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Chiropractor Ready to Set Things Straight
By Casey Lyons/ Correspondent
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Dover Sherborn Press

Despite what you may have heard, chiropractors don`t just treat backs. In fact, for Dr. Shelley O'Connor, a chiropractor recently settled in Sherborn, the back is just part of it.

In a different approach to wellness and health care, chiropractors such as O'Connor look at the body as a series of neural connections that carry the body's and brain's messages.

In this way, the back is the gateway to the spinal cord which is the body`s information highway. From the underlying philosophy behind O'Connor's practice to the layout of the room, it is about connections between parts and making those connections as clear and unhindered as possible.

Clark House at 18 North Main St. in Sherborn has become O'Connor's permanent address, and though her office is tucked into a building and signs are still forthcoming, the rooms take on an air of ease.

The office space is connected by a double door to the adjustment room; there is an area for kids to sit down and play, a bookcase filled with relevant literature and two wire-framed couches face each other. Here, beside a brick fireplace, O'Connor fosters open conversations between herself and those she sees.

"I wanted a relaxed, casual, family-friendly atmosphere," she said, "I wanted everything to be the opposite of the normal idea of what it`s like to be in a doctor`s office." Some have even said her office is like a living room, she said.

Building on the cozy, at-home atmosphere she creates, O'Connor talks with, rather than at, those she treats, listening to what the person has to say.

In this office, there is no such thing as "treat," in fact, O'Connor will not even say the word. "Patient" is also out of the question, as is "maintain" the way it relates to health.

For O'Connor, it is more than this, and these exclusions are also connected to her modus operandi: everything is connected.

The purpose is to correct areas of nerve interference, O'Connor explained.

"The body responds to and adapts to everything happening in life - the nervous system responds," she said. "When the system is overwhelmed by thoughts, toxins or traumas, it causes trauma in the neurons and prevents messages from the body to the brain and vice versa."

To explain, O'Connor has an arsenal of similes that she happily divulges with a great enthusiasm for what she does. Interference in the body is like interference on a cell phone. Someone might say "Please pick up, Chuck," but the person on the other end may hear, "Befriend a duck". Such mixed and misunderstood messages need to be straightened out, she said.

There are more than 150 techniques to determine how and to what extent the body is not speaking the brain`s language, and O'Connor relies on the torque release technique, which, she explains, is a way of conversing with the nervous system.

In a patient's initial visit, O'Connor determines the specific areas of interference, and how to fix them.

"It`s complicated," she said of the diagnostic process. "Sometimes I have to ask better questions and let the body tell what's going on. Oftentimes, what the mouth says is going on is not what the body says is going on."

Once the problem areas are identified, O'Connor makes hand adjustments, and uses instruments and drops in her chiropractic table to make the adjustments. As there are many different types of people, there are many different ways to approach an individual`s problems. "You can`t give everyone the same thing," she noted.

But one thing no one will get is a cracked back. One of the most tenacious fallacies about chiropractors is they crack backs, O'Connor noted. "A lot of people think this, and sometimes noise is made, but in this office, I adjust specific vertebrae at a specific time for a specific correction."

"Part of the reason people think "backs" [when they think "chiropractor"] is because the way to access nerves is through the spine," she said.

Since beginning to make adjustments for people, and opening her office in early May, O'Connor has had success in correcting interference for a variety of patients. In addition to sports-related or back injuries, ailments such as asthma, allergies and even infertility have been corrected by adjustments. Pregnancies can be made more comfortable with easier deliveries, as well.

"I correct interference and let the body do the healing," she said.

Beyond just feeling OK, or "maintaining" a level of mental and physical health, O'Connor wants to reach higher. The practice is called ABLE Chiropractic which stands for "A Better Life Experience," and this is exactly what O'Connor offers.

For O'Connor, health is not just a reflection of physical comfort, it also incorporates the type of person. When the nervous system becomes misaligned, people become less adaptive to the daily rigors of life.

"When [interference is corrected] you can adapt and come to a better experience of who you are. I`m interested in human potential, not a mediocre place," she said.

For her own part, O'Connor lauds the effects of a chiropractic adjustment. Not only is she a practicing chiropractor, she has also received no fewer than one adjustment a week since 1994.

"At first, when I found out [about chiropractors], I was very annoyed no one told me earlier. I felt slighted that I never had [an adjustment] done before," she said.

In 1998, she decided to take up the profession herself, and began "lots and lots of school" to one day open her own practice. Now, with ABLE Chiropractic open for business, O'Connor is trying to help others discover chiropractic adjustments before the age at which she did.

It is never too early to see the chiropractor, and O'Connor prefers to see newborn babies as soon as possible to prevent interference and give the child access to his or her potential.

"It`s about potential - maybe we could all be Einsteins," O'Connor said. "I like to provide the opportunity for you to see what your human potential is."

To find out more about ABLE Chiropractic, you may visit www.ablechiropractic.com or call 508-655-8688.

O'Connor ABLE and willing to help
By Michelle Apuzzio/ Correspondent
Thursday, August 5, 2004
Sherborn chiropractor offering assistance in several local charity projects

SHERBORN - When the Unitarian Universalist Church in Sherborn started its "1000 Acts to End Hunger," Shelly O'Connor, D.C., owner of ABLE Chiropractic, volunteered to help the church reach its goal of 1,000 donations.

