Dr. Schuler is a Doctor of Chiropractic, or D.C. for short, but he is not the type of chiropractor you may be accustomed to. There are many different types of chiropractors, the most common ones being those who manually adjust and manipulate bones in order to align the spine for the nervous system to function optimally. While in agreement with the end result, Dr. Schuler does not believe that the fault lies solely on the structural alignment of the spine or that the bones in our bodies come out of place by themselves.

Dr. Schuler takes a different approach to the human body and focuses more on nutritional biochemistry and functional neurology in order to uncover what else may be affecting the nervous system. In order to analyze the body's many systems, Dr. Schuler uses Applied Kinesiology and the Systems Health Care technique.

Applied Kinesiology is a non-invasive biofeedback system that utilizes neurological muscle testing in order to diagnose and determine the proper technique needed for treatment. Let's break that down. Biofeedback systems are ways that practitioners gather information about the body that will be useful for treatment. Applied Kinesiology uses neurological muscle testing to achieve this but other conventional methods you may have heard of that do something similar are blood tests, x-rays, or palpation. Just as blood work can give a doctor information about what is going on in the body, neurological muscle testing does the same, it is just much quicker and allows the doctor to apply the proper treatment right away.

Applied Kinesiologists believe that all health problems arise from within either structural, chemical, or emotional aspects of our health known as the "triad of health". These three basic foundations branch off into countless systems that must be analyzed to determine whether an underlying issue may be present. General chiropractors tend to focus solely on the structural side of the triangle, and while this is necessary, it tends to ignore a huge portion of a person's health. Applied Kinesiology allows a practitioner to find the true cause of a patient's complaint instead of just treating their symptoms.

While Applied Kinesiology uses neurological muscle testing to gather information from the body, the actual treatment comes in the form of countless techniques including myofascial therapy, cranial fault therapy, injury recall, acupressure, functional neurology, clinical nutrition, and many others that are unique to the patient's needs. All of these techniques would typically require a patient to see multiple doctors, but the Systems Healthcare protocol allows Dr. Schuler to combine all of these techniques into one system to be used no matter what the ailment is.

Muscle testing is the major diagnostic tool that Dr. Schuler uses to gather information from the body in order to investigate a patient's structural, chemical, and emotional health. Muscle testing allows Applied Kinesiologists to tap into the nervous system due to the fact that the nervous system directly controls muscle function, hence the more accurately termed "neurological muscle testing" written in many descriptions on this website. Muscle testing is an extremely precise tool that requires a knowledgeable practitioner as it is often oversimplified and performed incorrectly. The muscle testing that Dr. Schuler utilizes is much more intricate than most muscle testing you may have been exposed to and is an important tool in the diagnostic and treatment process. Muscle function is a direct reflection of the nervous system and any changes observed in muscle function gives the practitioner valuable information as to where in the neurological chain dysfunction may be present.

Systems Health Care (SHC) is the final piece that ties Applied Kinesiology (AK) and the various treatment options together to form the protocol that Dr. Schuler uses on his patients. AK is the biofeedback system that utilizes neurological muscle testing to gather information about the body, while the final treatment is highly individualized and depends on what is found during the process. SHC bridges the gap between the two and determines how the practitioner uses the information gathered, when to explore specific pathways in the body, where to find the root cause of dysfunction, and what the final treatment should be.

SHC believes that there is a hierarchy of health where certain conditions such as injuries or myofascial restrictions need to be addressed before the body will reveal the true cause of dysfunction. This is the reason why Dr. Schuler does not chase symptoms or continuously adjust the same segments over and over again in an attempt to provide temporary relief. SHC treats the body as a whole and believes that every system affects the other. Not every ache or pain is coming directly from that area of discomfort or is due to some surface level injury. Many can be, but many conditions need a more thorough approach in order to resolve.

An example of this might be low back pain. Initial muscle testing may point to structural issues in the form of injuries or myofascial restrictions. Once these are addressed and pain still persists further muscle testing may point to a chemical issue coming from the large intestine due to its relationship with the quadratus lumborum - a major back muscle. This might reveal a food allergy that must be resolved using a supplement or dietary restriction in order to restore the organ's function. In this hypothetical case the myofascial injuries were compensatory to the underlying large intestine issue, which was causing a dysfunctional quadratus lumborum, leading to low back pain. Once the large intestine problem is resolved the low back pain will most likely go away. This hypothetical case shows how each system has a role in the process from symptom to treatment. Muscle testing gave proper information about the body, AK revealed initial structural and eventual chemical problems, SHC led to the large intestine, a food allergy, and how to treat it, while the actual treatment is a supplement and dietary changes.

