Why I Practice Gentle Chiropractic Care
A nervous-system-first approach for people whose pain keeps coming back and whose body needs support, not more force.
Why Patients Often Arrive
Many people arrive after trying a lot of the right things: stretching, massage, physical therapy, rest, strengthening, or previous chiropractic care.
Sometimes those things help for a while, but the same pain keeps coming back. That does not mean your body is broken. It often means the pattern has not been fully understood yet.
The Breaking Point
I was scheduled to present at PeaceHealth Hospital when I woke up completely immobilized. Could not move. Could not function. Just hours before I was supposed to be on stage.
I loaded up on ibuprofen, slathered on muscle rubs, and somehow got through the event. Then I was bedridden for three days. For the next three years, rising from a chair without excruciating pain was a daily battle.
The Fragmented Search
I did what you are probably doing now. I searched. Hundreds of practitioners. Chiropractors. Osteopaths. Massage therapists. Physical therapists. Medical doctors. Healers of every kind.
Each one had a piece of the puzzle. None of them had the whole picture. One focused on my spine. Another on my muscles. Someone else suggested it was all in my nervous system. They were each partly right—and partly incomplete.
I kept thinking: Why is no one looking at how these systems connect?
Why I Practice This Way
Over time, I have learned that bodies do not change well when they feel threatened. That is why my work starts with listening, assessment, and the least forceful input that can create useful change.
- How the nervous system controls and protects
- How structure and movement actually function
- How gentle hands-on work can help the body settle
- How the right technology can support tissue healing and recovery
I use traditional chiropractic adjustments when they are appropriate. But I do not believe every body needs more force. Many people improve faster when care first reduces guarding, restores trust in movement, and gives the body a clearer sense of support.
What Patients Can Expect
In the room, you can expect care that is calm, direct, and specific. I will explain what I am seeing, why it matters, and how each part of the plan connects to your goals.
Sometimes that means a traditional adjustment. Sometimes it means light-touch care, upper cervical work, breath, movement, or support for stress regulation and recovery first.
The goal is to help your body settle enough to move differently, not to force the same treatment into every person.
Selected Training and Credentials
My work is shaped by training across chiropractic, functional neurology, movement, massage, yoga, and Ayurveda. I care about credentials because they should translate into better clinical reasoning—not just more letters after a name.
Core Education and Certifications
- Doctor of Chiropractic — Life West Chiropractic College
- Fellowship of Functional Neurology — IAFNR / IBFN
- Massage Therapist Certification — Ashland Institute of Massage
- Yoga Instructor Training — Eugene School of Yoga
- Clinical Ayurveda training — California College of Ayurveda
Relevant Postgraduate Training
- Nonsurgical Joint Replacement of Hip, Shoulder, and Knee
- Pain in the Frame: The Neuromatrix Approach to Pain
- Concussion Masterclass with IAFNR
- Diploma in Osteopathic Positional Release / Strain-Counterstrain
- Functional Neurology Seminars
I also draw from training in rehabilitation, soft tissue work, posture, and movement-based care so treatment is tailored to the full pattern—not just the painful spot.
Previously Practiced With
Earlier in my career, I also worked in and alongside other local practices, including:
Contact Dr. Volz
Wondering if this approach is a fit? Send a note about what has been happening, what you have tried, and what you would like to get back to. Dr. Volz will help you decide whether an assessment makes sense.
No pressure. No one-size-fits-all plan. Just a clearer next step.