Local practice to host Healthy Kids Fair

A husband and wife chiropractic team in Mt. Juliet is reaching out to provide a day when local children can be health screened free.

Dr. Melissa Holland and her husband Dan Holland oversee Optimal Health Chiropractic Center at 2530 North Mt. Juliet Road in Mt. Juliet.  They opened two years ago and their practice is booming.  Melissa practiced in St. Louis before she brought her state-of-the-art practice to Mt. Juliet. 

"Our approach is evidence based," she explained. "I do have to say we might be different from other practices. In the past chiropractors got a bad wrap, but that was just lack of education on peoples' part."

She said they don't just "adjust" people, but rather analyze movement function and see where things might become dysfunctional. 

At their practice they deal with a lot of pregnancy and pediatirc problems. Many don't know that colic in babies can be treated by a chiropractor. 

"Just a few adjustments can clear it up many times," she said. 

There are six employees at the clinic and they see up to 50 patients a day. 

However, their attention now is focused on collaborating with Centennial Pediatrics at Providence and Dr. Amber Fritsh at Precision Eye Care. They will conduct a Healthy Kids Fair on June 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Centennial Pediatrics. 

"We felt there has not been a lot done to provide health awareness prevention in this area," said Holland. "It is open to all children, but we know that a lot of local children are on TennCare. Everything at the fair is free."

It will be a fun day. There will be tons of door prizes. The Fire Department will be on hand with their equipment for the kids to enjoy.

Holland will be giving free spinal screenings and Fritsh will give vision screenings. There will be six different venders providing things such as allergy screenings, asthma checks, sports medicine and dentistry. 

Certificates will be given away every 15 minutes. 

Holland is always looking for new and innovative techniques.

"I am always learning," she said. 

Studying autism and ADHD is her passion and soon she will go abroad to learn more about functional neurology. 

Holland's husband earned his MBA in finance, but now has earned his education to join her in the practice. They are a mighty force in this growing medical field. 

Mt. Juliet News Managing Editor Laurie Everett can be reached at 754-6397 or by email at mtjulietnews@tds.net