Patch Q & A: Spine and Joint Center of Affton

There's a new chiropractor in Affton. 

Danielle Spath, a certified chiropractic sports physician, owns and operates the Spine and Joint Center of Affton, located at 8005 Mackenzie Road. This is her first office location, but she hopes to expand in coming years.

Spath opened the new practice July 24. However, you can meet her this week. A ribbon cutting ceremony is set for Wednesday morning and then the public is invited to come to an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. that evening.

Patch had a chance to speak with Spath and find out a little bit more about her mission to help others.

Find out what she had to say in the following emailed Q & A with Patch.

Why did you decide to become a chiropractor?

After having been both a student and in instructor at Logan College of Chiropractic, I have heard many different stories from the students that come from all over the world to attend school at Logan.  

Most of them chose to become a chiropractor because they had a very significant experience with another chiropractor who helped them with an injury that greatly affected their lives.  I, on the other hand, chose chiropractic as a career, as a means of being able to own my own business and help people feel better and live healthier lives.

I had considered a few other health care options, but I am very glad that I chose a career in chiropractic.

Give a brief history of your education and experience up until now.

It is hard to give you a short answer here!  My first bachelor's degree was in Social Work from Lindenwood University.  I earned a second bachelor's degree from Logan in 2006 in Human Biology, completed my Doctor of Chiropractic degree in 2008, and completed my education with a Master's of Science in Sports Science and Rehabilitation in 2009.  

After completing my Chiropractic degree, I was selected as a two-year Sports and Rehabilitation Resident at Logan.  It was a very challenging, intense two-years and I was the third person to complete that training.  I worked very hard and always did my best, and I suppose it got recognized.... Logan created a new permanent position for me, Assistant Director of Sports and Rehabilitation.  

I have also earned a certificate as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician from the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, and I am now eligible to sit for their highest level of certification.  I have served as the medical director for many local, regional, and national athletic events and have been the team physician for a local semi-pro football team.

What has been your greatest challenge as a chiropractor?

In general, my greatest challenge as a chiropractor is helping people muddle through all of the information that is available now about health and how the body works.  Some information is good, and some is bad.  My approach is to utilize what has been shown by valid scientific research to be safe and effective and combine that with what I see working for people (myself included!) everyday.  

From a different perspective, I would say that acting as the Assistant Director of Sports Medicine for the 2009 NAIA College National Outdoor Track and Field Championships was my biggest challenge.  I was a resident at the time of the championships, and we literally spent years planning and preparing for the event.  

It was an amazing experience, and it felt great to see all of our hard work pay off in keeping the athletes healthy and competing safely all week long.

How did you pick Affton as the location for your office?

My family is rooted in the South Saint Louis County and South Saint Louis City areas.  Since my family is the most important thing to me, I have always known that I would stay close to them.

 I love the strong sense of community here in Affton.  Other parts of our metro area lack that community feel.  Affton has many families that are just like mine--young children, working moms and dads, and very busy schedules.  So I know that patients here will appreciate that I can relate to the challenges they face in their everyday lives.  

This is our first location, and we hope to grow to 2 or 3 locations in 10 years.  

What would you say people are most surprised about when they visit a chiropractor?

That's easy!  People are many times surprised by how much better they feel and wonder why they waited so long to get their problem (be it low back pain, headaches, or an old sports injury that has been lingering) taken care of.  

Also, I often hear people say that I look too young to be a doctor, but I let them know that although I may look young I have a lot of knowledge and experience behind the me.

Spath is also helping in fight against breast cancer. She is organizing a walk that will take place Oct. 28. You can register for the walk at the Oct. 3 open house. Learn more about the walk and why breast cancer is a cause close to Spath and her family on Affton- Shrewsbury Patch.

For more information on Spine and Joint Center of Affton call the center at (314) 353-4500 or visit their website.