Koca Chiropractic
Changing the World, One Patient at a Time
By Angella A. Arndt
Chronic pain is a common reason that adults seek medical attention. Chronic pain can lead to loss of mobility, limited daily activities, increased health care costs, and productivity loss. If you suffer from chronic pain and are still searching for a solution, Koca Chiropractic would like to help you get back to your full potential.
Dr. Lyle Koca suffered a sports injury as a teenager and struggled to find relief from the low back pain that ensued. He underwent his first chiropractic adjustment at age 15 and experienced immediate results. “I felt good, and that’s when I knew I wanted to become a chiropractor.” Dr. Koca earned his undergraduate degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University and earned his Doctor of Chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, the first and largest chiropractic school. He completed an internship with highly respected chiropractor Dr. Larry Troxell. With the International Chiropractic Association, Dr. Koca serves as a regional representative and as vice president of the Philosophy Council.
Dr. Koca and his wife, Shawn, opened Koca Chiropractic in 1989. Twenty-six years later, they moved to their current location, which Dr. Koca describes as the dream office he had envisioned and sketched in 1988. Shawn helps run the practice, and their daughter, Blake, is the office manager. The practice consists of a team of four chiropractors: Dr. Koca, Dr. Matthew Francoeur, Dr. Michael Price, Jr., and Dr. John Lukasiewicz. “We want to create the best experience for our patients,” Dr. Koca asserts. “When we help change them, they help us change the world.”
Koca Chiropractic offers a full spectrum of services for the entire family. Some of the conditions they treat include ADD/ADHD, depression, vomiting, headaches, ear infections, bed-wetting, stomach problems, and golf swing issues. The length of that list might be surprising; not everyone knows the range of problems that can be helped by chiropractic care. “The nervous system controls and regulates every system in your body,” explains Dr. Koca. “It helps the body adapt to the external environment. When you experience external stressors at levels greater than your internal system can handle, your body responds with signals such as chronic aches and pains, headaches, and fatigue.” It can take some time to identify the cause of a patient’s pain, Dr. Koca acknowledges. “We take all the time necessary to listen to our patients. We are relentless when it comes to figuring out what’s going on so we can help them.”
The doctors at Koca Chiropractic use the Gonstead System, one of the most advanced and scientific chiropractic treatment methods. Gonstead chiropractors use five criteria to conduct a spine analysis to identify the presence of vertebral subluxation complex (this means that spinal joints are not moving properly or are misaligned). The five criteria are visualization, instrumentation, static palpation, motion palpation, and x-ray analysis.
Visualization involves examining your posture and movement for signs of any issues. Instrumentation consists of using a nervoscope, an instrument with two prongs that the doctor runs down the spine to identify uneven heat distribution that may indicate inflammation or pressure on the nerves. Static palpation involves feeling the spine in a stationary position to identify swelling, tenderness, or tightness in the back’s muscles or tissues. Motion palpation involves feeling the spine in motion to evaluate how the spine moves in different directions. X-ray analysis allows the doctor to see the spine’s entire structure to assess posture, joint or disc issues, or spine misalignments. This comprehensive analysis enables doctors to develop an individualized treatment plan.
“More and more patients are turning to chiropractic to provide solutions that do not involve drugs or surgery,” Dr. Koca notes. When you’re choosing a chiropractor, he advises, take note of how you feel in the office. “Does it feel right when you first arrive? What is the tone of the office? Ask a lot of questions and make sure the doctor is centered on you. Treatment should always benefit the patient first.”
The team at Koca Chiropractic operates under four core values: integrity, relationships, excellence, and commitment. “We always tell our patients the truth, and we tailor a solution for each patient,” Dr. Koca says. “It’s essential for patient expectations to align with goals.” The team at Koca Chiropractic strives for excellence in everything they do. “We want our patients to feel better as soon as they arrive, not just after they leave,” Dr. Koca concludes. “It’s gratifying when patients tell us they feel good walking into our office, that this is their safe place, and that we’ve made a difference in their lives.”
Koca Chiropractic is located at 11420 Blondo Street, Suite 102, in Omaha. Call 402-496-4570 to schedule an appointment. You can find them online at kocachiropractic.com.
Dr. Lyle Koca, DC