to the body. With the improved mobility in his neck and shoulders, he’s also able to partake in his favorite therapeutic pastime, painting!
When we asked Skip what advice he would give to anyone considering choosing chiropractic care to help with their pain, he said “If your symptoms have anything to do with a neurological issue or pain, don’t just treat the symptom. Try to get rid of the cause. Chiropractic care is the natural way to go.”
“The folks at Tuck Chiropractic are very friendly and understanding. Dr. Anna truly listens to what the problems are and is willing and able to help resolve them,” he added.
We’re definitely looking forward to hearing about what adventures this life loving veteran gets himself into next!

We all know how fussy a newborn can be. We also know how hard it can be to get to the root of whatever is ailing them since they’re unable to speak. In January, Jessica White was facing a similar issue with her two and a half-month-old son, Cohen. He was suffering from colic, gastrointestinal issues, and limited range of motion in his neck. After spending some time talking to friends and researching through Facebook Mom Groups, she decided the best route to find relief for her son would be to visit the chiropractor.

Finding Relief Through Pediatric Adjustments

Jessica called upon Dr. Brooke at the Fairlawn Clinic to help her find relief for Cohen – keeping it all in the family, as her mother has been seeing Dr. Brooke for low back pain for quite some time.
“I was able to fill out my paperwork ahead of time which is really nice,” Jessica shares about her very first visit. “Amber checked us in an explained what Dr. Brooke would be doing and made us feel really comfortable.”
For their first visit, Dr. Brooke took more time discussing Cohen’s issues, answering any concerns, and explaining what types of adjustments he would be doing to help ease Jessica’s concerns. He even provided a point of comparison for how softly he would be adjusting baby Cohen – less pressure than what you use to burp a baby. The doctors at Tuck Clinic realize the importance of this element of a patients’ first visit. It can make or break the experience, so we like to assure our patients that they’re in good hands.
After several adjustments during the first visit, Jessica could notice a major change immediately. “After the first time, he was a completely different baby,” she recalls. “He was able to move his head to one side after the first adjustment. When we went a week later, he had a complete range of motion back in his neck and wasn’t nearly as fussy as he had been.”

Returning to a Bouncing Baby

Over the next few weeks, Cohen would show great improvement in his range of motion, colic, and digestive issues. He now only goes to see Dr. Brooke on a maintenance schedule to assure that he continues to grow into a happy, healthy 6-month-old! Dr. Brooke was even able to help Jessica monitor his recovery from the flu at 3 months old by continually checking his lymph nodes.
Jessica and Cohen’s experience has been such a success that she even made an appointment for herself to get Dr. Brooke’s help with her lower back pain! When asked what advice she’d give to a mother considering taking her child or even someone considering going themselves, Jessica recommended that they come prepared to quiz Dr. Brooke with plenty of questions if they have concerns.
“Dr. Brooke is very relaxed and makes you feel comfortable as he explains everything to you thoroughly. He won’t push you forward with anything you feel uncomfortable with,” she added.
No matter what age or ailment, chiropractic care can provide relief through non-invasive, natural means. Often times, our patients are surprised that what starts as a low back pain visit, can lead to a regular schedule of wellness checkups for the whole body.

Prior to taking over the Fairlawn Clinic in Radford, Dr. Brooke served patients at our Blacksburg Location. When it came time to move, many patients follow Dr. Brooke to continue their care with a doctor they know and love. Sandra Schiavo is one of those patients.

