Why did you get into chiropractic?
I was working with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an Athletic Training Intern when I was introduced to Chiropractic and Spinal Manipulation. I was very intrigued and decided to pursue chiropractic school for Sports Performance. I honestly had no idea about the Philosophy behind Chiropractic, but I appreciated its Holistic approach.
Tell us about your practice. Where, and what do you specialize in?
I have a cash practice based in South Florida. I’m located in Wellington, FL, which has the largest equestrian population location in the world, so I tend to treat a lot of equestrian athletes. I also work with quite a few pro baseball players due to my close relationship with Cressey Sports Performance. When you live in South Florida, you tend to see some wakeboarders, surfers and paddleboarders too.
What was your first experience with RockTape?
My first experience with RockTape was when I was in chiropractic school working with Life University’s Rugby Team. I had used kinesiology tape prior in my Athletic Training career, but when I learned more about the clinical and practical application of the RockTape, I started to utilize it on all my athletes.
How do you use RockTape in your practice?
I use RockTape as a form of feedback reinforcement for the nervous system. It works well for my athletes and concurrently fits Gray Cook’s 3 R’s Concept of Reset, REINFORCE, Reload.
What is/are the most common conditions you treat at your practice?
I see all sorts of unique injuries in acute and chronic nature. Due to the population of athletes that I work with, I tend to see a bit more upper extremity (baseball) and spinal/lower extremity (equestrian) injuries.
What is the most unique condition you’ve taped for? What was your strategy?
The most unique condition I’ve taped for is a straddle fracture of an equestrian athlete’s pelvis. She had a horse fall on her and crush her pelvis after a jump. Just seven months after her accident, she was already back to competitive jumping. RockTape played a significant part in her recovery process.
What’s your favorite RockTape pattern/product?
My favorite pattern is the Skull one for sure. I grew up an 80s/90s skateboarder, so I always jive well with some skull and crossbones rebellion. My favorite RockTape product is without a doubt the new RockBlades. I just learned more about these amazing tools from a rad RockTape Instructor, Dr. Danny Porcelli. I appreciate RockTape’s Derma NeuroSensory Concept as opposed to the Breaking Up Scar Tissue Model.
Which RockTape products do you use the most & why?
I use RockTape the most hands down. I wrote my research paper in chiropractic school on the Overuse Syndromes of the Shoulder, so I’ve done quite a bit of research on the benefits of kinesiology tape. Plus, I see it help my athletes day in and day out, so why wouldn’t I use it?
If you could change one behavior of your patients, what would it be?
This is a very good question… I would like to influence their belief systems. When I was talking with legendary strength coach, John Wolf from the Onnit Academy, he asked me, “Who is the one person you talk to everyday? … Yourself; so speak Kindly to him!” This really made me think about the power of positive attitude and positive energy. That lesson has forever changed my life, so I’d like to share this experience with others in hopes to influence my patients as John Wolf did for me.
Where do you think chiropractic care is headed? What’s the future of it?
I’m not as concerned about the future of this particular niche; I’m more concerned with the way the healthcare system is headed. Putting insurance to the side, people need to be held accountable for themselves and their health. I don’t want any patients or athletes to become too reliant on me. Like Shirley Sahrmann said in an Interview, “I’m so keen on trying to put people in charge of their problem rather than me in charge of their problem. I want to be the coach not the player.”
As manual therapy clinicians, we need to educate and empower our patients and athletes about all aspects of life style, health concerns and recovery tools for performance to eliminate a dependency model.
James (Spence) Spencer DC, ATC, FIAMA
Kinetacore Functional Dry Needling Certified
Certified Active Release Technique (Full Body/Nerve Entrapment)
FMS/SFMA/YBT
Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC)
Onnit Academy Foundations Trainer
www.drjamesspencer.com