Orcas Island Chiropractor
Education & Credentials:
Diplomate in Chiropractic Cranio-Cervical Junction Procedures : DCCJP (2019)
Secretary and Board of Directors of the International Chiropractic Associiations Council on Upper Cervical Care (2021-present)
Treasurer and Board of Directors of the International Chiropractic Associations Council on Upper Cervical Care (2017- 2020)
Advanced Level Certification in Whiplash Biomechanics & Traumatology through the Spine Research Institute of San Diego (2017)
Board Certified in the Atlas Orthogonal Technique from Sherman College of Chiropractic (2011)
Certification in Manual Muscle Testing through the International College of Applied Kinesiology (2001)
Doctor of Chiropractic : Life Chiropractic University in Atlanta (1999)
Bachelors of Science : University of Florida (1992)
I take a holistic and personalized approach to chiropractic care and customize my treatment plans to meet the needs of each patient. My primary focus is on the restoration and maintenance of cervical spine (neck) health & function. That includes helping people resolve acute and chronic neck pain, headaches, whiplash & post-concussion symptoms, and upper extremity conditions.
My approach incorporates gentle spinal, cranial, and extremity adjustments, manual muscle testing, cervical traction, injury recall techniques, neuromuscular rehabilitation, functional evaluations, postural awareness and self-care exercises. I recognize that postural habits and lifestyle choices can have a dramatic impact on ones health and ability to recover. For this reason, I help my patients discover areas of improvement in an effort to minimize the aggravating factors and maximize the conditions for healing. The goal is to help you get well quickly and stay that way.
The more you learn about your body, the better choices you can make on how to best care for yourself and I want to empower you to do just that. I’m a firm believer in teamwork and have developed a large network of physicians and bodyworkers that I collaborate with, especially when the complexity of the condition requires multi-modal treatment.
I attend numerous conferences and training programs throughout the year to advance my knowledge and improve clinical outcomes for my patients. In June of 2019, I received my Diplomate in Chiropractic Craniocervical Junction Procedures (DCCJP). The DCCJP is a rigorous, post-graduate 300-hour/2.5 year advanced study in upper cervical spinal biomechanics, neuroanatomy, neuro-physiology, advanced imaging, chiropractic diagnostic and corrective techniques, outcome assessments, and upper cervical research. I am currently the only DCCJP in the San Juan Islands, Seattle, Bellingham, Mt. Vernon, and Anacortes & one of 3 in WA-state.
I offer complementary consultations, so feel free to reach out if you would like to discuss your concerns and get questions answered prior to scheduling your visit.
Services Offered
Expert Care for the Cervical Spine
The Cranio-cervical junction (CCJ) contains the most complex joints in the human body. The CCJ is a collective term that refers to the area where your head and neck connect and is a transitional area between the mobile head and relatively rigid spinal column. The brainstem, spinal cord, and vertebral arteries pass through the CCJ making it both the neurologic switch and the primary pathway for the exchange of fluids between the brain and body. The key vertebrae in the CCJ is the atlas or 1st cervical vertebrae. When the atlas becomes misaligned it can increase tension on the spinal cord, spinal nerves, muscles, ligaments, veins and arteries in the CCJ and can disrupt the proper function of the nerve, muscular, vestibular, vascular, and cerebral spinal fluid systems. Dysfunction at the CCJ can have serious neurologic & neuromotor consequences. It’s often found to be an underlying cause of chronic whiplash and post-concussion symptoms, headaches, and neck pain. The CCJ is a vital & vulnerable region and therefore merits specialized training for proper care and treatment. Adjustments in this region are gentle, specific and do not involve twisting or cracking the neck.
Applied Kinesiology Neurologic Muscle Testing
Dr. Kohler is a Certified Applied Kinesiologist and has practiced the art of Neurologic Manual Muscle Testing for over 22 years. The manual muscle test is valuable diagnostic tool to aid in the detection and correction of neurologic joint dysfunction and for evaluating the mental, physical, and emotional elements of health. Dr. Kohler utilizes the muscle test to evaluate functional progress with the primary objective being the optimization of the bodies self-healing and self-regulating ability. This translates into improved function and elimination of pain for many of his patients.