Finding Relief in a New Town

“I was referred [to Tuck Clinic] by a long time friend,” says Sandra. “It was just luck of the draw that I got Dr. Brooke. He’s the closest thing to my doctor from back in San Diego, so I’m not giving that up!”
Sandra is a retired Navy veteran who, after almost 27 years of service, packed up and moved back to Southwest Virginia where she had attended college at Virginia Tech as a young adult. She’s been seeing Dr. Brooke ever since she arrived about a year and a half ago for her neck, shoulder, and upper back pain.
Sandra was born with what she refers to as “a crazy spine”, so she is no stranger to back problems. With spinal issues in the cervical part of her neck, she had spent years visiting the chiropractor before deciding to get surgery. While chiropractic care can often help patients avoid surgery, Sandra was in danger of her spinal issues causing her to lose the use of her legs.
The surgery was unavoidable and successfully relieved her spinal cord from the pressure of her spine issues, but still wasn’t able to provide her with complete relief. She has continued to see the chiropractor to help her manage her pain and plans to continue to do so as a lifestyle choice. A choice to feel better and live better.
“I have issues with range of motion, but as soon as I step out of the office after an adjustment, I feel better,” says Sandra. “If I’m doing any traveling and happen to miss an appointment, I can definitely feel it.”

Feel Better to Live Better

Though she is primarily finding relief from her pain, Sandra looks at her weekly sessions with Dr. Brooke as a lifestyle choice. She’s choosing to feel better day to day by supplementing her active and healthy lifestyle with a little extra TLC, because “you can’t fight gravity” no matter how much you work out!
When asked what advice she would give to patients who are considering chiropractic care, Sandra encourages people to keep an open mind:
“It isn’t your traditional western medicine and it’s not always going to be a quick fix,” says Sandra, adding that it could be part of a general wellness routine to keep pain at bay.
She also notes that it’s important to realize everyone’s experience will be different. While her spinal issues were a result of the actual structure of her spine, others may just be battling the normal wear and tear. They won’t necessarily have to go as frequently as she chooses to.
Above all else, she recommends that you go see Dr. Brooke if it’s convenient to you!
“I come in every week and he asks me how I’m doing. Sometimes I’ll have issues with my low back or even my achilles tendon and I can tell he truly listens to me and my needs. He will make those adjustments on the spot to take care of your needs on that particular day instead of doing the normal routine,” says Sandra. “And Amber at the front desk is just a sweet as she could be and is very accommodating.”

One of the most rewarding things about serving patients as a chiropractor is having the opportunity to go above and beyond for our patients. We often get the chance to extend the discussion of pain points from their original reason for coming in, towards an approach that can truly relieve pain across the whole body. This has been the case for the last 5 years for Ginger Dillon of Martinsville.

From a Skeptic to a Believer

Ginger “happened upon” chiropractic care by way of her dentist. During a routine check up, her dentist realized some damage to her molars as a result of grinding her teeth at night. He suggested that she either see a massage therapist or a chiropractor. As somewhat of a skeptic and avid researcher, Ginger spent the next 6 months researching the various solutions available to her. After some uncertainty about the practices convenient to her home, she received a recommendation from a friend for Dr. Grace’s practice in Rocky Mount and decided to take the plunge.
As Ginger arrived at her first appointment, her concerns were met with an office full of professionals eager to address any questions she had. From the front desk to her time spent with Dr. Grace, she felt that she could trust that she was in good care.
“I was nervous and she put me completely at ease,” she recalled. “She took my X-rays and talked through them and what it meant. Then, I had my first adjustment and ever since they feel like my friends rather than my doctors!”
What started as an appointment to help her grinding teeth, ended up as an opportunity to uncover residual damage in Ginger’s neck and shoulders from a car accident she was involved in at the age of 17. As she continued to see improvements in her neck and shoulders through routine adjustments, she opened up to Dr. Grace about her knee pain from an old injury. The relationship has continued to uncover solutions for her foot pain and even her life long chronic sinus issues. Ginger quickly convinced her husband to begin seeing Dr. Grace for his back pain.

Maintaining a Pain Free Life

Today, Ginger goes to see Dr. Grace about every two weeks. At one point, she cut down to once a month, but found that it was more beneficial for her joints to go more frequently. Ginger claims that her lifestyle has improved greatly after finding relief for her neck and shoulder pain, and having knee and foot pain far and few between.
“I can exercise more and more intensely now. It’s really improved the overall quality of life,” claims Ginger. 
Looking back, Ginger is glad she did her due diligence in finding a chiropractor with a great reputation and even better patient centered service. Her advice for those considering chiropractic care?
“Do your research. I’m a research based person and it made more comfortable getting that type of care,” says Ginger. “Find a doctor that you can feel comfortable with talking about your issues with your body, of course, I recommend Dr. Grace!”

