Community Highlights: Meet Derek Munson of 100% Chiropractic Caledonia

Today we’d like to introduce you to Derek Munson. 

Hi Derek, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in Gladwin, MI, I always had a passion for caring for others. Before becoming a chiropractor, I spent two years during my undergraduate work at Saginaw Valley State University as a medical scribe in the emergency department, where I witnessed first-hand how our current medical system fell short in addressing the cause of illness and injuries. The patient-centered, health-focused Chiropractic system was re-introduced to him after a series of low back injuries while working through his undergraduate degree program. I had always received chiropractic care during childhood from all the bumps, bruises, and accidents that came with growing up on a farm and riding horses. Somehow, I did not connect the dots of the kind of doctor I wanted to be and how I could help people naturally until the unfortunate occurrence where I had to have an emergency appendectomy. Subsequently, I was prescribed opioid painkillers following the surgery and was unable to think clearly or find my typical mental sharpness. I hated that feeling, and I hated even more that I saw many patients coming into the emergency department, leaving with similar prescriptions and conditions. This is when my passion for the power of the human body and my desire to find better healthcare was ignited. The appreciation for the body’s ability to adapt and heal naturally truly came to light during his doctorate of chiropractic studies at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Bloomington, Minnesota. I want to serve my community to the best of my ability, so I set my mind to attending as many seminars and elective courses that were teaching various techniques of chiropractic care as I could. I am thankful for the deeper growth and experience provided by the many doctors I have had the pleasure of working with over these years. All of this passion, time, and hard work has led me back home to this west Michigan community, where we cannot wait to help Michiganders redefine what health means to them; To facilitate true healing through the removal of your interferences, and to empower you to attain 100% health. When not caring for patients’ spines, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Rebecca, whom I met at Saginaw Valley State. I also enjoy boating on the lake, fishing, hiking, and just being outdoors, experiencing nature’s beauty. Attending art and music festivals and visiting breweries are also some favorite activities. With a zest for life, my wife and I enjoy exploring and traveling to new places and meeting new people. We are often accompanied by two beloved Golden Retrievers, Winston, and Bailey. We are also very excited to share the news that we are expecting our first child, due on Thanksgiving. What a wonderful addition to give thanks for this year! 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey to becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic was somewhat of a bumpy road. One challenge revolved around no College of Chiropractic schools were located in Michigan. Moving out of state was daunting but was a means to the end of helping people as a healthcare provider, so I pushed through with an immense support from my wife. Her and I actually got married right here in Holland, MI, while I was attending school for my Doctor of Chiropractic degree in Bloomington, MN. Aside from the challenges of traveling home to MI for holidays, we added out-of-state wedding planning to our agendas. This meant driving 12 hours back any given weekend to coordinate venue and decoration details, menu tastings, meetings with the pastor, and several other important tasks to give my wife her dream wedding. This already busy schedule of events was compounded with studying for my Board exams, which one fell within 2 weeks prior to our wedding date. Another challenge we faced was that Northwestern Health Sciences University has an accelerated education program, meaning I was taking classes all year round, broken up into three 16-week trimesters. The terms also comprised of 22-27 credit hours, leaving essentially no room for a part-time job. This placed an immense responsibility on my wife to support both of us through these 4 years. With all of that financial constraint, we were able to save and pay off our wedding and still make it an absolutely amazing, unforgettable blessing of a day! In short, my wife is nothing short of a God-send; I do not know how I would have made it without her! 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about 100% Chiropractic Caledonia?
100% Chiropractic in Caledonia provides chiropractic care for people of all ages—from infants to seniors. We believe in overall natural wellness care and long-term chiropractic corrective care to prevent the bigger aches, pains, and sicknesses. We also see time and time again how chiropractic care helps people improve their quality of life by reducing and even eliminating pain and improving range of motion, which is essentially important after an accident or sports injury prompts chiropractic care. Some of the conditions chiropractic helps with are: 

Neck and back pain 

Pregnancy pain and discomfort 

Digestive issues 

Chronic headaches or migraines 

Joint pain (including hips, knees, and elbows) 

Sinus congestion and pain 

Asthma and allergies 

Pinched Nerves 

Whiplash 

Scoliosis 

Sciatic Pain 

In addition, patients often find that regular adjustments by a chiropractor can lead to more restful sleep, increased energy, increased immune response, and decreased stress levels. Our Caledonia chiropractic team uses innovative treatments to care for your whole family. If you have been just coping with pain or have been meaning to find a Michigan chiropractor for wellness purposes, at 100% Chiropractic, we are your people. We treat each patient as an individual, finding out how we can serve each one and get their bodies to 100%. 

Several of our focuses are: 

Chiropractic X-ray: We use x-ray information to guide treatment planning and care, rule out more serious issues, and aid in adjustments. 

Wellness Care for the Family: We treat anyone, no matter what age. From a newborn infant to a senior citizen, each person can benefit from the stimulation of the nervous system and proper alignment that adjustments provide. Adjustments are tailored to each patient and their comfort level. Obviously, an adjustment on a newborn doesn’t look like an adjustment on someone training for a triathlon. 

Corrective Chiropractic Care: Getting adjusted a few times can definitely help with immediate pain and subluxations, but to correctly heal the body so that long-term pain does not return and your body is functioning at 100%, we specialize in corrective chiropractic care. Corrective care is a process that resets the spine to its correct position on an incremental basis as opposed to waiting until you have a major injury or daily thoughts, traumas, and toxins set in too much. 

Accident and Sports Injury Chiropractic: Have you been in a car accident, had a rough fall, or sustained a sports injury? There can be serious repercussions to the body if your body heals from an accident without being in the proper alignment first. After experiencing an accident or a sports injury, chiropractor services are essential as you might deal with pain daily if you don’t reinforce proper alignment through adjustments while healing. 

Massage/Stretch therapy: In addition to being relaxing and reducing muscle and joint pain, massage and stretch therapy can help prepare muscles for a chiropractic adjustment and hold it longer. 

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Speak your truth, and you will attract like-minded individuals. Engage others within your profession, as well as community, to build connections. Ultimately, find your passion and run with it! You will find yourself among those sharing your passion! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://100percentchiropractic.com/michigan-chiropractic-locations/100-chiropractic-caledonia-mi/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/100chiropractic_caledonia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/100chiropracticcaledonia/