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Q: What’s your background and what led you to become a doctor of chiropractic?

A: I grew up in Ohio and played a lot of sports including high school baseball and football. My senior year in football I was having a lot of low back stiffness and my legs felt heavy. I played wide receiver and free safety, and special teams. Being only 143 lbs, my body was taking a tremendous beating. My mom took me to a chiropractor for the first time when I was 17 and it helped me a lot. It kept me on the field and healthy throughout the season. A few years later my best friend was starting chiropractic school in Atlanta (Life University) and I decided to move there and finish my Bachelors degree in Nutrition for Dietetics. I loved what chiropractic was doing for my health, so I decided to enroll in the Doctorate of Chiropractic program. Four years later I graduated and started my career. I have been in practice for nearly 17 years.

Q: For those who are less familiar with chiropractic work, can you briefly explain the care model and how it works?

A: There are several types of chiropractors. Some chiropractors focus on just pain relief. I'm a corrective care chiropractor. I take the time to find out what brought them in, what kind of trauma's they've had in the past that could be causing their problems and find out what activities/sports the pain is keeping them from doing. I take X-rays, if needed, to find out where the problems are coming from. I'll sit down with the patient to go over everything from the exam and x-rays and then recommend a care plan. We want to not only get the patient out of pain, but to also correct the problem that brought them to me in the first place.

Q: Who do you help and how?

A: My biggest patient base is comprised of workers from the tech industry who average between the two and three hours commuting, then sit at a computer for another eight or more hours a day with poor posture. I take care of everybody from three year olds with stomach aches to the elderly with various aches and pains. Chiropractic care is safe for all ages from newborn babies through the elderly.

Q: What types of activities do you enjoy when you’re not working?

A: For the past eight years I have been training and competing in Crossfit. After high school football, I thought my competitive days were over. Then I found Crossfit and realized I was really good at it. I love the training methods and community. I train at Crossfit CSA in Dublin. I also enjoy snowboarding/skiing, wake boarding and playing with my four year old boxer Daisy.

Q: How would you like your clients and colleagues to think of you?

A: That my goal is to give the best quality of natural healthcare possible through chiropractic care. I also walk my talk by living a chiropractic lifestyle which includes proper nutrition, exercise and getting my spine adjusted a few times a month.

Dr. Russell can be reached through his website, and will be presenting a free workshop on maintaining mobility at Tri Valley Trainer this Saturday at noon.

Dan Taylor, ACE, NASM-CPT, is owner and head trainer at Pleasanton-based Tri Valley Trainer. They provide personal training and small group fitness solutions at their studio, a free Facebook group for living a lean lifestyle for non-cooks with chaotic schedules, and a premium, innovative, medically endorsed web-based group healthy eating coaching program.