Welcome to RobDAquila.com, the website of Dr. Rob D’Aquila, a NYC-based chiropractor and applied kinesiologist. I am a Diplomate in Applied Kinesiology, which is the highest degree attainable through the International College of Applied Kinesiology. What is an applied kinesiologist you ask? Keep reading below to find out.
If you would like to talk to me or schedule a visit at my midtown office, feel free to contact me any time using the information on the right. Please also don’t forget to bookmark this website, or better yet, sign up for an email subscription on the right as I’ll constantly be writing updates about new and healthful information.
Purpose of my practice: To provide a space where people can go to – learn about their health and health in general (doctor translates to teacher in Latin); have answers to their problems; (and) have stressors removed from their body and mind.
Goals I have for every patient: To help my patients – understand that they are in control of their health; overcome THE CAUSE of their physical and mental setbacks, quickly and permanently; (and) help themselves.
How do I (we) achieve this?
I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic where I pursued becoming a chiropractor after realizing it would allow me to be able to help people with a wide array of ailments on all levels of health: structural, nutritional, and emotional. This is why I use muscle testing and specialize in Applied Kinesiology, which is a comprehensive system of diagnosing and treating people as individuals. This is of utmost importance because many people have the same ailments with different causes, therefore I treat people with ailments, not ailments with people.
My goal is to help patients understand why their condition is manifesting and administer the best possible, customized treatment plan to help stop and reverse their condition. Using a “whole person approach” to treatment allows me to treat a wide array of people with a variety of different conditions. I also teach patients to help themselves by determining the optimal foods they should (and should not) eat, which dietary supplements can help them most, and what type of exercise regimen is most beneficial to support their body. Through lifestyle changes, natural remedies, and hands-on treatment; this approach allows people to regain balance and alleviate their conditions. I have a family practice and have successfully treated people ranging in age from 4 weeks to 87 years old.
I have had success helping patients with the following conditions achieve greater health: spinal, pelvic, extremity, rib, and TMJ pain, structural and sports injuries (ankle sprains, IT Band syndrome, patellar tendinitis, patellar tracking disorders, meniscus problems, piriformis syndrome, sacroiliitis, cervical/thoracic/lumbar intervertebral disc syndrome, bursitis, rotator cuff syndrome, frozen shoulder, golfer’s and tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fascitis, achilles tendonitis, and more), headaches (tension, pre-menstrual, toxicity-related, sinus, blood sugar, and migraine), sinus problems/sinusitis, digestive problems [heartburn/GERD, indigestion, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome], intestinal infections (yeast, bacterial, viral, parasitic, and protozoal), food sensitivities/allergies, chemical sensitivities, heavy metal toxicity, skin rashes, hypothyroidism, adrenal stress disorder, blood sugar imbalances (hypo- and hyperglycemia), cholesterol and triglyceride imbalances, inability to lose weight, female hormonal problems (PMS, uterine fibroids), insomnia, arthritis, obsessive/compulsive behavior, and more every day. This is accomplished by treating people and NOT their symptoms or diseases; in addition to my patients helping themselves through lifestyle changes, when necessary.
In addition to chiropractic and Applied Kinesiology, I’m also trained in Neuro Emotional Technique®, Total Body Modification®, Emotional Freedom Technique®, individualized nutritional testing, cranial/sacral adjusting, acupressure, lymphatic drainage, cold laser therapy, percussion therapy, Bio-Impedence Analysis, custom orthotic fitting, trigger point therapy, and much more. I also use standard diagnostic tests including blood, urine, saliva, orthopedic, neurological and radiological testing when necessary. The combination of these tools allows me to combine the best of alternative and mainstream medicine in a truly holistic approach.
For more information on applied kinesiology, please refer to the following articles by clicking on the links: “What is Applied Kinesiology” part 1, part 2, and part 3.
LOVE your website…fascinating!!
You are my doctor, nutritionist & therapist all wrapped up into one. I feel so lucky to be your patient.
I actually look forward to each visit. Can’t say that about any of my other doctors’ aptmts.
See you soon.
Hi,
I invite you to join Chiropractors Forum:
http://chiropractorsforum.ning.com/
Thanks
Gena
Hello,
I love the website! Thanks for all your advice and treatments…I’ve never felt better and in control of my health. Looking forward to visiting the city and setting up another appointment. Stay Well.
Ann H.
NH
Thank you again for all the great work you’ve done to help my neck feel like new again.
Ref: Ileocaecal Valve Article
I am taking a few moments to thank you wholeheartedly for your interesting and informative article on the ICV. I have been suffering with mystery digestive problems for quite some time now and my general practitioner could not shed any light at all on my condition. I visited a whole bunch of specialists thinking it was linked to other existing health problems.
I found that the symptoms described in your well written article was exactly what I had been going through for over 5 years! You certainly know your profession because all my problems are highlighted in that one article.
May I take this opportunity to send you and your family festive greetings and I wish you every success for the New Year 2010!
Hello,
Hoping for a little insight to “ileocecal valve” syndrome.
My chiropractor mentioned this when I commented on lower right abdominal pain that has gone on for some time (occasional pelvic floor pain on right side too). The only thing that helps the pain is when I consistently take “allerzyme” which is a vegetarian product that is loaded with natural enzymes with meals.
This all started with a very stressful job assignment that went on for six weeks and a couple of times where I literally felt the intestines spasm really hard.
