World's Tallest Chiropractor Brings Traditional Values to Modern Health Care

by K M

"I always like it when people maximize on their given situation," explains Torsten Stein, Doctor of Chiropractic. Dr. Stein is a native of Germany now living and practicing in Phoenix, AZ. "I fell in love with the American work ethic. I think it's more like 'Let's stop talking about it, just get it done' attitude. Here people work two jobs and they don't complain, they just get it done. And some people are single parents with jobs, and they still do activities with their kids on the weekends. That's really impressive to me."

The oldest of four children, Dr. Stein grew up in Berlin in the 1960s and '70s. His father worked for the post office and his mother stayed at home. "Growing up in Germany is a lot like growing up here, but there, everything is older. I once ate in a restaurant that was a thousand years old. There are universities there that are several hundred years old. It's amazing to think about the history and wonder, 'Who was here before me?' When I was growing up, everything being old was nothing special to me, but now I realize it has a certain amount of charm. For example, most restaurants are not owned by chains, but by some person who came up with his own style, 'his own thing.' That's why I am constantly on the lookout for places just like that."

No surprise, then, that Dr. Stein has done "his own thing" and created an office environment that reflects a similar charm, with sepia and black-and-white photographs of his ancestors and immediate family against the warm rich colors of the walls, carpeted floor and furniture. More recent color photographs of Dr. Stein with athletes, politicians, renowned chiropractors, and his patients add to the living-room feel of his chiropractic office.

"I just love old black-and-white photographs. These pictures remind me of growing up in Berlin and having everyone over for dinner." Referring to a prominent photo in which there are a dozen or so people seated around a table at a family birthday celebration, he says, smiling, "They're all dressed up for the occasion. Look at this, every man wears a shirt and a tie, every woman has her hair done nicely.' And they're all crammed into in a small apartment -- and I know this apartment -- it's tiny. What I like is that they made the most out of what they had and they didn't complain."

"When patients see those pictures it reminds them of their own family," and they share their memories with Dr. Stein. "That's why I have the pictures up. It's a family practice.
I see patients of all ages, from a few days old into their nineties and everywhere in between.

Dr. Stein has known the aches and pains of a misaligned spine and, standing at an impressive 7'2", he has a lot of spine to maintain. He was first introduced to chiropractic as a college basketball player, having been scouted from Germany to play for Fairleigh Dickinson University in NJ. "Before college, I didn't know chiropractic even existed." Dr. Stein completed his degree in marketing and returned to Germany to play professional basketball in Europe, intending to save money to live again in the US.

"I'd always liked the United States. I had been here a few times before college because we have relatives on the east coast and I loved it. I was fascinated by chiropractic and it seemed to me to be a great profession." Dr. Stein returned to the US and graduated from a chiropractic school in the southeast. "I did want to be a basketball player and I was, but injuries always held me back. It's my own personal belief that God sends you in the direction of His plan."

Dr. Stein is grateful that his basketball career afforded him the opportunity not only to attend chiropractic school, but in addition to take countless continuing education seminars in chiropractic, particularly in his chosen technique, the Gonstead System.

The Gonstead System approach is a conservative school of chiropractic thought.
"In chiropractic school, we were exposed to hundreds of techniques. For me, with Gonstead, everything I wanted to learn was there and it made complete sense to me: find the problem and correct it" explains Dr. Stein, echoing Gonstead's philosophy-in-a-nutshell, "Find the subluxation, correct it, and then leave it alone."

Testaments to the benefits of the precision and simplicity of Gonstead chiropractic are found in Dr. Stein's patients, including a man in his seventies who was on dialysis and facing a kidney transplant. "Adjusting him at T12, -- not T11, not L1, just that one -- took the pressure off the nerve to his kidneys and they started working again. He doesn't need dialysis anymore. I have his testimonial hanging up," offers Dr. Stein. "According to the patient, it's very uncomfortable to be on dialysis three times a week. Plus, it's very costly. Chiropractic can help you maintain your health, and you end up spending a lot less money on health care."

His patient regards his healing as a miracle, but Dr. Stein doesn't let it go to his head. "The healing doesn't come from me, it comes from God. I apply my God-given talents and I sharpen my skills by going to seminars."

In fact, much of Dr. Stein's vacation time is spent taking chiropractor seminars. "I know it's not a real vacation to most people, but it's very enjoyable for me. I really don't travel to go on vacation or go anywhere else to relax because actually, I think my life is a big vacation. I'm always on vacation living here in America! I do relax at home on weekends, and every morning I think, "What an incredible place to wake up in and what an awesome job to have!"

One difference between Americans and Germans, Dr. Stein notes, is that in Germany, and in Europe in general, people walk a lot more. "In Europe you are forced to walk because gasoline is so much more expensive. We grew up without a car and used public transportation. Plus parking spaces are limited, so even if you drive somewhere you might have to park your car a fifteen-minute walk from where you are going. Studies say for a healthy spine we are to walk at least 10,000 steps a day, and that's the absolute minimum. Otherwise you are not keeping the muscles in the back built, and that is one of the reasons so many people have back problems."

Dr. Stein encourages his patients to walk, either on treadmills or in their neighborhoods. "I understand that it's hot outside and not convenient to walk here, but you can also go to a mall and walk. Even after a long day's work I have only walked about 2,000 steps, so I have to go for a walk in the evening to get all my steps in." Dr. Stein also donates his time teaches exercise classes and giving presentations.

"One reason I came to America is to help people make the most out of an opportunity. If you give someone the chance to have their body function properly, it's an amazing feeling to be able to give that, because then they can be their best. Helping restoring someone's nervous system to normal is my passion, because when they regain their health, they are able to follow their dreams.

"For example, someone wants to lose weight but can't, because the workout causes them physical pain. In this case, chiropractic could help by removing the interference to their spine. It should relieve the pain so they can actually get into the gym. They're still going to have to put in the effort to exercise and probably change their eating habits. But the person who really wants to make a change is the person I love to have as a patient.

"I'm inspired by people who persevere in the face of obstacles and have a good attitude, and it seems to me that most Americans appreciate a chance to do their best. I really love this country!"

For contact information, visit Dr. Stein's website, www.WorldsTallestChiropractor.com.