Testimonials

When I was about age 7, it was obvious to my family that I had inherited the infamous "Alsobrook back" which men in previous generations had suffered from. My father introduced me to chiropractic at that time, when treatments were a whopping $5 each, and I enjoyed the relief chiropractic often brought me. I appreciated chiropractic so much I even considered becoming but felt directed to choose ministry instead.

Over the last 45 years I have been adjusted by no fewer than 40 doctors of chiropractic. Because I've traveled a lot and have had to visit chiropractors for a single treatment on the road as a guest speaker in churches across America and Canada, the total number of doctors I have visited is actually far greater. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that 70 different chiropractors have adjusted my spine over the course of my lifetime at least once. I appreciate almost all of them, and credit continuous care with the lack of arthritis and bone spurs the Alsobrook men suffered from in previous generations by the time they reached my age (53). But I must say that just there are many good composers, but few great ones, many good authors but fewer great ones, there are many good chiropractors and there are a few great ones. The good ones are fairly common, but a precious few have intuitive skills and precision which place them in a class above the others. It's as though their work is a calling rather than an occupation. They not only possess all the technical skills and academic training that others have, they seem to be gifted with a rare ability to know precisely what to do and to vary the adjustments as needed over the course of time with far greater effectiveness than others. I visited a blind chiropractor in New Mexico close to 30 years ago who obviously could not take X-rays, but he gave me a superb one time adjustment while I was speaking in his town. His uniqueness was a special gift from God, he said, and I believed him after his treatment. People drove from miles away to come to this blind doctor and his reputation was near legendary in that part of the country. His waiting area was always full. I can't tell you how many times over the years I've wished I could go back in time and place for another treatment from that uniquely gifted physician.

Due to the wide range of treatments I have received from both chiropractors and osteopaths, I must report that I have never received better care from anyone than from Dr. Chad McClellan . His techniques are unique and his adjustments last. I feel better for days after each visit. This just wasn't the case all the years before, apart from the New Mexico experience, except from two other chiropractors whose expertise, though advanced and beneficial, was still far short of Dr. McClellan's. His abilities are rare and exceptional in treating the spine.

I recommend Dr. McClellan all over town whenever I notice anyone suffering from obvious spinal subluxations as evidenced by their manner movements or peculiar behaviors, such as twisting themselves in a chair or flexing their neck or voicing complaints of head, neck, and backache. I feel I'm doing them a great service by recommending such a gifted young man. Two of those I've sent to him were dramatically improved in a short period of time and can also attest to his skills, as can everyone sitting in the waiting room. Watching his patients exit the treatment area is a testimony all in itself. The relieved expressions, obvious ease of movement, and enthusiastic comments are a joy to everyone present. Some of us walk in dragging, but all of us leave feeling much better because we are better. As a distinguished looking senior sitting in the waiting area remarked a few weeks ago in her charming Southern drawl, "Ah've been goin' to chiropractors all my life and there isn't anyone like that boy Chad." Voices chimed in agreement.

David Alsobrook 
Sure Word Ministries

I was in pain.

I was also frustrated, angry, disappointed and frankly a little scared.

But mostly it was pain. My wife, who has known me for 13 years said she had never seen me like this before.

One week before I was supposed to compete in my first powerlfting meet, we were in Omaha and I was teaching an HKC at SG Human Performance for Mark and Nikki Snow. On Saturday afternoon my neck started to stiffen up. On Sunday I taught an RKC Level 2 prep workshop for 4 hours. By Sunday night, my neck was completely locked up and I was in severe pain. By Monday morning I couldn't roll over or get out of bed without using my hands to support my head. I was in the worst pain that I can ever remember.

We made an emergency trip to a chiropractor Mark knows in Omaha. He told me that my 3rd cervical vertebrae was WAY out of place, but the muscles and soft tissue were so tight that he could not get anything to move.

On Tuesday, we flew back with me in a neck brace.  When I got home I took some of the pain meds left over from surgery. By this time I had begun to accept that I most likely would not be competing on Saturday.

On Wednesday, I went to see my chiropractor, Dr. Chad McClellan. Sent me for X-rays to rule out the possibility of a C2 fracture. Not competing on Saturday suddenly seemed small by comparison. I began to wonder if I would be able to go to Ireland in 4 weeks for RKC. Or worse.

The X-Rays showed no fracture, thank God, and Chad diagnosed it as a bulging disc. C3 had rotated and twisted to the point that the pressure on one side was pushing the disc out to the other side. This put pressure on the associated nerves, causing pain and lack of function, which in turn caused the muscles to tighten even more as a protective reflex. Which caused the disc to remain locked in it's position. I tell you this sucks a LOT. But I believe it is preferable to a neck fracture.

I attacked it from every direction. Daily adjustments ( very gentle and very little movement, but movement nonetheless). Ice. Electrical stimulation. Painkillers. Muscle relaxers. Healing Chi Kung. Rest. By Sunday I was feeling much better and I went to see Brian Wilson for some acupuncture. I suspected that I may have some sort of energetic blockage as a result of the kundalini re-wiring process that was at the root of the whole thing.  After being needled I felt much, much better. Practically zero pain and the range of motion was greatly improved, but not 100%. Turning my head to the right felt like I was running into a mechanical restriction, which would make sense because while C3 had moved, it had not yet returned home.

Monday I went in for my adjustment and instead of the typical "popcorn" sound there was a hollow thump, like tapping a ripe melon. Then…..nothing.  No pain. I got up from the table and there was ZERO restriction in my range of motion. I felt as if everything were lined up the God intended and circulating completely free and unrestricted. I felt like ME again.

I mentioned to Mandy at one point that I wonder how many people daily suffer an experience similar to mine and go to the doctor, get the prescription for pain meds and muscle relaxers, get minimal relief because the root cause is never addressed and wind up either succumbing to a life of pain and dysfunction or wind up with surgery. I am certainly not against conventional western medicine. However, I encourage anyone to look at all the available options whenever a problem arises.

So what caused it? I still don't know. There was no event, no moment of doing something, feeling something and thinking "Uh-oh. I just messed myself up." I am convinced that I didn't hurt my neck last weekend. It just decided to show up last weekend.

What next? Continuing with regular adjustments to keep things where they need to be. Mobility work-Brettzel variations with neck rotations in particular are feeling very good. As for training- I will ease back into it to make sure I am not going to yank anything out of place.

David Whitley, Nashville Kettlebell