My M.D. is checking me out for appendicitis with bloodwork and ct scan. He looked unimpressed when I told him the enzymes help me feel better. The bowels have become sluggish or sometimes slow to act. Does taking chlorophyll tablets help with this too? The enzymes seem to help…what else do you suggest? I should mention I had a vaginal hysterectomy 5 months ago (retained ovaries) and that seemed to really hit me hard. Doctor said I am comepletely recovered from that yet I remained sore and stiff in joints for a long time. After such a big surgery having this has really worried me. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Pat,
I can’t make any specific suggestions for you as you are not my patient and I haven’t examined you. I will however shed light on what you’ve explained.
I’ll definitely say it’s good that you are looking to rule out more serious conditions via blood work and a CT scan.
You mentioned the high stress job as being somewhat of a trigger and that very well may be an issue as mental/emotional disturbances will certainly result in physiological changes than can definitely affect the digestive system.
As far as the surgery, it’s possible that scar tissue (or simply the removal of the uterus) could be adversely affecting other organs and joints.
Why your MD “looked unimpressed” when you told him you found something to feel better is beyond me. Whether or not it’s the solution is besides the point. And in fact, that can help in diagnosing. I frequently take into account whether a certain supplement (or drug for that matter) helped a person – as you can pick apart the physiological changes that are taking place (if it changed symptoms) to help with differential diagnoses.
If you were my patient, I’d look into the need for more stomach acid, intestinal flora imbalances including the presence of an infection (e.g.: parasitic, yeast, etc.), and structural issues involving the pelvis, spine, and cranial nerves (the vagus nerve in particular) – and again, the possibility of the surgery affecting connective tissue in the surrounding area.
Chlorophyll is actually the “old school” nutrient that was recommended for an “open” ileocecal valve by many AK chiropractors. I typically don’t use it though because I usually see bigger issues at hand as mentioned above.
I wish I could be of more help, but it’s hard to do without examining a person. So many issues could play a role. More could include a thyroid imbalance affecting the rate at which the GI tract functions, magnesium deficiency, emotional and stress imbalances, etc…
Let’s hope the CT scan and bloodwork indicate more of a functional issue at hand. A colonoscopy can be revealing as well, but that’s up to your MD to consider.
Good luck with everything, and I wish you a resolution to all your symptoms soon!
Dr. Rob D’Aquila
i live in southern california….please clone yourself and open a practice here! can you recommend a doctor in this area?
I agree with Lynette, in CA – except I live just outside of Chattanooga, TN. Is there a doctor or facility, in my area that you could recommend? Also, medical insurance companies are not very cooperative in the use of any type of practice that is not mainstream. If you know of any insurance that do favor natural medicine, I would love to know!
Thank-you,
Brenda Adams
Hi Brenda,
I don’t know of any doctors in your area. Although here is a link to the International College of Applied Kinesiology website where you can search for a doctor: http://www.icakusa.com/find-a-doctor/. Their site will only include registered members who are certified applied kinesiologists. I can’t say that an applied kinesiologist can help you, because I don’t know – and I typically refer to the ICAK site because AK is one of my primary specialties.
Best of luck in your search,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila
Dr, Rob,
Great website! I wish you were in Boca. I started bio identical HRT in February. My reason for starting was fatigue. I am 61 and naturally slender my whole life. I have always had a fast metabolism and I have never had a weight problem. I exercise regularly. Within weeks after starting therapy, I began gaining weight. I adjusted my diet to fish and chicken and vegetables even though I never had to before. I am always bloated and I have a very difficult time losing weight. The therapy cured my dry eyes and night sweats but did nothing for my fatigue. It appears my blood pressure has dropped which was already low and my pulse has weakened. My thyroid is normal so is all my bloodwork. About four months ago I went for a physical and my doctor discovered that I was very low in B12 and had almost no vitamin D. I now take B12 shots and I am on prescription vitamins. I am still fatigued but nothing like before. I would like to stop HRT because I do not think it has anything to do with my fatigue and the weight gain is the worst side effect. I do not see where the benefits outweigh the risks or side effect. I must comment on the progesterone. Just recently, my doctor told me to stop the progesterone for one week. Immediately a period started but I lost 4 pounds even eating what I wanted. There must be a connection. I would like to know how to terminate HRT. My doctor will not be happy that I am blaming the therapy.
Hi Cara,
I’m glad you like my website! I’ll be wishing I was in Boca in a few months myself.
I understand that your thyroid tests look normal, but that’s the first place I would look if you were my patient. Reference ranges for thyroid markers are often too wide and therefore cause it to look as if everything is normal, when in fact there is a often a functional problem. Of course I can’t be sure, but again, that’s where I’d look. Additionally, the thyroid is often “dragged down” by other organ and gland imbalances; notably, the adrenals, reproductive organs and glands, liver, hypothalamus, pituitary, immune system, and intestinal tract. So it’s imperative to look for imbalances in those areas as well.
Also, excess reproductive hormones can cause problems with thyroid receptor site resistance or an excess of protein-bound (non-active) thyroid hormone.
Of course anything can cause anything. Thyroid is just a hunch from the limited information I have here.
Your doctor should probably get his/her emotions out of your care in the sense of not being “happy” about your choices. He/she should be able to come up with a protocol to cease HRT and get you on a path to feeling well again.
Good luck,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila