The Skeptic's Journey: Why I Became a Chiropractor

I was a skeptic before I was a doctor.​

I didn't grow up in a "chiropractic family". In fact, my first experience with the profession was a disappointment.​

Growing up in McCook, Nebraska, in a house with six siblings, life was defined by movement. I played every sport I could get my hands on. But during a high school long jump competition, a lower back injury brought that to a halt. My parents took me to a chiropractor - a profession I had never even heard of. After a few weeks of treatments with zero improvement, I told my parents, "Don't take me back there. They just want your money."​

I walked away convinced chiropractic was a scam.

The Breaking Point

Five years later, I was a Track & Field athlete at the University of Nebraska-Kearney when new pain emerged. What started as a dull ache in my neck quickly spiraled. The pain traveled into my shoulder, then down my arm, and finally into my hand.

It wasn't just physical pain anymore; it was threatening my athletic career. I sought help from everyone: physical therapists, athletic trainers, medical doctors, and massage therapists. Nothing worked. Despite my nagging intuition telling me to try chiropractic again, I ignored it. I remembered the girl in high school who felt let down.

Finally, out of pure desperation, I caved. "Fine. I'll go," I told myself.

Photoshoot of Dr. Schmidt performing the hammer throw for the local newspaper.

The Shift Trajectory

That single visit changed the course of my life. After a thorough examination and the first adjustment of my treatment plan, the relief was immediate...not gone...but significantly better. I didn't fully understand "how" yet, but I couldn't ignore the results.

That experience was so profound that I walked into my advisor's office and switched my major from Pre-Dental to Exercise Science. I knew then that I didn't just want to be a doctor; I wanted to be the kind of chiropractor who provides answers I couldn't find years prior.

Why This Matters for Your Care

Because I started as a skeptic, I approach your health with a "Diagnostic-First" mindset. I know what it's like to feel like a "number" or to feel like a treatment isn't working.

At Potens Wellness Clinic, my goal is to ensure you never feel like I did in high school. I combine my background in collegiate athletics and biomechanics with evidence-based chiropractic care to ensure that we find a solution for your condition.

I haven't looked back since that adjustment - and I'm here to help you move forward, too.

Your health is my priority.

Your Chiropractor,

Dr. Tiara Schmidt, D.C.