Through Aug. 1, anyone who donated a bag of groceries received an introductory visit to ABLE, which stands for A Better Life Experience. To date, six people taken advantage of the offer by receiving posture and quality-of-life evaluations as well as a chiropractic adjustment.

"I didn`t get as many as I was hoping for," said O'Connor.

She believes the low turnout may be a result of summer vacations, and is considering re-starting the program in the fall.

It seems that the Maine native who opened her Sherborn chiropractic business in May, has caught the spirit of community service that is so pervasive among residents.

Through Aug. 19, O'Connor is collecting backpacks filled with school supplies for "Project Just Because," an organization that provides the bags and supplies for children whose families cannot afford to purchase them. O'Connor's personal contribution will be a fact sheet on proper packing and wearing of backpacks.

For families who bring donations to her office, she has offered to perform a postural analysis for their children, including an examination of the spine with and without the load of a backpack.

With digital photos and her computer, O'Connor will show where the stress is placed on the spine, and offer tips on packing and carrying more efficiently to avoid back strain.

Following the backpack drive, O'Connor will gear up for National Dog Week, Sept. 20-24. During that time, half of a client`s introductory visit fee will be donated to the Bay Path Humane Society in Hopkinton.

When asked what has propelled her into community service so quickly after settling in the area, she replied that her intent upon opening her practice was to be in Sherborn forever. She said that as a practitioner just starting out, she cannot afford financially to give monetary contributions, so instead she gives her services.

And although her commitment to the food drive technically ended on Aug. 1, O'Connor says she will extend her offer for an introductory visit to anyone who wishes to bring a bag of groceries to her office for donation.

"I'm just happy that they want to give and learn something about their health," she said.

A.B.L.E. Chiropractic Giving More
August 19, 2004
Dover-Sherborn Hometown Weekly
By Maureen Nowak

If you've driven down Route 27, just before the fire station in Sherborn, you may have noticed Dr. Shelly O'Connor, standing in front of the Clark House, waiving to morning commuters. Dr. O'Connor (a.k.a. "Dr. Shelly") is the owner of A.B.L.E. Chiropractic in the Clark House on North Main Street in Sherborn.

In addition to Dr. Shelly welcoming people through Sherborn, she has been working hard this summer helping area churches and organizations. Dr. Shelly took part in a program called "Acts to End Hunger," which is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn. The Social Action Committee of the church is looking for food donations: of beans, grape jelly, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce and canned tomato products, canned fruit, pasta, canned stews, soups, meats, tuna, canned fruit and vegetables, Jell-O and pudding, paper towels, tissue, toilet paper, disposable diapers, toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, soap, clothing, sheets, blankets & towels, juices, hot and cold cereal and rice.

So, Dr. Shelly, who feels "When you Give, You Receive," decided to help the Church achieve their goal of 1000 donations to A Place to Turn in Natick. Dr. Shelly invited people to come to her office and if they brought a bag of groceries, which would be collected by the Church, she in turn would give them two introductory visits for free. This project, which ended August 1st, worked out so well, that she plans to do it again in the fall.

Dr. Shelly is also supporting on another charity called "Project Just Because" through August 19th. If you donate a backpack full of school supplies, Dr. Shelly will deliver the filled backpacks to "Project Just Because" who in turn will give it to kids who cannot afford to buy backpacks for school and who cannot afford school supplies. In exchange for your backpack full of school supplies, Dr. Shelly will give your child a free, digital postural analysis showing the position of your child's spine with and without a backpack, which will show where the backpack is causing stress, and she will show you and your child how to properly pack and wear a back pack to reduce this stress. (This also includes a free scoliosis screening!).

Another "pet" project of Dr. Shelly's will take place during the week of September 19-25, which is National Dog Week. For Each person who comes in for an introductory visit during that week, a donation will be made to the Bay Path Humane Society. If you feel your dog needs an adjustment, Dr. Shelly will gladly adjust your dog on the beautiful porch of the Victorian Clark House and in exchange, she just asks you to make a donation to Bay Path Humane Society.

You may also see Dr. Shelly at your local car dealerships where she is teaching staff members the proper way to get in and out of SUVs, the best head-rest placement to prevent whiplash, and how to properly place a car seat in the car without hurting your spine, so sales staff may pass this information along to you as a new car owner!

Stay tuned for another project that is in the works in Holliston where Dr. Shelly will be providing care for special needs children. While a chiropractic student, Dr. Shelly visited Oklahaven Children's Center in Oklahoma City where one of her mentors, Dr. Bobby Doscher serves severely damaged children with love and chiropractic care that changes their lives. Inspired by Dr. Bobby, Dr. Shelly seeks to help similar children here in our community. Oklahaven never turns children away whose families cannot afford care. The same will be true for the project in Holliston. However, donations to be sent to Oklahaven are always welcome.

Dr. Shelly O'Connor is truly living up to her belief of "when you give, you receive." She loves sharing her knowledge of the life-saving benefits of chiropractic care and how correcting nerve interference can make for A Better Life Experience!

If you would like to help Dr. O'Connor with any of her projects, please visit her website and check out her Bulletin Board frequently at www.ablechiropractic.com. Dr. O'Connor is also available for lectures on health, human potential, pregnancy, and chiropractic care.