Meet the Doctor

Dr. Angelo Rubano is a licensed Chiropractor serving the Ft. Myers community since 2004.  He came to Fort Myers in June of that year following 10 years of practice in Central New Jersey (Edison and Manasquan).

A.J. Rubano, D.C. underwent his undergraduate education at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. and graduated with his doctorate in Chiropractic from Life University School of Chiropractic (Marietta, Ga.) in December of 2003.  While at Life University he served on the athletic training staff at Morris Brown College in Atlanta.  When he returned to his home state of N.J. he began private practice in Manasquan, N.J. and continued to support the areas high school athletic programs by volunteering his time at baseball, basketball, and football contests ; as well as in regional wrestling tournaments.

In addition he served as the team Chiropractor for the 2003 Atlantic Division Champion Somerset Patriots (professional baseball).  Dr. Rubano notes that it was baseball that got he started in Chiropractic to begin with.  As a high school baseball pitcher he suffered from numbness in his right arm after pitching.  After exploring traditional medical avenues of neurology and physical therapy to resolve the problem to no avail Dr. Rubano was referred by his father, a state championship baseball coach at Wall High School, to a local chiropractor who correctly diagnosed his problem as a "subluxated" cervical vertebra and gave Dr. Rubano his very first Chiropractic treatment.  The rest is history as Dr. Rubano was able to resume pitching, (even winning a game against his father's squad).

Needless to say Dr. Rubano has a unique perspective on challenging and life altering ailments, one which has profoundly affected his willingness to listen to and understand each person's unique circumstances and develop solution oriented health programs.  He not only believes he can help people that traditional medicine has written off, he has experienced those type of results first hand.

Dr. Rubano uses a "whole person approach". This approach to wellness means looking for underlying causes of any disturbance or disruption (which may or may not be causing symptoms at the time) and make whatever interventions and lifestyle adjustments that would optimize the conditions for normal function. Using this unique approach, Dr. Rubano is able to help you to accelerate and/or maintain your journey to good health.  Dr A.J. Rubano is proud to be an innovator, bringing non surgical spinal decompression from the DRX9000 to Ft Myers, Fl in 2004.  He was the first doctor in the area to make this commitment to his patients suffering from sciatica, low back pain, and a variety of disc related conditions including herniations, bulging discs, and degenerated disc disease.  He furthered that commitment by obtaining certification in MUA also known as Manipulation Under Anesthesia in December of 2007 enabling him to widen his practice focus to better care for those suffering with headaches, arm pain, neck pain, whiplash, and extra-spinal joint problems like frozen shoulder syndrome.  He sees the technology he is able to offer as another avenue to further his mission of bringing relief to hurting bodies.

Dr. Rubano credits his lifelong passion for sports with leading him into the Chiropractic profession.  In 1986 as a sophmore in high school he suffered an injury to his right arm and hand that caused him to lose feeling after just a few pitches.  After seeking medical attention from several area orthopedist and neurologist his father was unsatisfied with the treatment reccomendation for cortisone injections. At a school career fair( Dr. Rubano's father, Angelo was a high school teacher and administrator) the elder Rubano met a chiropractor who suggested a consultation to determine if chiropractic care might correct the problem.  During his first vist to the chiropractor, Dr. Rubano learned that chiropractic treatment involved removing nerve interference through chiropractic adjustments to the spinal bones.  The Dr. he saw, Michael Adamczyk also incorporated ultrasound and electro-therapy in his chiropractic treatment regimen. 

After receiving three chiropractic manipulations (another name for chiropractic adjustment) the young Dr. Rubano no longer experienced arm or hand pain and was able to resume pitching and playing shortstop for the Lakewood High School baseball team.  More importantly he found out at an early age that he wanted to help people through Chiropractic Care. 

Since that time Dr. A.J. Rubano has dedicated himself to promoting the chiropractic lifestyle.  "I am a firm believer that Chiropractic Care can benefit the entire family.  My children received chiropractic adjustments on the day they were born and we have helped them stay well through chiropractic treatments."  Dr. Rubano is proud of the effect his philosophy on chiropractic has had and the impact on those he has had the priviledge of treating.  "I still remember my very first patient, a young girl named Jamie.  She was scheduled to have surgery to have tubes put in her ears.  She was scared and her mom didn't feel right about the procedure.  After hearing positive things from my mother about the benefit of chiropractic treatment she agreed to see a chiropractor, me, despite some of the misgivings of her family members.  To make a long story short Jamie never needed the operation.  Just two chiropractic adjustments to the C1 vertebra and her ears cleared right up." 