When you think about an “athlete”, it’s likely that names and faces like LeBron James, Serena Williams, or David Beckham come to mind. You might imagine their glorious game-winning goals, down to the buzzer shots, and match-winning hurls. Or think about how hard they work from day to day to refine their skills and keep up their stamina, and your mind might wonder how you’d never be able to achieve the same glory.
According to Dr. Brooke at Tuck Clinic Chiropractic in Fairlawn, being an athlete isn’t as out of reach as you might imagine. As a chiropractor who has received special training as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, and has spent time training with Olympic athletes, Dr. Brooke knows the ins and outs of what it truly means to be or become an athlete. In fact, he shares his “Five Dimensions of Health” with all of his patients to better explain the concept: Physical, Chemical, Psychological, Sleep, Neurological.

What an Athlete Looks Like on the Outside

Again, when you think about an athlete, you probably picture them as well built and muscular, but that doesn’t always have to be the case. In fact, an “athlete” by definition according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina”. So while you need some skills and strength in a certain area, you don’t necessarily need to be an all-star.
On the outside, an athlete is someone who takes the time to work on themselves through their preferred method, gets plenty of sleep, and takes measures to make sure their neurological wellness matches their physiological wellness. Because chiropractic care works with the neurological and musculoskeletal system, it’s a great place to start your journey.
Dr. Brooke recalls one of his patients that used chiropractic care as the first step of her journey towards being an “Every Day Athlete”. This particular patient came into Dr. Brooke’s clinic to seek relief for lower back pain. At her first appointment, she had a BMI of 40 and above the range of being morbidly obese. She received a treatment plan throughout approximately 35 days for her back pain and Dr. Brooke never heard from her again.
That is until 2 years later, she came back for maintenance care. Dr. Brooke remembered her name but when he saw her in his office again, he claimed he would have never been able to recognize her without her chart in hand. After she completed her care with Dr. Brooke, she embraced her newfound relief by starting a strict regimen of walking. She walked 2 hours every day and over the course of 2 years, lost 140 pounds. Yes, just from walking!
You see, you don’t have to be in tip-top shape to find the dedication to really hone in on your wellness plan of choice and become an “everyday athlete”.

What an Athlete Looks Like on the Inside

Speaking of dedication, beyond the physical element, there are two very important elements to this process that happen internally. That’s where the psychological and chemical aspects come in.
Whatever you call it: dedication, motivation, determination; something in your mind has to keep you moving forward. You need to have the right mindset to get up every day and stretch or make it to the pool for some laps during your lunch break. Having a positive psychological outlook on your daily wellness is even more important than your ability to perform your workout well.
The final component is the chemical component. What are you putting in your body? Dr. Brooke’s patient admittedly did a little more than just walking every day. She also adjusted her diet as a part of her wellness goals. When you eat foods with the right chemical makeup, your workouts are fueled better, your recovery happens faster, and even your mindset can be improved.
How will you get started on your journey to be an Every Day Athlete? We’re here to help.

 
At Tuck Chiropractic Clinic, each and every one of our doctors takes great care in providing a custom, comprehensive plan to each individual that walks through our doors. Because there are varying levels of pain, there are varying timelines of care. At times, we find joy in delivering fast, life-changing relief. Other times, we are granted with the opportunity to build long-standing relationships that contribute to an individual’s wellness for years to come.
Either way, our doctors will only recommend the appropriate level of care for you, individually. When Deana Fralin came to the Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Cave Spring, she was pleased to find out it wouldn’t take long until she found relief for her headaches.
Deana has been suffering from headaches since the age of five, at varying levels of severity. As someone who tends to avoid taking an excess of medications, headaches were something she just had to deal with. That is, until she had a 3-week long tension headache at the end of the holiday season. She knew her medical doctor would simply prescribe pain medicine to her, so she decided to take the plunge and seek out chiropractic care.

We Make It Easy to Feel Better

As someone who works in the healthcare industry herself, she knows the ins and outs of finding the best care.”I did some research and saw that a lot of people had been satisfied with their service,” said Deana about finding Tuck Chiropractic online. “I was able to fill out all of my paperwork online. In one to two hours, they had already called me to set up an appointment and they were able to get me in the very next day.”
To anyone who hasn’t been to a chiropractor before, the first session can be a little intimidating – but Deana said she was met with pleasant, professional people who’s priority was to make her feel comfortable and feel like she’s informed and involved in the process.
At her first session, Dr. Susan Kilmer sat down with Deana to review her patient information and have a face to face conversation about her pain problems. After discovering that her pain wasn’t isolated to her head, and had begun to migrate to her neck and back, Dr. Kilmer walked her through a conservative care plan that catered both to her pain and her personal schedule. She started with what to expect from the treatments and how long it should be until she begins to feel relief. Deana’s plan includes multiple sessions of neck adjustments and ultrasound therapy a week, that taper off in frequency over time. Eventually, she will only have to come in to Tuck Clinic “as needed”.

And When You Feel Better, You Live Better

For the first time in weeks, Deana has been headache free for an extended period of time. At the time of her interview, she had been seeing Dr. Kilmer for 6-8 weeks – which happens to be how long it’s been since she suffered from a headache. With a clear, pain-free mindset, she’s now able to live a better life. Instead of laying down in a dark room to sleep the pain away, she’s spending time with her family. Instead of getting distracted by her neck and shoulder pain at her desk, she’s being more productive at work.
As it stands now, Deana will complete the care plan that Dr. Susan Kilmer has provided in the next few weeks. It is our sincere hope that her headaches will be far and few between as a result of the care that we have been able to provide – but if we do see her again, all we’ll simply smile and say, “We’re here to help.”
Whatever the future holds for Deana Fralin, she says one thing is for sure, “It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

A huge part of what we do as chiropractors is education. We always want to ensure our clients not only understand what they should do to optimize their wellness, but why they should do it, too. For that reason, we enjoy connecting with our audience through our wellness blog.
As 2017 comes to an end, we decided to take a look at all of the blogs we shared with you this year, from healthy hacks to stories about our wonderful doctors and patients. We hope you enjoy reflecting with us, on the most popular chiropractic and wellness blogs of 2017.

1. Arnold Schwarzenegger & Chiropractic – You may know Arnold Schwarzenegger for his roles in a variety of films, or for his tenure as the governor of California, but did you know he is also a huge proponent of chiropractic? Dr. Brooke was able to meet the legend himself earlier this year!
2. Welcome Dr. Roiketa Strand – We welcomed Dr. Roiketa Strand to the Tuck team this year! Growing up, Dr. Strand had a dream of becoming a Pediatrician or OB/GYN, but a life-changing moment caused her to pursue a career in Chiropractic instead. Take a moment to learn more about Dr. Strand and her story.
3. The Botetourt Chiropractic Announcement – We started 2017 off with a bang! We opened new office to serve the Bonsack, Botetourt, Northeast Roanoke and Vinton Communities. Exciting moves like this would not be possible without our supportive patients and community.
4. Welcome Dr. Flynn – We were lucky to add Dr. Anna Occhiuzzi-Flynn to our team this year! Her passion for serving others and strong sense of empathy makes her a great fit. However, the moment she knew chiropractic was her calling didn’t come as you may expect.
5. Dr. Ray Tuck Honored as Chiropractor of the Year – Wow, what an honor! We are thrilled that the Virginia Chiropractor’s Association honored our own Dr. Ray Tuck as the Virginia Chiropractor of the Year for 2017 by the Virginia Chiropractic Association.
6. Local Strongman Competitor Powered by Chiropractic – We are honored that Dr. Skinner and the staff at our Roanoke Clinic were able to serve Shanice and help her optimize her physical condition for training and competition. She competed in the Strongman Corporation North American National Championship last month!
7. Dr. Rathmann: A Strong Community Leader – Our own Dr. Jen Rathmann was nominated for the award of Accomplished Business Woman of the Year though the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. Learn more about this much deserved honor and recognition!
8. Dr. LaBarbera’s Chiropractic Journey – Dr. A.J. LaBarbera is a second-generation chiropractor, and his father’s experience as a chiropractor served as his inspiration. His journey throughout this chiropractic career has been one filled with teamwork, leadership, and helping others.
9. Top Hiking Trails in Southwest Virginia – Just like the importance of chiropractic treatments as part of an overall wellness plan, regular activity should also be part of your routine. A great way to become more active is to get outside and enjoy nature by going on a local hike. So, we narrowed down some of our favorite hiking trails in our area.
10. Study: Too Much Sitting Can Be Deadly – A research review found that daily sitting for long periods of time can lead to negative health effects such as heart disease, diabetes, and even death. This information impacts so many of our patients, who have jobs requiring extensive periods of sitting. Luckily, we have a few tips to help reduce your risk of increased health problems.

