New Trend in Chiropractic Care Enhances Active Lifestyles

By Emily Clingman-Johnson
It’s that time of year when athletes take advantage of the weather and step up their exercise routines. Colorado’s seemingly endless sun and wide array of outdoor recreation spots will bring climbers, bicyclists, runners, disc golf players and sports enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes out by the masses. Combine that with America’s trend in the past few years to get healthy and you’ll find that Colorado is one of the most physically fit states in the country.
Athletes are regularly pushing their bodies to the max. It’s only after an injury that many athletes turn to chiropractors, but it may be more beneficial to integrate chiropractic therapy into their weekly training routine. Since their performance is based on the health and strength of their body, it’s also likely that they need regular massage treatments and physiotherapy sessions to keep performing to their fullest potential.
Local chiropractic doctor Tyler Gatteau, owner of The Human Health Place, incorporates all three of these aspects into his patient care.
“So many people don’t know where to go to treat their pain,” Gatteau said. “Choosing between physiotherapy, chiropractic care or massage therapy can be confusing,” Gatteau said. “It makes sense to combine all three because they each are [all] components to an injury.”
Gatteau is no stranger to physical fitness. As a child gymnast and diver, he was trained from a young age to be in tune with his body. He’s been active his whole life as a Fort Collins native, a U.S. Marine, and, these days, a mountain biker, rock climber, snowboarder, river boarder, boxer and rugby player – just to name a few.
Knowing how to treat his own aches and pains helped shape his triad approach to healing.
Though he is HIPPA certified and he received a Doctor of Chiropractic degree through Life West Chiropractic College in Hayward, California, Gatteau sees himself completely different from a traditional medical doctor, both in practice and in personality. Gatteau, who sometimes can be found practicing in shorts and sandals or being called “Dr. G.” by his admiring patients, strives to provide a holistic environment for his patients.
“It doesn’t have to be scary to come to the doctor.”
Gatteau takes pride in the fact that his patient sessions last sixty or more minutes, allowing for time to really get to the root of the physical pain.
“We don’t just rack ‘em and crack ‘em,” he said, referring to a phrase sometimes used to describe in-and-out chiropractic adjustments that are sometimes just five minutes each. “Based off the idea that muscles are connected to joints and vice versa, to work on one, we have to work on the other.”
Gatteau does his job on the rehabilitation side of the injury and pain, and then teaches his patients techniques to maintain optimal athletic health.
“A lot of athletes don’t know how to warm up or stretch properly,” He said. “If someone explains it you and it makes sense, then its fun to do the work,”
Athletes don’t need to wait for an injury to seek treatment. Range of motion deficiencies in any part of the body, aches, fatigue, restless leg syndrome, carpel tunnel syndrome or the inability to sleep can be alleviated with Gatteau’s approach to wellness care. For more information about optimal fitness health, contact Dr. Gatteau at www.humanhealthplace.com.