"90% of my patients are people who suffer with lower back pain, sciatica, neck pain due to whiplash or sports injuries but the philosophy in caring for them is the same as it was when I treated Jamie: use natural methods to remove the stress on the nervous system so the body can heal itself.  I wish I could take the credit for my success as a chiropractor, but in actuality it is based on the simple principle of restoring the nervous system; along with reducing external stresses on the ligamnets, muscles, and discs that come in constant contact with the spinal bones.  When you do that the body has a chance to do what God created it to do; and in most cases does."

When asked what he feels makes him different from other chiropractors Dr. Rubano says in general chiropractors tend to be very caring.  "I want to be the most caring.  I think of myself when I consider my patients: I don't like to wait, I don't like to be treated with disrespect, I want to be attended to, and I want to know that whoever I am working with is giving me their very best."  "I may not always hit the mark, but I can tell you that is my goal.  I feel as if I represent the profession of chiropractic; and the most important adjustment I can ever give is the one I am giving right NOW."

Our Chiropractic Philosophy

"As a doctor of Chiropractic I see my role as first a teacher.  I enjoy helping people understand that all the systems of their body are connected and helping them learn that they have control over their health.  I have seen first hand how many of the people I treat came to me with a sense that thier health was out of their control and by the time they had been introduced to chiropractic and recived chiropractic treatment their outlook had completely changed."

"Of course the other side of being a chiropractor, and equally as gratifying to me, is that in many instances I see people change right before my eyes.  It is hard to put into words the joy I have when I see someone literally crawl into my office after a sprain or strain of the lower back and walk out standing straight up.  For those patients who require the process of more time, or a more complex plan of care it is exciting to me to watch them progress to a level of health and strength greater than what they thought was possible."

The Art And Science of Chiropractic

Chiropractic is described as being both an art and a science.  Science in that research has demonstrated time and time again the relationship between the nervous system and all other systems.  According to Grays Anatomy textbook:  The nervous system controls and coordinates the function of all the other systems of the body.  The spinal bones protect the spinal cord and provide an area for nerves to branch out from the spinal cord to the internal organs, muscles, and sensory organs (eyes, ears, nose, etc.).  There is also a direct relationship of muscular attachments to the spine such that when spinal bones (and the bones that make up your rib cage, shoulder girdle, and extemities) shift or move out of their normal alignment (also called juxtaposition) there will be asymmetric (unbalanced) tension on muscles, ligamnets, and joints.  There is no doubt that the chiropractic philosophy is rooted in science. 

Just as much as chiropractic and chiropractic training is rooted in science there is no discounting the art; that is the way each individual provider applies the known science to each individual patient.  I have always understood that people are not like cars, computers, or appliances.  Each person has different levels of fitness, different pain thresholds, differing medical histories, and varying thoughts as to what their level of ideal health is.  I believe it is important to take all that into consideration when caring for someone.  In our practice we incorporate a combination of stretching, strengthening, balance training, chiropractic spinal adjustments, physiotherapeutic modalities (like ultrasound, laser therapy, electric stimulation, or soft tissue massage), and spinal decompression techniques.

Chiropractic Techniques: How They Are Applied At Accurate Chiropractic

While I have been trained in a variety of chiropractic adjusting techniques including SOT, Gonstead, Activator, Full Spine, Chiropractic Biophysics, Blair Upper Cervical Specific, and Thompson I have found that the best technique is the one that works for the patient.  Therefore, I have no qualms when it comes to listening to the patients concerns and needs.  Many of the people I have been priviledged to care for have been successfully cared for by a chiropractor from "up north".  I will gladly reach out and call that doctor, obtain records as needed, and use the techniques that you are comfortable with and have benefited from in the past.

If for some reason your progress is slower than should be expected or is something you are not comfortable with (for instance some people prefer to have their spine "cracked" when adjusted while others are deathly afraid of any popping going on in their spine) we have the ability to change our method to suit you.  The bottom line is,if there is a specific technique that you are interested in finding more about or wonder if you would benefit from don't be afraid to mention that to us!

A Chiropractic Program For Success

I have also found that by mapping out a complete program for success that there is a much greater likelyhood of achieving the desired results from your chiropractic treatment.  With that in mind I also understand that there are those who don't hold that level of improvement in the same esteem as I do, they just want to get out of pain.  If that is you, guess what I can taylor your treatment to that goal as well.

I am happy to guide you in the direction of my best recommendations but only you can determine what success means to you.  Ultimately that means that working together you and I are a health care team.  When you come her you can count on this: No bullying and No scare tactics.  In fact nothing bothers me more than doctors who think they can do no wrong and that their patients have no clue about their own bodies.  I have tailored my practice to rely on open communication.

In other words if you want to talk to me, you can.  Of course their are time when I am treating other families; but you can count on me returning your telephone call in a timely fashion.  In addition I am available to discuss your questions and concerns after hours.  Have an emergency concern or question about an exercise or supplement?  When you call the office after hours you get me (or in rare cases a staff member) , Not a service.  That is just a part of the way we personalize your care.