In 1895, x-rays came into being enabling physicians to view the skeletal structure of their patients. That same year, that same skeletal structure became the specialty of a new type of healer — the chiropractor.
Nearly 80 years later a young engineering student graduated from Virginia Tech. But instead of designing highways and bridges and buildings he decided to help people build better and more functional, less painful, less stressful lives.
"Now I'm a human engineer," said Dr. Roy D. Goddard, head of the Goddard Chiropractic Center, located in the Sherwood Hall Medical Building, 2616 Sherwood Hall Lane.
"Chiropractics is the world's largest drugless healing art. We are helping people through nutrition and lifestyle management. Our society tends to over use drugs when more life style education is needed," Goddard explained.
He cites his own 25-year-old son, Damon, now in his second semester at George Mason Law School, as a prime example. "I don't believe he's ever had more than an aspirin and he is in perfect health," Goddard said.
Practicing since 1977, Goddard moved to his new offices, near Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, just three weeks ago. For the past six years, they were located at 6969 Richmond Highway.
"One of the big benefits to this new location is not having to drive the Route 1 corridor from my home in Belle Haven to the office any more," he said. "But the drawback is that everyone driving Route 1 could see our three story sign in front of the building. That doesn't happen here."
HOWEVER, THIS NEW location in a medical office building, also highlights one of the major changes in the practice of chiropractics. "It is a lot more scientific and accepted by the medical profession at large. We get a lot of referrals from physicians and we make a lot of referrals to physicians," Goddard said.
"I use the computer to analyze and treat the spine. It is a relatively new technique. Our system is only one of 70 in the entire country. I call it crackless chiropractic," he enthused.
"It uses the same technology as checking the rivets on aircraft wings. It puts energy in and checks what is coming out. If there is a variation you know there is a problem. It relies on vibrant energy and can pinpoint weak or stress points," Goddard explained.
"It's an unbelievable system. It's not only painless but we get excellent results," he said. "Diagnostic information appears instantaneous on the computer monitor as each area of concern is explored. It's also easier on both the patient and me."
A NATIVE OF Norfolk, Goddard graduated with honors in 1977 from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. It is the largest and oldest school for that specialty in the nation. "Dr. Palmer developed the art of Chiropractic. And, I wanted to go to the best," Goddard said.
"After graduation I wanted to come back to Virginia, but not necessarily the Tidewater area. At that time Alexandria only had two chiropractors. Today there are probably about 45 in the immediate area," he said.
One of the reasons the specialty has been slow to flourish here is because Virginia is only one of two states in the nation that does not do its licensing through a Chiropractic Board, according to Goddard. "We are administered by the Virginia Medical Board. The exam is much tougher than in other areas and that has tended to keep the number of practitioners down," he pointed out.
WORKING WITH GODDARD at the clinic is Christopher Vogelmann, also a chiropractor; Kitty Ahmad, therapy assistant; Sherie Sheldon, skin care specialist; Diane Ritter, office manager; and Mary Szemboeski, receptionist.
A 1981 graduate of Harvard University with a degree in psychology, Dr. Vogelmann decided to follow in his father's footsteps and become a chiropractor. "My dad has been practicing for 51 years. And, at 78 he is still going strong at his office in Buffalo," he said. "He had me processing medicare forms when I was 13."
Vogelmann completed his training in chiropractic at Logan College in St. Louis, MO, graduating in 1987. He and Goddard became affiliated after Goddard attended a seminar being taught by Vogelmann.
"We have known each other for about 10 years but we just joined our practices last year," he explained. "I specialize in low force pressure. My youngest patient so far was four days old and my oldest is 96."
One of the patients who has benefitted from Vogelmann's expertise is Linda Boyd, a Mount Vernon resident who suffered from a very painful injury to her back, hip and neck as a result of a fall on concrete. "I had been to a variety of physicians over a year and a
half with little or no results. Then my neurologist sent me to the clinic," she said.
"I have only been going there for about three months and I can't believe how much Dr. Vogelmann has helped me. I'm still in therapy but I'm doing really well. I was actually able to go dancing recently," Boyd said.
Known as the Toftness Technique, it applies the principals of soft touch manipulation, according to Boyd. "I'm just so happy that almost all the pain is gone," she exclaimed.
ANOTHER MOUNT VERNON area resident, Susan Reynolds, attributes Dr. Goddard not only with alleviating her medical problems but also with influencing her son to become a chiropractor. "He graduates this June from Life University in Marietta, GA, and intends to set up practice in Northern Virginia," she said.
"My husband had been going to Dr. Goddard for a bad back. Then I developed a pinched nerve in my arm which was very painful. He really helped me. Now I go for regular check-up," Reynolds said.
Goddard explained that chiropractic looks at the whole body, not just the spine. "We treat the spine because it runs the nervous system and that is the electrical system of the body. But, we are helping people with their nutrition and lifestyle management as well," Goddard said.
"Chiropractic is trying to find out where the pain is not coming from. It is identifying the basic cause. It can range from diet to physical causes. Our philosophy is to educate people that they are responsible for themselves. How they live is the prime determinant in many cases," he emphasized.
This was buttressed by a 20-year patient, Fred Ludwig, who lives in the Fort Belvoir area. "My wife grew up going to chiropractors but I was always a little skeptical and suspicious. Then she hurt her back and was in such pain she could hardly stand up straight. She went to Dr. Goddard and two days later she was bowling. This impressed me," Ludwig said.
"A couple of years later I developed a disc problem so I decided to go to Dr. Goddard. He was very professional and has been working with me over the years. My problem is going to be with me but I wouldn't be walking today if it wasn't for him," he insisted.
"I also learned that chiropractic is a lot more than just treating physical ailments. I've had friends who have allergies and other problems and have gained real help from a chiropractor," Ludwig said. "But, it also depends on how you do things, like bending at the knees, and how you live."
SOME OF THOSE lifestyle choices involve not sitting for long periods of time without moving around, using more ergonomic chairs, not cradling a telephone between the shoulder and neck, and not placing the computer monitor so it requires looking downward, according to Goddard.
He explained, "There are five points of the body that should be in alignment for the spine to be in the right posture. They are the ankle, knee, hip, shoulder, and ear. The head weighs 14 pounds. If its leaning forward it's like having a bowling ball pulling on the spine."
But the work of modern chiropractic often begins before an individual is capable of establishing a lifestyle, Goddard said.
"We do scoliosis screening to check for spine curvature. We particularly like to check children well before they reach adolescence, even babies.
"As they get older it gets more difficult to correct. After all, one of the most traumatic experiences of life is birth. Most people never think of chiropractic for babies. But that is when the problems start."
In addition to helping individual patients, Goddard's Center is initiating monthly seminars on various subjects. This week they conducted a class on Women's Health focusing on menopausal symptoms. Next, they will concentrate on carpal tunnel syndrome, an affliction affiliated with repetitious motion performed in a constant pattern.
"We hope to broaden the practice by bringing in a holistic doctor of medicine, one that uses means other than drugs to treat patients. It's easier to stay well than get well. Taking care of your body is not unlike taking care of your car. Maintenance is the secret, depending on how many potholes you hit," he assured.
"The ancient Chinese used to pay their doctors when they stayed healthy. They stopped paying if they got sick. They believed the role of the doctor was to keep them well through their special knowledge. Imagine how our insurance premiums would be if we did the same," Goddard asked.