Dr. Pete & Kathy –
Serving Oconto for Over 25 Years

Dr. Loyal S. Peterson (Dr. Pete) and his wife, Kathy, opened their chiropractic practice at 344 McDonald Street in Oconto on February 25, 1980. 

Both Dr. Pete and Kathy are true Oconto natives. They were both born in Oconto, were high school sweethearts at OHS and were married in Oconto.  They have two grown sons, Eric and Steve.  Eric is employed at Camera Corner Connecting Point in Green Bay as a Network Engineer Specialist.  He married Amy (Skaggs) in 2000 and they make their home in Oconto along with their daughters, Mary and Brooke.  Steve is a professional golf caddy, spending the summers serving golfers in Kohler at Whistling Straits and the winters helping golfers at Calussa Pines in Naples, FL.

Dr. Pete and Kathy were married while Dr. Pete was serving a 4-year enlistment in the United States Coast Guard.  During those early years of their marriage, they moved to Chesapeake, Virginia for one year and then on to New York City for the remaining two years of his enlistment. After his discharge from the service, they moved to Green Bay where Dr. Pete attended the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 1972 through 1976 and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human biology.

In 1976, Dr. Pete and Kathy then moved to Davenport, Iowa, where he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic.  Palmer College was named for the discoverer of Chiropractic, Dr. D. D. Palmer, who founded the college.  In 1978, while attending Palmer College, Dr. Pete and Kathy were blessed with their first child, Eric.  After receiving his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in September of 1979, Dr. Pete and Kathy moved back to Oconto and set up a home-office practice at 344 McDonald Street.  Their practice is located in the same building where Dr. Pete grew up and where his parents, Loyal and Alice Peterson, had lived and operated a neighborhood grocery store for over 20 years.

On February 25, 1980, Dr. Pete and Kathy opened the doors of Peterson Chiropractic Health Services and a wonderful adventure began.  1980 also marked the year they were blessed with their second child, Steve.

Dr. Peterson is a member of the World Chiropractic Association and the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association.  He is a past President of the Oconto Kiwanis Club, past Chairman of Wisconsin Chiropractic Association’s Peer Review Committee and, in 1991, received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service from the Wisconsin Chiropractic Association.  In addition, he is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist and a Fellow of the Academy of Chiropractic Orthopedists.  He also earned his Legion of Chiropractic Philosophers Degree (Hon) along with having his thesis, Chiropractic: Assisting The Manifestation of the Soul published in the book Philosophical Contemplations: Viewpoints on Chiropractic Philosophy, Vol. 1.

Over the past twenty-five years, Dr. Pete and Kathy’s Chiropractic practice has gone through many exciting changes and has grown into one of the most well-known Chiropractic practices in northern Wisconsin.  Patients have traveled from as far as the northern-most parts of upper Michigan and from as far south as Appleton and Oshkosh to visit Dr. Pete and Kathy for treatment.  Dr. Pete even treated 2 ladies from New York state, after their friend received great results under care.  It is not unusual to have patients travel over 100 miles, one way, on a regular basis to receive their “wellness tune-up” adjustments to stay in peak health.  For patients to travel those distances, Dr. Pete and Kathy’s approach to Chiropractic care is obviously very unique and special. 

A relatively new and revolutionary form of Chiropractic utilized by Dr. Pete is called Activator Methods Technique.  This is a very gentle technique of Chiropractic which employs a hand-held instrument that delivers a gentle, controlled, specific “adjustment” to the bones of the spine, removing nerve interference and restoring health.  There are never any of the “joint cracking” techniques used in Dr. Pete’s office. The Activator Methods Technique evolved from 25 years of empirical study and 10 years of clinical research.

