Dooley Noted: 5/31/2014 On the first visit, I tend to ask a goal the person would like to achieve. I hear these common replies: “I want to feel better.” “I want to wake up without pain.” “I want to lose 20 pounds.” “I want to rid myself of anxiety.” The next hour is filled with an arduous, in-depth discussion of the person’s intake. I point out areas that may hinder the person’s goals. Sometimes, I … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/30/2014 Last weekend, I had the honor of assessing the movement of Joel Schwartz, SFG. Like myself, Joel is a doctor, but not a medical or chiropractic one. He has a judicial doctorate, making him a lawyer. I’d be willing to throw myself in front of a speeding bullet for my own awesome lawyer, so I wanted to pay special attention to Joel. Also, this lawyer keeps a kettlebell at work to take … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/28/2014 I’m a chiropractor, not a surgeon. Unless you count my cadaveric dissections, I don’t get to explore by cutting people open. I’m confined to the small stuff But ask someone with pain how small it feels. Pain can alter and encompass one’s life, especially if one can’t do the small things. My days consist of helping people do pain-free pull-ups and push-ups, or fastening the bra without pain, or reaching to the … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/27/14 On my patient visits, I request people bring tank tops and shorts. But on the first visit, I rarely make them change. I like to see the difference between wearing comfortable clothes and what they choose to wear in everyday life. The difference can be dramatic! Folks in business attire can barely move. They have button-down shirts that restrict arm and spinal movement. They have pants that are at risk for splitting … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/25/14 Yesterday, I had the honor of working side by side with the amazing Brian Kotoka in Toronto. My best friend and all around juggernaut, Dr. Monica Chadha, arranged for us to work in her shared space: Majestic Strength Institute, to assess the human movement of 9 open-minded, wonderfully sharing people. The world of personal training and chiropractic are being revolutionized, and Brian and I share a very similar mindset that includes the … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/24/14 I had the honor of guest speaking at Crunch gym in Manhattan, on 222 E 24th Street. Mike Spiegel, Crunch’s fitness manager, requested some functional anatomy. So, we spent four hours discussing the spiral fascial line and dynamic stretching within this line. Anatomy is much less daunting to learn if you see it and feel it for yourself. We looked at diagrams, then palpated on ourselves where we find the muscles. We … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/23/2014 One thing a patient never wants to hear is that his or her presentation is “complicated.” When doctors state that, you can bet they don’t have a clue what is going on with the patient. They cast the patient off as complicated, out of fear of admitting they simply don’t know. It’s called “practice” for a reason. You’re still a qualified professional if you check your ego at the door and admit … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/22/2014 I can’t teach a single seminar without a student stating these words: “Why didn’t I learn about this in school?!” You should see their faces. They are disgusted with their education and express feeling jilted. I also teach in professional programs during their education. Let me state this fact: the vast majority of students care more about what will appear on the exam and not how it applies in practice. It’s student … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/21/2014 I had the honor of visiting Marshall Roy at his gym RISE in King of Prussia. Marshall proves the quintessential “meathead” is only part of an athlete. Although he is tank of a human, he is one of the smartest, warmest people you will ever meet. While we were lifting, he spoke of his disappointment with the promises made by many commercial gyms. “No money down! No commitment!” He noted how gyms … Read more
Dooley Noted: 5/20/14 Last summer was a blur. But I remember one weekend distinctly. For Father’s Day, I flew home to Indiana. When I arrived, my father was sitting at his beloved picnic table that overlooks his garden. My father’s once lush garden was barely planted. He looked thin and troubled. I asked him how he felt. His reply? “Like hell.” His knee was aching. He asked for my help. It would forever be the … Read more