Roots & Wings Chiropractic— getting to the root of your issues so that you can fly
What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the word “chiropractor”. To me, it’s adjustment. The term “chiropractor” means Done by Hand in Greek: cheir (meaning “hand”) and praktos (meaning “done”). Chiropractic Care was developed by Daniel David Palmer in 1895 after performing his initial adjustment on a janitor who became deaf 17 years prior after he felt something “give” in his back. Palmer gave him an exam, did an “adjustment” to what he examined as a misplaced vertebra in his upper back, resulting in improved hearing of the janitor. The goal of this procedure, also known as spinal manipulation, is to improve spinal motion and improve your body’s physical function.
Fast forward to today, there are over 70,000 chiropractic licenses in the US alone. And what I have found is that, although their schooling and licensing are similar, everyone seems to have their own style and flair.
This was proven to me after visiting Katelyn Kraft, a Doctor of Chiropractic in her newly minted downtown Cincinnati practice, Roots & Wings Chiropractic. Dr. Kate opened her doors at the start of 2021 after relocating from South Carolina where she received her doctorate of chiropractic care. She studied at Sherman College of Chiropractic alongside Dr. Corbin Critz, who will be joining her practice in the spring of 2021.
I had the opportunity to do an initial exam and follow up consultation with Dr. Kate a few weeks ago, and my experience was much different than previous chiropractic visits. First off, I didn’t walk in with any major ailments or pain aside from a slight pinch in my low-back and chronic tension in my neck. My main goal was to get a better understanding of my overall wellness, as well as get a feel for the first-time experience for this feature, of course. Dr. Kate’s setup was very different in that she has an open floor plan where people will some day receive adjustments and hands-on treatment out in the open. It definitely felt a lot less clinical, and more like a wellness space. But, all consultations happen in her private office.
For my initial consultation, Dr. Kate went through a long assessment of my overall health. We discussed family history, surgeries, medications, but also diet, exercise, and lifestyle, which was really refreshing to me. Kate believes that you need to understand both aspects of a person’s health before you can properly treat them (and I am in full agreement).
After the initial verbal consultation, Kate took x-rays and did a hands on assessment of my strength, mobility, and balance, as well as a digital postural analysis. Then, she took me out to the main room for a “ride” on the intersegmental traction machine or “roller table” to warm up my spine, then performed an adjustment using the Thompson technique and Diversified, which are manual adjustments specific for adjusting articular misalignments in the spine.
I came back the following week for my follow-up appointment, where we reviewed my X-Rays, discussed at home treatment methods and her custom treatment recommendation based on her findings. She then gave me a different kind of adjustment, using the Torque Release Technique (TRT) which is a low force instrument adjusting technique using an instrument called the integrator. This particular technique, as described by Dr. Kate, is “tonal” as opposed to “articular” in that it finds areas of tension around the spinal cord and gently releases the tension to unwind the entire spine. It’s for people who do not like the typical popping and cracking of chiropractic adjustments. There’s also strong research that TRT supports mental health issues, can help with addiction, anxiety, depression, stress, as well as infertility, ADD/ADHD, autism, and more.
Both of my adjustments left me feeling relief in my low back, increased mobility in my neck, and a notable increase in my mood.
Other reported benefits of chiropractic adjustments include headache and migraine relief, and improvement in athletic performance by reducing inflammatory cytokines, boosting the immune system, enhancing pulmonary function, decreasing mental and oxidative stress, relieving muscle tension, and naturally increasing energy levels.
Dr. Kate’s goal is less about alleviating pain and sending you on your way. Her practice is set up to become a part of her clients’ wellness regimen to optimize your physical and mental health and help prevent issues from arising. Roots & Wings Chiropractic would be a good fit for you are interested in getting to the source of your pain or structural limitations, are experiencing chronic migraines or headaches, are dealing with anxiety or stress, and/or are looking to get in a habit of regular chiropractic tune-ups for your overall health and wellbeing.
Visit their website here for more information and to schedule your initial consultation.