Though any chiropractor can legally use an Activator instrument, there are only 31 doctors of Chiropractic who are Advanced Proficiency Rated in its use in the entire State of Wisconsin as of this date. (There are 1821 chiropractors in Wisconsin.)  Dr. Pete is one of those 31 doctors.  In fact, he was the very first doctor of Chiropractic in the State of Wisconsin, north of Green Bay, to be Advanced Proficiency Rated in Activator Methods Technique.  Advanced Proficiency Rated means the Doctor is not only certified in the technique, but must attend post-graduate courses in Activator Methods annually to be updated and to maintain their high rating.
 
In his experience with the Activator Technique, Dr. Pete found that patients got bet­ter faster, “held” their adjustments longer, and very rarely came back with the same problems over and over again.  Patients were getting permanent corrections to their spinal conditions more and more as time went on.  Dr. Pete also found that the “Activator analysis” (specific to Activator Methods) allowed him to better manage more difficult cases with a better rate of success.

Dr. Pete uses two state-of-the-art methods of analysis.  One is the Activator Methods analysis and testing procedures to determine the patient’s visit frequency. Then, as soon as he sees through careful analysis that the adjustments are holding longer and the patient is feeling better, he reduces the patient’s frequency of care.  This is done jointly through his recommendation and by the patient ultimately choosing what frequency works best for their life.  This approach allows patients to get the most out of their care by strengthening their bodies beyond just removing their symptoms.  This is also helpful in preventing problems from returning.

The other method of analysis is the Insight Millennium Subluxation Station.   The purpose of this testing is to detect and pinpoint abnormal function in the spine which cannot be seen on X-ray.  Abnormal spinal function causes abnormal nervous system disturbance.  The three standard tests will measure: SEMG – the amount of electrical current in the muscles; Thermography – skin temperature along the spine; and Inclinometry – range of movement of the spine.  Dr. Pete continues to use this analysis tool for periodic progress exams.  It has been proven that a very slight amount of pressure (the weight of a dime) can disturb the communication of the nervous system – whether you are feeling the symptom or not!  This advanced technology allows you and the Doctor to monitor how the spine is working, which is the key to improving your health and well-being.  For years, a major concern of the public has been, “Why do chiropractors keep you coming back over and over again?” and “How do you know if you are getting the proper amount of adjustments?”  Now with this technology, you are able to see the changes and it will be easier to understand the amount and type of care you are receiving.  Due to this technology, Dr. Pete can provide a “tailor-made” program to meet your specific health needs.

On a global perspective, Dr. Pete feels that Activator Technique will have a crucial impact on the entire Chiropractic profession in the new millennium because doctors need procedures which are research-based and that continually change with the new knowledge of the times. Activator does that and allows doctors to treat a variety of patients from infants to senior citizens and everyone in-between.  Activator Chiropractic offices are a place where all can receive effective, high-tech, gentle, research-based, efficient and affordable care.

Dr. Pete sees Chiropractic as the number one health profession of the future which will assist that portion of the public who are striving to reach their maximum health potential.  He also explains that Chiropractic is NOT alternative medicine.  Chiropractic is not now (and never has been) an alternative to medicine. Chiropractic is a separate and distinct profession with unique principles and philosophies.  No drug, surgery, herb, potion, or lotion can replace, or be the alternative to, a specific Chiropractic adjustment.

Dr. Pete and Kathy attribute their success in Chiropractic to a clear sense of purpose of why you do what you do, always keeping your patients’ needs first, and walking your talk. Walking your talk means that Dr. Pete, Kathy, their entire family and staff get adjusted once per week and follow all the health recommendations they teach their patients and others in the community.  In addition, they have always tried to hold to the motto:

At Peterson Chiropractic we honor your body’s natural ability to heal itself without drugs or surgery.  We serve you through a variety of personalized health care choices, based upon a strong foundation of expertise, education and a lifelong commitment to the community.
 
How much longer will Dr. Pete and Kathy practice Chiropractic?  As Dr. Pete humorously says, “I am retiring from practice when I am 96 years old ... and Kathy plans on working part-time.” 

This is a doctor-and-wife team who truly love what they do and the people they serve!