March 29, 2024

Time for an adjustment

Simmers set up new chiropractic practice

Have you noticed Southern Hills Chiropractic is now Simmer Chiropractic and Wellness?

“What really turned me on to Osceola was several of the business-community leaders,” said Dr. Michael Simmer. “It really encouraged me to start a practice here, or take over Dr. Heath’s practice here.”

The business is owned by Simmer, 49, and his wife Dr. Shaun Simmer.

Simmer will be available full-time and his wife will work part-time.

“When you’re married this many years, you both own everything together,” Simmer said with a laugh. “Since we have six kids, she cannot practice full-time.”

Get to know

Simmer has been a practicing chiropractor for 23 years. He graduated from Life Chiropractic College in California in 1991. It was at school where the husband and wife team met.

Most recently, Simmer sold his practice in Idaho.

Simmer said he does “very traditional, specific, gentle adjustments.”

For any new patient, there is a thorough consultation, detailed examination and X-rays. Simmer studies the results and formulates a treatment plan for the individual patient.

“One of the things I don’t like is generic treatment plans,” he said. “Every patient gets a specific treatment, specific adjustment and a specific frequency for their care.”

Common issues

The common issues they treat are back pain, leg pain — sciatica — headaches, shoulder and arm pain, upper back and postural problems, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia and migraines.

Simmer said chiropractic has evolved throughout the years with teaching and continuing education. It has turned into a holistic profession using professional nutritional supplements, as well as lasers to stimulate healing and advance anti-aging techniques to help people to become healthy.

“We’re adding a whole wellness component to the office,” Simmer said. “My wife is going to do acupuncture down here.”

Gonstead Technique

When it comes to helping patients, Simmer said he focuses on the Gonstead Technique. He called it a precise, gentle technique and not a manipulation where the body is twisted just to crack a bone.

Simmer gave an example of seeing a 98-year-old woman and 2-year-old child on the same day, and the technique was able to be applied to both of them.

“We don’t manipulate the spine. We adjust the vertebrae,” he said.

The Simmers are also focused on redoing the outside of their office building to create a nice exterior.

Simmer was asked why a new patient should choose his chiropractic practice.

“Well, I would never, in all of these years, downplay going to see somebody else. That’s important,” he said. “But, what I think adds some uniqueness to our treatment is that I don’t rush through and adjust people without a thorough examination first. And, I will study those X-rays for at least 20 to 30 minutes before I adjust somebody.”