We appreciate everyone who keeps up with our blog each week. We are looking forward to connecting with you in 2018!

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.

‘Why’ – such a short word that that has the ability to reveal so much. At the end of the day everyone has their own personal why. Why they chose the college they attended, why they took a leap of faith, why they made a life-changing decision, or why they chose their career path. For Dr. Emily Ranstadler the reason she chose chiropractic isn’t what you may expect, as she actually started out on the other side of the examination table as a chiropractic patient desperately looking for relief.
Dr. Ranstadler’s first calling—before she began pursuing chiropractic—was serving our country in the United States Marine Corp as a helicopter mechanic and aerial observer. While in service, she obtained a B.A. in Criminal Justice. During her education, a forensics class piqued her interest in anatomy, something crucial for chiropractors to understand. Dr. Ranstadler’s background and experience was the launching pad to future greatness—and a great example of her consistent track record of striving to positively impact others.
Her journey towards a career in chiropractic began with excruciating back pain. One morning Dr. Ranstadler (Emily at that time) woke up with “explosive” back pain and still remembers lying on her kitchen floor, staring at the ceiling, trying to breathe. “I assessed my situation and realized my options were pretty grim,” she recalls. “My husband was in Afghanistan, my friendly neighbors recently moved away, and my 16 month old was screaming his head off upstairs.” Then she had an idea: she had seen a chiropractor several months prior and remembered feeling good after an adjustment. She began calling chiropractors in her area, made an appointment, found the strength to get dressed and grab her baby, and was on her way to the appointment that would change her life and career aspirations (and relieve her back pain).
Following her visit, Dr. Ranstadler felt instant relief. As she was driving home she came to the realization that she didn’t want anyone to feel the pain she felt that morning, she wanted to be part of the solution to the pain so many people suffer from. That very same day, she began calling chiropractic schools. Ultimately, Dr. Ranstadler graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sherman College of Chiropractic, achieving her goal of obtaining an education to help others deal with pain that may be interfering with their quality of life.
While taking prerequisites, she completed a massage therapy course, which improved her clinical skills and now helps her with patient interaction. During chiropractic school, Dr. Ranstadler concurrently obtained an M.S. in Sports and Health Science. “I am very interested in how movement plays into overall function, maybe a crossover from my days of troubleshooting aircraft,” she said.
For an individual questioning whether chiropractic is the right choice for them, Dr. Ranstadler has some advice. “A good chiropractor should always take the time to speak to you, address your concerns, and explain what your options are before proceeding with treatment plans. Additionally, a thorough exam should be performed so that the safest and most effective treatment can be offered for your individual case,” she explained. “I think that at Tuck, we do a great job of gathering the right information to give great care or help get you where you need to be.”
Dr. Ranstadler’s path to joining our team is filled with dedication and passion: two qualities that have led her to be the successful and caring chiropractor she is today. We are very fortunate to work alongside Dr. Ranstadler, who is also a Certified Massage Therapist, NSCA Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. When she is not serving patients at our Roanoke-Peters Creek office, Dr. Ranstadler finds joy spending time with her husband and two sons, as well as exploring the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.