Fighting for Veterans One Patient at a Time
Memphis Spine & Sport Chiropractic Rehab Partners with the Irreverent Warriors
On the corner of S. Main and Talbot Ave., nestled in the heart of Memphis, business owner Charles Hogan makes plans for the second location of Memphis Spine & Sport Chiropractic Rehab. For him, this is more than an expansion; it is a long-awaited dream made into a reality.
“My family wanted to come back and contribute to our community. That’s what brought us here. The way we do that is by trying to improve the health of our community, naturally without drugs or surgery,” Hogan says.
Hogan is a Memphis-native who, like most Memphians, talks about his hometown with great pride, reveling in the history and culture that makes the city unique.
He received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Memphis, but moved to St. Louis to further his education at Logan University, where he received a Masters in Sports Science and Rehabilitation and a Doctorate in Chiropractic. Among his list of degrees, Hogan is also a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP), which qualifies him to treat a wide range of athletic injuries.
Talking to Hogan, you quickly realize his career path was not by chance.
“It happens all the time. Patients come in to ask, ‘What can I do to feel healthy again? I’ve already been to my primary care doctor and the orthopedist. They gave me medicine, but I still have pain.’”
Hogan’s father-in-law, a military veteran, experienced some of the same symptoms Hogan sees in his patients every day. For the veteran, pain was a mark of dutiful determination, selfless service and fearless patriotism.
“After three neck surgeries, he became disabled and addicted to opioids. He subsequently passed away due to drug-induced dementia,” Hogan says. “Unfortunately, we weren’t doing what we’re doing now, otherwise we may have been able to change that.”
The topic of opioid addiction among veterans has escalated over the last decade. Commentary in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine reports that veterans’ rate of overdose deaths increased by 65 percent between 2010 and 2016.
“My passion is to educate people on the research, which is that chiropractic care is not only cost-effective, but it also reduces the use of opioids by 55%.”
Hogan’s personal story inspired his partnership with the Irreverent Warriors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on improving veterans’ mental health and lowering suicide rates. In November, Memphis Spine & Sport is going the distance, donating half of its new patient appointment fees back to the nonprofit.
For new patients, Hogan says Memphis Spine & Sport has many “tricks up its sleeve.” Innovative treatments like dry needling and deep-tissue laser therapies are what sets it apart from others in the industry.
“The beautiful part is that people come in for pain, but they realize they end up with overall improved health. Our patients see all kinds of positive results, from lower blood pressures to better sleep.”
Camaraderie and brotherhood serve as secret ingredients to Irreverent Warriors’ mission. Through his donations, Hogan helps to grow this family of veterans who have hope for a fresh start.
Visit Memphis Spine & Sport Chiropractic Rehab on its website here for more information about its services and the Irreverent Warriors Project.
