Women Today

Women magazine hopes to express its appreciation for the hard work of area chiropractors through its Women Who Inspire feature. Today we present Dr. Laura Kemps:

Dr. Laura Kemps
Schubbe Resch Chiropractic and Physical Therapy
Appleton

What made you become a chiropractor? I chose to serve in the medical field in the military while attending college. After gaining experience in the medical field, I knew that was the field for me but did not know which profession to choose.
I had never been to a chiropractor. A friend who had been in a car accident was seeing a chiropractor and suggested I go with her to an appointment.
The chiropractor was so welcoming and loved her job so much. I knew this was the kind of job satisfaction I sought, and am happy to say I chose the right profession for me.

What is the best part of your job? Chiropractors use a unique set of skills to help unlock a person's healing potential. It is very rewarding to be able to facilitate the healing process naturally through the use of my hands and my knowledge of the human body.
Nothing brings me more satisfaction then when I have patients tell me how much better they feel, particularly when people are either new to chiropractic or they have been seeking traditional medical care without results.

How do you help people feel better? I use various tools to help people. The most important (and in my opinion, most powerful) tool is chiropractic manipulation.
Manipulation doesn't just "realign bones." It facilitates muscle relaxation and stimulates nerve endings to promote healing.
I also do exercise instruction, give postural and nutritional advice, and sometimes use soft tissue massage and passive therapies. I feel it is my job to educate people in how to take care of themselves so they can lead healthier, more functional lives.

Do you feel chiropractors get the respect they deserve? It is up to the chiropractic profession to educate both the public and traditional medicine on the benefits of chiropractic care. Many people have no idea it takes six to eight years of postgraduate education to become a doctor of chiropractic.
During chiropractic college we carry an average of 25 to 30 credit hours per semester. We learn how to examine all areas of the body in college.
We are also trained to recognize when a person's pain is not of neuromusculoskeletal origin and when to refer. In my 10 years of practice, I see attitudes changing in a positive direction, primarily because of education.