Chiropractor Dr. Staci Addessi Embodies the Spirit of Tikkun Olam in her Chiropractic Practice
A new year brings with it the very best intentions to get in shape and be more mindful about health and wellness. What could be better than a clean slate and a fresh start to work toward new goals?
Whether that means a gym membership or yoga practice, as long as it’s sustainable it’s all good. There is another practice (often overlooked) that could help improve your overall health and contribute to more sustained wellness. Chiropractic care, which uses gentle manipulation to remove restrictions from the vertebrae, not only can reduce long- term pain, but also offers a proactive approach to your overall health.
It can have tremendous effects on your mobility and can get you feeling good so you can get to that yoga class or the gym. Think of it as a holistic, whole-body approach to wellness.
Staci Addessi, D.C., a chiropractor practicing in Middletown, works with all patients from the very young to the old. She provides sustainable pain relief and preventive care. She believes that chiropractic care is the key to alleviating many sources of chronic pain.
Over the past 20 years, she has gained the respect of her community by treating ailments like lower back pain, sports injuries, arthritis, and scoliosis, among others. Growing up in a Jewish household, Dr. Addessi was informed at an early age of the Jewish principles of tikkun olam.
This concept refers to any action intended to repair or improve the world. She says that treating her patients allows her to do just that.
As a young girl growing up in Florida, she and her family benefited from chiropractic care, starting when her father suffered from low-back pain. These visits altered her life course and she believed it was her calling and a way for her to heal her own world. In 2004, she opened her practice and now includes physical therapy, acupuncture massage therapy and cupping.
JLife: What are some trends that you are noticing for 2024?
Dr. Addessi: I am seeing more chiropractors integrating other professions in their offices to help patients heal faster. The addition of physical therapists, acupuncturists, massage therapists and functional nutritionists can cover myriad patients’ fundamental needs and help them to heal and thrive. The benefits achieved through this collaboration of professionals tend to help patients heal faster with longer- lasting results.
JLife: Do you see an influx of patients in any given new year?
Dr. Addessi: We typically see new patients all year round. During the winter months, we treat those who are intent on remaining healthy during cold and flu season. We also see a lot of snow shoveling injuries as well as athletics and pregnancy concerns. Then in the spring, we see patients that are starting outdoor sports after a few months of indoor training. As the year progresses, we continue to care for those who remain active but suffer from overuse injuries, as well as the typical (more common) concerns like headaches, neck and back pain, improved mobility, and better posture.
JLife: What modalities do you offer in addition to chiropractic care?
Dr. Addessi: Physical therapy and acupuncture are very popular in our office. We also proudly offer decompression traction, which is a motorized traction that may help relieve back pain by gently stretching the spine to create space for nutrients to move more freely. We offer cold laser therapy that stimulates cell regeneration and increases blood circulation. Other modalities include cupping, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, vibration therapy, and massage therapy.
JLife: What are some of the greatest misconceptions facing your industry?
Dr. Addessi: The notion that chiropractic care is strictly for back pain. We help patients of all ages obtain optimal health to thrive and sustain healthy lifestyles with all kinds of ailments.
JLife: What is the best part about being a chiropractor?
Dr. Addessi: I enjoy being able to help people with my own two hands. Since I was a young girl, my dream was to become a chiropractor to heal the world. I love taking care of generations of families and it’s always an honor to care for babies. I enjoy advising new parents as well as caring for their parents and great-grandparents. There is no one-size-fits all in chiropractic care. Everyone has individual needs and my approach has always been to take the time to understand each patient’s daily routines such as work demands, personal stresses, nutrition, traumas, and patterns of daily life. My 20 years of experience have afforded me an immense amount of lifestyle knowledge to be able to share.
JLife: Are there any challenges you face in the day-to-day of having your own practice?
Dr. Addessi: Well if you are giving me an invitation to kvetch, I will say that I have to be vigilant about taking my advice and listen to my body to give it what it needs. This allows me to show up as the best version of myself for my patients. My profession is extremely physical and I need to make sure I’m at the top of my game by taking in quality nutrients, getting exercise, plenty of sleep, and of course, getting adjusted.
For more information on Elite Chiropractic, visit www.elite-chiropractic.com.
GENA ANSELL-LANDE is a contributing writer to Jlife Magazine.
