Dooley Noted: 4/8/2014 As an educator, I have been faced with very tall orders. Teach me. Inspire me. Help me understand. Motivate me. Figure out my roadblocks. Make this easier for me. The demands of a student can be great, and I never mind a challenge. But I know the truth. A teacher can only help as much as students help themselves. I hear too many of these: “He’s a terrible teacher.” “I can’t learn … Read more
Dooley Noted: 4/7/14 I’ve seen my share of patients, who have been adjusted in the same spinal segments over and over for years. They’re stretching the same standard muscles, and they still feel tight in the same spots. You can do mobility drills all day and night. But if you lack stability in a joint, its muscles will reflexively tighten to protect it. This is true with incessant hamstring tightness, as a person uses the … Read more
Dooley Noted: 4/6/2014 I’ve read a litany of research articles. I have the honor of being a reviewer for Clinical Anatomy, a peer-reviewed journal. Yesterday, I had an interesting online discussion with a fellow practitioner about evidence-based practices. He felt strongly that he wanted to use techniques after he had “checked the facts.” I find it fascinating that people who have never done research actually think that research produces facts. Research only tests ideas called … Read more
Dooley Noted: 4/5/2014 Some people won’t give their full commitment in a relationship, due to fear of reciprocity. How can they be guaranteed that someone else will return the commitment? You might think I’m writing of romantic relationships. But this applies to ALL relationships – including the doctor-patient ones. Some patients fear reciprocity in the opposite direction, running from practitioners that want to inspire them. Frankly, I’m a strong supporter of giving out what you’d … Read more
Dooley Noted: 4/4/2014 I used to be the kind of driver that would run the yellow lights. I saw the caution light, and I would blast right through it. I don’t drive in New York. I traded driving life for a subway life that takes me to work. As I accumulate time in practice, I have the honor of watching people move for an hour at a time. A particular patient yesterday gave me permission … Read more
Dooley Noted: 4/3/2014 We grew up in a tiny Indiana farm town, right next door to one another. We have no memory of not knowing each other, since we’ve basically been friends since the crib. We had little culture to groom us, in a Midwest town closed off to the rest of the world. So, we entertained each other. To this day, we have zero trouble entertaining each other. But it hasn’t always been sunshine … Read more
Dooley Noted: 4/2/2014 I spent my first two hours this morning analyzing the videos of four diligent patients who want results. As their healthcare provider, there is no better way to spend my time. If I’m only seeing you for an hour in the office, I’m only seeing you for less than 1/2 of a percent of your week. You might be looking great in the hour I get! What happens when you get home … Read more
Dooley Noted: 4/1/2014 With such a busy, intense schedule, I’m sure you all will understand when I tell you I’m no longer writing Dooley Noted. Luckily, it’s April Fool’s Day, and you must know I have no intention of stopping. Today is the 1,187th daily entry. This blog has been one of the most consistent things I’ve done for more than three years. But in a way, I’m not even writing Dooley Noted anymore. It … Read more
Dooley Noted: 3/31/2014 This March had 5 weekends and it’s typical 31 days. But I took no weekends off. Each one was spent teaching NKT, from Australia to the Midwest to my home base in New York City. I used to live for March, because of March Madness and the NCAA tournament. My fondest memories of childhood including watching Mom count up bracket results and watch nail-biting games. As things have changed, I can’t tell … Read more
Dooley Noted: 3/30/2014 I had a patient come to me recently, who gave me permission to discuss her recent trip to her general practitioner. She described how the doctor noted he was perplexed by her issue. She was shuttled to a specialist. Then, she was shuttled to another therapist. Waiting for an appointment with a therapist can take weeks – even months. In this time, she researched her condition and had many questions. She went … Read more