Mill District Business Spotlight: Bierbrauer Chiropractic

I recently met with Dr. Chris Bierbrauer of Bierbrauer Chiropractic, located at 221 10th Avenue South in the Bridgewater Lofts building.   The soothing spa aroma puts you into relaxation mode as soon as you enter the office.  His website states it's "a new kind of Chiropractic care", and I quickly learned exactly what that meant. 

After earning his degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1995, Dr. Bierbrauer practiced in Green Bay, Chicago and Platteville.   All the while, he knew there was a better way to treat patients, and about 10 years ago he started looking at soft tissue work.   Since establishing his own practice here in the Mill District in November 2008, he now concentrates on two soft tissue methods - the Active Release Technique and the Graston Technique.  This is what sets Bierbrauer Chiropractic apart from other practices.

Below, Dr. Bierbrauer demonstrates how he uses specific tools to manipulate nerves at the muscle level.  This allows him to zero in on issues ranging from carpal tunnel syndrome to tennis elbow.  He cited an example of a patient suffering from "calf contracture" - her calf muscles were so tight they felt like bone, and she was unable to stand flat-footed.  Soft tissue treatments were the effective treatment for her.

Patients range from newborns to seniors, although a large percentage are athletes - runners, iron men, triathletes, skiers and weight lifters.  In fact, Dr. Bierbrauer's first patient was a pitcher from an AL Central Team in town for a game against the Twins.  Although his office wasn't officially open yet, he was sought out because of his ability to perform the tissue treatment needed for this professional athlete.

A colicky baby may be in need of a single adjustment to provide relief.  The birthing process can be tramatic - all the manipulating can cause immobility in the neck from the cranial nerve that comes off the brain stem. 

Dr. Bierbrauer explained the efficiency of soft tissue treatments.   He does not subscribe to the old ways of scheduling X visits per week for X number of weeks.  Rather, he spends more time with a patient during a visit, and only schedules a follow up if it's needed.  (So this old joke does not apply here: "How many chiropractors does it take to screw in a light bulb?  Only 1, but it takes 36 visits.")

Dr. Bierbrauer lives in North East with his wife, Missy Wilson, a Graphic Designer for Duffy & Partners (another Mill District business).