When a back injury sidelined Dr. Shaun Ohira, D.C., from his active lifestyle, he turned away from traditional medicine and toward chiropractic care. It was a choice that changed his life.
Now leading Hawaii Elite Chiropractic, Dr. Ohira helps patients manage disc herniations, headaches, spinal strains, and more through a natural, movement-focused approach. We sat down for a quick chat to learn more about his philosophy and how he’s reshaping chiropractic care in the islands.
A more natural way to heal
What inspired you to become a chiropractor, and how did you end up practicing in Hawaii?
I was born and raised here in Hawaii. I was supposed to go to medical school, but I hurt my back badly. After I hurt my back, I could barely walk. Doctors just threw pills at me instead of trying to fix the problem.
And so that ended my medical career right there. I didn’t like taking pills in the first place, and I couldn’t see myself prescribing pills for the rest of my life when I don’t take them myself. That’s what led me to become a chiropractor.
How would you describe your philosophy or approach to chiropractic care?
Trying to get the body to function as perfectly as possible so that, well, a couple of things happen. One, you don’t have to take medication, but two, you can live the life you want to live.
Many people don’t do things because they can’t walk or move around, so I want them to live their lives to the best of their ability.
What are some of the most common issues or injuries that you see in your patients?
Lately, there’s been a lot of disc herniations in the lower back and a lot of headaches.
In addition, strains and sprains of the lumbar, lower back, and neck are the most common. However, headaches are also usually the most prevalent.
What do you think are some of the biggest misconceptions that people have about chiropractic care?
That it’s dangerous and you only need to see a chiropractor when you are in excruciating pain. We’re always the last ones to be seen.
Chiropractic care itself is holistic, but what are the types of holistic approaches that you use?
I can’t prescribe any medication, so even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. However, I do refer out as needed for cases where people have too much chronic pain.
When it comes to holistic, I employ a hands-on approach for everything.
Move your body every day
How do you stay healthy and active outside of your practice?
I play basketball with my friends once a week, though we’ve been playing about twice a week now. That’s been my main form of exercise.
I also started running and going to the gym again. I enjoy going to the beach, but I work so much that it’s challenging for me to get to the ocean.
What general wellness tips do you give patients as far as daily habits to improve their posture and spine health?
Move your body in a full range of motion every day, multiple times a day.
You’ve got to move the shoulder for any joint you have in full range of motion every day, or you’re going to lose it.
What advice would you give to someone who may be hesitant to try chiropractic care for the first time?
It’s safer than you think. And there’s more than one way to adjust the body. We don’t have to crack anything. There are different ways to adjust to accomplish what we need to.
How do you think chiropractic care has evolved, especially in Hawaii, in terms of acceptance and people turning to it?
Social media is an excellent platform for chiropractic care. Everyone loves hearing the cracks. Social media content has made it more acceptable in some cases because it’s more interesting to people.
Additionally, there are doctors on social media who share the results afterward and how patients feel better. People are more inclined to try it when they see the results from TikTok videos.If you plan to receive chiropractic care and live in Hawaii, please visit our Schedule an Appointment page.
See Dr. Shaun on Island Life below!
