Where to Practice and What to Use

I have been thinking a lot about where to practice and what are the techniques that I will do. While I would like to eventually go back to Utah, I know that I don't want to go there right away. I have multiple options available to me.

• I could stay here and work with Matt Alexander
• I could go to Reno, NV and work with Steve Perry
• I could go to Yuba City and work with Dr. Ellison
• I could go back to Utah and work with Dr. Free or Dr. Hanson
• I could go to Arizona and work with someone there
• I could go to some random location just because we want to

Also I have been thinking that I want to work with geriatrics. With that in mind I have been needing to find techniques that are no force or low force so that I don't hurt my patients. At first I fell in love with CBP because it deals with posture. Right now I am learning droptable, activator and SOT (Sacro-Occipital Technique). I am also wanting to learn AMIT (Advanced Muscle Integration Technique) as that will reactivate muscles after they have been through an injury. It seems like I have my techniques that I would be able to use for people.

Here is my sample plan for my patients:

1. Start with AMIT because it's no force, no x-ray needed and it will change the neurology of the muscles so that they will hold the adjustments easier.
2. Next I would use SOT because it is also no force, no x-ray needed and is still a chiropractic adjustment.
3. Then I would use Activator as it's a low force, may or may not need x-ray.
4. If that doesn't help, then I will use droptable mixed with CBP to get the structural adjustment that is needed.
   

I feel with these techniques I would be able to help out someone without hurting them needlessly. We'll see what happens, but I am happy with this so far.

Student Clinic 1

It has begun! This quarter was the beginning of my clinic experience. We start out with just one patient called your reciprical. They are you reciprical because they are your peer and they are your doctor also. What has been fun is that typically it's a race to see who can get to CMR (Case Management Review) the fastest because then you are finished with the class and you'll be able to start adjusting at that point.

Typically it takes 4-5 weeks to accomplish this if you are dedicated, however I was able to set the record by doing it by week 3 on Thursday! :) YAHOO!! I was able to start adjusting on week 4 on Wednesday and again today on Friday.

I had tons of mixed feelings as I was not only excited to start, I was also filled with anxiety because this was my first time doing this. I made a diagnosis on someone. That's a big deal! People really like to know what their diagnosis is and it has legal ramifications. Not only that, but there is a ton of paper work that is always demanded of you.

I have seen other interns go up to a doctor and get reamed because they forgot a number or name. Something so simple, yet so important. I hate making mistakes, so I triple check to make sure that I have everything in order before I go up to them. So far they haven't chastised me :)

The other thing that has amazed me is the amount of time that it takes for people to get in and adjust. I have been adjusted multiple times in the health center and it has taken usually an hour to be done. Both times I was able to be done within 20 min. That to me is just incredible.

The really neat thing that is the most important is that my patient has been adjusted by me since the start of our adjusting classes. I have almost never done a good adjustment on him. Today I did a droptable adjustment on his low back - something that has hurt him for a long time and I have never been able to adjust it. It has been a 8/10 pain typically everyday for almost a year. Today he got relief. One adjustment and he felt instant relief. Talk about the best feeling in the world. Knowing that even with my novice hands, I was able to make a positive difference on someone.

I hope that this feeling continues and I start to adjust other people and especially outpatients.