Dr. Callister is a chiropractor specializing in hands on treatment with the integration of rehab and exercise. He uses a careful classification-based approach to correctly diagnose and treat specific complaints. This approach is informed by the latest biomedical evidence on the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. Characterizing each individual issue is the essential element of his assessment. He then draws from a variety of treatment techniques matched to the condition and the patient. For rehab and performance enhancement, his focus is based on biomechanics, exercise, and proper body movement. He provides both hands on and movement-based therapies in an integrated fashion. He engages in regular and on-going professional education and training in manipulative and manual therapy technique, biomechanics, rehab, exercise therapy, and performance enhancement. He has practiced in San Francisco since 2003.
Dr. Callister’s interest in chiropractic, movement, and health stem from an illness as a child and his athletic background. He was first treated with chiropractic as an eleven year old. Alex was a two sport high school athlete - basketball and track and field. He continued his track career in college at Colgate University where he threw for two and a half seasons until a hamstring injury ended his collegiate career in his junior year. He ended his career as a hammer thrower, but had thrown the discus, shot put, and javelin prior. In July 2011, after a nearly 20 years hiatus, Alex returned to competitive throwing. He lives in Marin County with his wife and four cats. Outside of his clinic and his own training, his interests include cooking, home coffee roasting, and travel.
Dr. Callister excelled as a student at Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose. He was the first graduate in the history of Palmer West and the second in the history of Palmer to graduate and receive the three major graduation honors (Valedictorian, Clinical Excellence Award, and the Virgil E. Strang Award for Philosophy). While at Palmer, he was involved with the student chapters of the American Chiropractic Association and the California Chiropractic Association. He studied elective coursework in sports chiropractic, manual therapy, and chiropractic technique.
Our clients set the agenda for their care. We understand that different people need different treatment approaches. The solution for a moderately active individual will differ from a competitive athlete. But both of them need reliable advice and to get out of pain fast. Once improving, one needs to learn how to avoid that potential next episode. In the case of the athlete, rehabilitative focus may shift to efforts to improve performance based on training underlying physical weaknesses or movement impairment.
Having a rational approach to problem solving means identifying all relevant variables and making choices to add treatment and exercise that is either effective itself or leads us to the next appropriate intervention. When the problem is properly articulated and understood, a given appropriate treatment is quite effective. When it is not, we know exactly the next step or progression. When someone is not responsive, we know to move that person on to another treatment or further assessment or diagnostics.
We are expert in bodies, but you are the expert of your body. We tailor treatments to your needs and tolerances.
The latest biomedical evidence informs our approach to practice. First, we carefully establish the nature of the condition. One of the greatest misunderstandings about body pain is that all pains are the same. We use a careful evaluation strategy focused on determining a solution to the ailment. Evidence shows that efforts to classify the type of condition first and then match the appropriate treatment are more effective than simply applying a given treatment