Dr. Schuler brings together multiple techniques in order to treat a wide variety of patients and their health problems. He utilizes nutrition, biochemistry, functional neurology, acupressure, chiropractic, craniosacral therapy, physiology, and a multitude of other techniques to provide the most efficient treatment possible. To employ these treatment techniques, Dr. Schuler combines Applied Kinesiology and Systems Health Care to address the root cause of your problem in a natural and effective way. This allows Dr. Schuler to understand the nature of your problem, no matter how diverse the symptoms, without the need to see multiple doctors for your various issues.

Your appointment time is used to evaluate and address your needs, issues, and goals in order to maximize the time spent on actual treatment. Unlike with other physicians or holistic doctors, the majority of your time spent in Dr. Schuler’s office will consist of hands-on treatment. Dr. Schuler collects typical information such as a comprehensive history, performs orthopedic and neurological exams, and orders appropriate lab tests, but he does not base his diagnosis and recommendations on them. He is much more thorough and specific due to the addition of neurological muscle testing so that healing can occur at a much faster and deeper level. Dr. Schuler treats based on what is going on clinically in the office with his patients, not based on what he thinks might be going on.

Yes, Dr. Schuler provides a free 15-minute phone consultation for prospective patients. This consult offers a zero-risk opportunity for patients to ask questions, go over symptoms, discuss expectations, and determine if we are a good fit. Book a free consult today to get started.

The first visit consists of a 2-hour appointment where Dr. Schuler goes through your history, concerns, and any blood work you may have so that treatment may begin right away. You will spend more time in Dr. Schuler’s office than a typical doctor or chiropractor but there will be less visits overall. This is to ensure that your complaints do not go untreated or overlooked. You are billed for the amount of time he spends with you, so if he does not need to see you for the full 2 hours, you will not be billed for it, but we still schedule for it.

After your initial appointment, follow-up appointments are scheduled for one hour each. This is common, though some patients need less time and some need more. When you make an appointment with Dr. Schuler, you will schedule 2 follow-up visits, one each week for the following 2 weeks so that you are seen consistently for the first 3 weeks of your care. The beginning of your treatment is crucial, and this ensures that Dr. Schuler can make the appropriate health changes during your time together. This plan can be altered to accommodate certain situations, but this is the most effective way to get you scheduled and seen consistently so that your response to care can be monitored.

Once the initial 3-week course of treatment is complete, patients will typically be seen once a month. This is to ensure that proper health is maintained and that your treatment plan can be altered or confirmed without too much time having gone by.

Dr. Schuler bills at an hourly rate of $285 per hour with lab work and/or other materials (such as nutrients) charged separately if needed. The fee you will be charged is based on the time he spends with you, not the time blocked off for your appointment. To clarify, if Dr. Schuler only sees you for 20 minutes during your follow-up visit, then that is all you will be charged for, not the hour that was initially blocked off.

Based on the amount of time Dr. Schuler will spend with you, his hourly fee is much less than the average chiropractor or medical physician. He will not need to see you multiple times per week for an extensive period of time where you will be charged for a very limited amount of treatment. You will spend more time with Dr. Schuler in less visits resulting in a lower overall cost to you. Please note that that the time you spend in the office will be with Dr. Schuler, not with an assistant or some other practitioner.

Patients pay us at the time of the appointment and are given all of the necessary forms to submit to his or her insurance company. Please be prepared to take care of the charges before you leave. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, & Discover card.

That depends on your insurance company. Dr. Schuler is a licensed chiropractor, so if your insurance covers chiropractic care then it is possible that you might be reimbursed for his services to the extent that your policy covers. He does not participate in any insurance plans or take insurance directly. Therefore, he would be considered a non-participating provider or “out-of-network” with your carrier.

Although Dr. Schuler does not take insurance, he does give you a superbill and any and all paperwork necessary for you to send to your insurance company so that you may be reimbursed directly depending on your benefits. Our rates are time dependent and are not influenced by a limited menu of treatment options provided by an insurance company. You are responsible for the charges incurred at the time of your appointment.

Dr. Schuler’s aim is to do what is best for the patient during their time together. He makes sure each visit is focused solely on treatment so that results can be achieved as quickly as possible. One-on-one care is important to our patients as they are never rushed out of the door due to time constraints.

No. Dr. Schuler does not manually adjust or manipulate bones in the traditional chiropractic fashion, so he does not use x-rays in his analysis of the patient. Nor is there any fear of injury from thrusting into the body or spine, he instead treats the muscles that are pulling the bones out of alignment. If there has been trauma to the body or if he suspects a reason for an x-ray image, Dr. Schuler will refer out for films. If you are looking for a chiropractor who manually adjusts their patients, AlignLife Chiropractic office at the Southpoint Mall in Durham is who he refers to.

To make an appointment please reach out to the office and speak with our receptionist Chrissy at 984.234.3313. If you have any questions, you can call the office or email Dr. Schuler at schulerbdc@gmail.com. Visit our Contact page to learn more.