By Stefan Yablonski
Chiropractor James Kolwaite is the owner of Adirondack Chiropractic at 587 Main St., New York Mills.
“I decided to become a chiropractor at 21 after my first adjustment. I went to go see my college academic adviser the next day to change my major,” he said.
He went to New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls. The college was renamed in 2021 and it’s now known as Northeast College of Health Sciences.
After graduating, he decided to come back to the Mohawk Valley to start his practice and ended up staying there.
The office has Kolwaite and his sister (at the front desk). They also have two massage therapists in the office.
Kolwaite, now 56, has been in practice 28 years.
However, he almost stopped practicing.
“I injured my neck on a roller coaster three and a half years ago to the point where I didn’t think I could practice anymore due to arm and shoulder pain and weakness,” he said. “At the same time, I developed plantar fasciitis in both feet, which kept me from exercising, which in turn further worsened my physical condition.”
He said he tried everything — from physical therapy, injections, chiropractic and surgical consults with only minor relief.
His podiatrist sent him to get a type of shockwave therapy, called electrohydraulic shockwave therapy, done on his feet.
He was initially skeptical; nothing else had helped and he was desperate. So, he went.
After 10 treatments he said his feet significantly improved. So, he decided to bring shockwave technology into his practice.
“The miracles continued on my patients and myself. I will say this was the single greatest decision I’ve made regarding my chiropractic practice,” he said.
This technology allows him to successfully treat many patients with nagging chronic conditions which would have never improved otherwise, he added.
“I believe this ESWT is a gamechanger. I am fully back to work and am able to keep my patients from undergoing unwanted procedures or surgeries,” he said. “We have successfully treated knees, shoulders, wrists, low backs as well as difficult cases such as fibromyalgia, TMJ, failed oral surgery pain and carpal tunnel syndrome.”
One of amazing benefits of the shockwave is the healing process that gets stimulated — when patients get better, they tend to stay better, according to Kolwaite.
“Patients who are not getting the results they desire should try ESWT,” he said. “It is safe and painless. Chronic conditions actually get better … unheard of!”
The most common issues he sees at his practice are low back problems first followed closely by neck issues. Headaches and hip issues are also quite common.
His biggest tip for staying healthy is “to maintain your strength and fitness as you age. If you get an injury and are already out of shape, the road to recovery is much, much longer,” he said.
“If I wasn’t a chiropractor, I have no idea what else I might be doing. I really do love my job and helping people,” he added.