Dr. Leigh Damkohler, Westchester County’s only dually licensed sports chiropractor and massage therapist, takes a holistic wellness care approach in her work capitalizing on the body’s natural ability to heal. “When the body is in its best alignment, there is another level of health that goes beyond ‘asymptomatic’ or ‘pain-free,’ revealing an opportunity for vitality and an enhanced life experience,” she shares.

Damkohler—who began practicing massage therapy in the ‘90s and started her chiropractic career in Norwalk, Connecticut, in 2004—is celebrating 20 years in practice this year. She has been in Yonkers since 2011, during which time she also became a chiropractic sports physician. Last year, she completed her Graston Technique specialist training and is currently finalizing her Certified Posture Exercise Professionals training.

Based on her initial experience as a chiropractic patient, Damkohler found that getting adjustments provided an unexpected benefit of improved overall health. “Although many people seek chiropractors for back pain, creating wellness and restoring the body to its natural state of optimal health is really our ultimate goal,” she says. “This equates to greater energy and improved function throughout all of your systems.” 

Damkohler looks for underlying causes of any disturbance or imbalance in the body with a focus on patients’ everyday patterns. She then suggests interventions and lifestyle adjustments needed to optimize normal functioning. Her focus on natural healing minimizes the need for invasive treatment.

“Helping people feel great, have less discomfort, more energy and a sense of control over their health and well-being is what I love about being a chiropractor and massage therapist,” says Damkohler, who strives to get people out of their pain patterns as quickly as possible and make them an active part of their care. “Showing patients how to make small changes in their lives that can improve their overall quality of life is empowering for both patient and doctor,” she adds.

Spinal adjustments to correct fixations (a lack of optimal joint motion) are what make doctors of chiropractic unique in comparison with any other type of healthcare professional. The term “adjustment” refers to the specific force chiropractors apply to any joint in the body that may have abnormal movement patterns. Improved health and vitality is the natural consequence of chiropractic care.

“When your body is functioning optimally, healing comes naturally from within,” notes Damkohler. “As we work to better integrate your nervous system with your muscular-skeletal system, alignment enables you to function in peak form, often reducing the need for drugs or surgery. Wellness is a state of optimal conditions for normal function, and then some!”