Meet Dr. Jill W. Gibson of The A.R.T. of Healing in Salem

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jill W. Gibson.

Dr. Gibson, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Becoming an A.R.T.-trained chiropractor changed my life and has helped me change the lives of my patients. Just months away from graduation from chiropractic college, a colleague was working on my shoulder—he had done some soft tissue work on the area and the results were amazing! We had never learned anything like it in school.  I knew then that I had to learn A.R.T. (Active Release Technique). That one experience would shape my practice into what it has become today.

Testimonial#1. I had been suffering of gastric reflux for over two years prior to my first appointment with Dr. Gibson. The daily burning and nausea affected my life in so many ways. I stopped all athletic activities, loss sleep and severely restricted my already healthy diet. I was on a high daily dose of omeprazole and ranitidine with only minor relief. My gastroenterologist even suggested surgery! I was at a loss when first walking in Dr. Gibson’s office. With little hope and running out of options after multiple acupuncture and osteopathic appointments, I gave Dr. Gibson a shot. She explained to me that my reflux was most likely a structural issue in my upper body. Skeptical and desperate to get my life back, I did the daily exercises recommended and was a regular at her Salem office. I quickly noticed some improvements. Now after only six months with Dr. Gibson, I have resumed all athletic activities (rock climbing, crossfit, running, mountain biking, snowboarding), expanded my diet  back (even include  chocolate, coffee, wine) and stopped my omeprazole regimen. Jill gave me my life back!

 

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I attended chiropractic college in Southern California, but always knew I would move back to the North Shore to open my practice and start a family.  However, I was not a traditional Chiropractor–no one in this area had ever heard of Active Release.

Testimonial #2. I started seeing Dr Jill (Gibson) after multiple rounds of steroid shots in my spine showed no signs of improvement for the pain I was experiencing in my lower back and hip. My previous doctor told me the only remaining alternative would be surgery. After just a few sessions with Dr. Jill I found my pain was much less and non-invasive! I now see her every week and am almost pain-free – she has even helped with my hands and feet!! I highly recommend her to Everyone who is experiencing any kind of pain.

The A.R.T. of Healing – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My practice has grown significantly over the past 12 years–entirely through patient and doctor referrals. Many of my patients come to me as a last ditch effort to avoid surgery or a pain management clinic. Patients often end up bringing their entire family.  My initial evaluation consists of a movement-based assessment (SFMA) to evaluate their biomechanics and determine what is bothering them. Over the course of treatment, we determine why they are having pain at that location and what is causing the issue(s). Using SFMA, ART, and, of course, chiropractic adjustments, we can get to the root of the problem. The goal is to restore normal movement patterns by reducing any adhesions or scar tissue, improving range of motion and circulation, and addressing any joint restrictions (what we refer to as subluxations) so the body can function optimally and break the cycle of dysfunction. I’m certified to evaluate golf mechanics and many of my patients have improved their game—including my dad. As a result of my training, I am able to treat a wide range of issues and work on every level of athletes, as well as people who simply want to be free of pain and lead an active life.

In addition to seeing human patients, I am certified to treat animals. When not in the office, I am often out at the barns treating horses while my boys are in school. I love their energy–being able to help these lovely animals is very rewarding.

Testimonial for Dr. Jill

I always prided myself on staying active and fit, but one day, in late-2016, it all just ended.

Seemingly out of nowhere, I developed pain in my shoulder blade area. I thought I had pulled a muscle, and it was painful enough that I decided to take some time off from my kick boxing class, which I had been faithfully attending 4 times per week for the past 5 years. I made an appointment with a shoulder specialist, but by the time my appointment date arrived, the pain had shifted from my shoulder blade to my neck. The shoulder specialist referred me a neck and back specialist, who ordered an MRI and took extensive x-rays. Finding nothing serious, he referred me to a pain management specialist. When none of the pain management techniques produced relief, I bounced among three different physical therapists, three different chiropractors and a deep-tissue massage therapist over the course of the next year. None of these treatments provided relief of the symptoms in my neck. In fact, the pain had become so chronic and debilitating that I couldn’t stay on my feet for extended periods of time.

I had begun to lose hope that I would ever regain the lifestyle I once knew.

That’s when I met Dr. Jill. From my first visit, it was clear that Dr. Jill had a different approach. While each of the other specialists tried to fit me in his neat and tidy box based on my symptoms, Dr. Jill instead relentlessly pursued the root cause of the pain. She immediately detected subtle misalignments in my shoulder and upper-rib cage that she believed were related to my neck pain. She was able to provide temporary relief where others had not, but the root cause remained elusive.

And then the ah-ha moment.

Three and a half years earlier, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was fortunate that the cancer was detected at its earliest stages and I was declared cancer-free following a minor surgical procedure. During one of my weekly appointments, Dr. Jill came upon the small scar from my surgery. I winced and asked her to be careful. I could tell by the expression on Dr. Jill’s face that it was now somehow all making sense. She used her unique expertise in Active Release Technique (ART) to release the scar tissue that was inhibiting proper body function, and it produced instant results. Because normal function was being restored, the stress on adjacent muscles due to improper form was relieved. I was no longer coming home from work in tears of pain and hopelessness. However, even as Dr. Jill attacked the root cause, the changes that were occurring were causing other less debilitating symptoms to pop up. And this is when I got to see Dr. Jill’s true brilliance; her understanding of the body and how its parts and functions are so interrelated. She chased every symptom to the root cause, and, though I could not have imagined saying this only 3 short months ago, I am pain-free and back in kick boxing class thanks to Dr. Jill!

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Some of my patients have come to me with very debilitating issues caused by built-up scar tissue from a surgical procedure or injury, or they had endured years of pain from other issues that had no discernable cause. Helping these patients regain their health has been extremely gratifying. All of my patients have learned to listen to what their body is telling them. Instead of trying to mask or cover up the symptoms with a pain reliever, we work together to find out what is causing the issue and address it. I help my patients live their healthiest life–in doing that, I have achieved success.

Contact Info:

• Address: 63 1/2 Jefferson Ave.
  Salem MA 01970
• Website: DrJillGibson.com
• Phone: (978)304-9928
• Email: DrJillGibson@gmail.com

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