Dr. Amanda Haeg has always been active. The Minnesota native studied athletic training as an undergraduate at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, where she also played college volleyball. Upon graduating she proceeded to practice sports medicine for several of her alma mater’s other sports teams.
Sports would ultimately inspire Dr. Haeg to become a chiropractor – but not in the way you might expect.
“I played for the Pittsburgh Passion, a women’s full-contact football team, when I was in my twenties,” said Dr. Haeg, owner of Cadence Chiropractic. “While playing quarterback I got sacked by two linewomen at the same time, which forced me into a partial split that twisted the two halves of my pelvis in different directions.
“It was a terrible injury that left me unsure whether I would ever walk again without pain, let alone play sports. Losing my ability to move well and pain-free was eye-opening. What would this mean for my dreams of a career and family?
“I sought care from several specialists, but for six months nothing made a real difference. Finally I visited a particular chiropractor who, in just two weeks and six adjustments, helped me walk and run without any pain. It was almost miraculous. I knew right away that I wanted to pursue chiropractic so I could help others heal and revive their dreams too.
“The essence of chiropractic is identifying the source of the problem – not the symptoms. That’s why I give every new patient a thorough initial assessment when I welcome them to Cadence. Speaking with them to understand their experience and their goals is important, as is determining exactly how their spine is functioning. That includes a thermography scan, which reveals the activity of the nervous system, structural X-rays which show how the bones of the spine are positioned, and video X-rays so I can see exactly which joints are not moving correctly in real time.
“So thorough an assessment lets me approach each of my patients with the utmost objectivity. I’m able to specifically target the areas of dysfunction which are causing discomfort or loss of mobility, as well as gauge the previous treatment’s results. I admit that I am a perfectionist. I’m driven to make certain every adjustment I provide is effective. Objective tools allow me to do just that.
“When the spine is not moving properly, it has a massive impact on the surrounding muscles, ligaments and, most importantly, the nervous system. Because the nervous system controls and coordinates every function within the body, any amount of miscommunication can lead to a wide range of pain and dysfunction.
“As a chiropractor, my job is to evaluate and improve the health of the spine so it allows proper nervous system function. Many people I work with see improvement in balance and coordination issues, arthritis and degenerative disc disease, headaches, migraines, ear infections and pain.
“I had the opportunity to help one of my patients dramatically minimize her window of inability. She came to me anticipating surgeries on her shoulder and both knees. Within a few weeks we had corrected her posture well enough that her shoulder no longer needed surgery, and although they had originally been scheduled two years apart, she was able to complete both of her knee procedures in only five months.
“Many of my patients share the goal of getting back to doing what they love as soon as possible, whether that’s playing sports, chasing after their grandchildren, or keeping up their professional lives. I recently treated a 60-year-old man who works in a physical trade. He was suffering extreme numbness in his hands as well as difficulty sleeping, and couldn’t arch his neck far back enough to look at the ceiling. My initial assessment revealed significant degeneration in his neck – but after only two months and seven adjustments, his pain had disappeared completely. He now only comes in every few weeks to maintain his progress.
“I truly enjoy helping people from all walks of life. Young children, teenagers, expecting mothers and seniors all can benefit from chiropractic’s gentle, drug-free methods. But of all my patients, I take special pride in helping my dad. He hadn’t golfed for ten years before I returned to Minnesota. Now that he’s being adjusted regularly, he’s able to play two to three times a week. It brings him joy to play again and I’m blessed to have been part of his healing journey!”
Cadence Chiropractic is located at 6409 City W Parkway #105 in Eden Prairie. You can learn more about Dr. Haeg and her practice at cadencechiromn.com, or by calling (952) 855-7656.