Paul Schoonman, DC

How to Become a Medically Integrated Chiropractic Physician: Paul was raised in Stonington, Connecticut. He pursued undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Connecticut, followed by graduate education at the National University of Health Sciences, (National College of Chiropractic), in Lombard, Illinois, where he graduated cum laude with a doctorate in Chiropractic in 1992. Dr. Schoonman has made the human neuro-muscular system a primary focus throughout his education and practice. To this end, he complimented his chiropractic training with an extensive post graduate diplomate program focused on rehabilitation technique and understanding, as well a shorter course training in chiropractic orthopedics. The post graduate training coupled with a muscular centered clinical approach has resulted in a very different chiropractic experience for patients.

Diagnosis: Evaluation and treatment recommendations are centered around careful diagnosis of each person in a very patient centered way. We can only treat a patient appropriately if we understand why they are feeling symptoms. Long-standing muscle/postural imbalances are often the underlying cause of a patient’s symptoms. Dr. Schoonman’s understanding of these imbalance patterns is key to successfully addressing not only acute, but chronic pain syndromes. X-ray, MRI, or CT scans, may be ordered to further evaluate the spine as well as other areas of the body, as necessary.

Treatment: Treatment is always patient centered and based on careful history taking and evaluation. Patients are treated with a wide range of physical medicine tools with a primary focus on myofascial therapy. Targeted deep muscular therapy coupled with active stretching is used primarily to “unwind” imbalance patterns, often without the need for any “cracking” adjustments. Specific stretching and exercise programs are provided to maintain and expand on the in-office care, with the ultimate goal of releasing patients to self-care as soon as possible.

Philosophy: Dr. Schoonman has always felt that appropriately trained chiropractors should be part of the medical community, not separate from it. His journey of medical integration started in 2016, after 22 years of private practice, when he was hired as an on-staff chiropractic physician at New England Neurological Associates, in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Lawrence and Lowell. He spent 3 ½ years working closely the neurologists, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, rheumatologists, and physicians assistants. Dr. Schoonman joined Kronos Health in 2020 and works closely with the primary care team managing a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. Paul’s deep understanding of musculoskeletal anatomy and function has made him an integral part of the Kronos care team. Dr. Schoonman is also an adjunct faculty member at Merrimack College and has taught Anatomy and Physiology and currently instructs a graduate course “Introduction to Medical Imaging.”