Five women have joined forces to focus on wellness for women, led by chiropractor Dr. Donna Lodge at the Lodge at Sherwood Village. Although in business since April, the last week in December was when office went full time with Lodge, massage therapists Judi Funaro and Larissa Martin, myofascial release specialist Rose Reandeau, and aesthetician Diane Johnson. All are independent practitioners.

“The body likes to be in balance but there are all these outside forces — stress and trauma — that cause the body not to be in balance. That’s what we’re here for — for the body to be healthier,” said Lodge, who graduated in 1998 from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

She eschews traditional chiropractic manual manipulation for modern technology in an all-in-one scanner/adjuster from Sigma Instruments.

“I’ve used it for the past 10 years because it allows for precision adjustments,” Lodge said. “I scan the spine and it tells me what’s out of place, what you need and where you need it. I can look at the nerve supply and see if nerves are inflamed.”

The scanner feels like light ratta tat tat pulses and the scan is completely painless. Once Lodge reads the scanner information on a computer, she then switches out the scanner for the adjuster. Even though when triggered, it feels like a little hammer, it too is a painless procedure and pain begins to fade away in the affected vertebrae and joints.

“Given the right input the body can heal itself,” Lodge said.

Another key tool is an infrared sauna to relax muscles and and improve circulation. It allows deep heat without raising blood pressure or heart rate.

You don’t have to be ailing to take advantage of the soothing effects of massage, both a calming and enervating experience.

“Massage therapy complements the chiropractic treatments by allowing the muscles to relax,” Lodge said. “We’re all under stress so massage is good for everything.”

Johnson’s work is focused on massages of the face with special attention to skin care.

Reandeau’s speciality is myofascial release and she explained what it involves in laymen’s terms.

“My modality follows the methods and teachings of John F. Barnes, so it is a ‘gentle’ sustained/prolonged pressure into a fascial restriction. Fascia isn’t only found around muscles and bones, it’s connected to the brain, all other organs, glands, etc., too.  Restrictions in the fascia are in more of a hardened/dehydrated state causing circulation issues and even like a strangulation or ‘glue’ effect. So the muscles aren’t necessarily in a contracted state, but more of a distressed state and can’t relax nor contract and can’t function properly. Myofascial release then allows for the rehydration and flexibility to return to the fascia and then whatever it was ‘glued to’ — be it a muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, gland, and/or organ — will then have improved circulation and function more optimally.”   

“When you get muscles staying in the right area, then bones will stay in their right place,” Lodge said.

Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday with off-hours appointments by appointment. Chiropractic visits are 15 minutes while myofascial release treatment can last from 30-90 minutes. Call 681-2220 for an appointment.