Case Study Overview
Case Study 1: Pain to Transformation
This client, a highly experienced gastroenterologist surgeon, came to me after years of unresolved pain. For over 30 years, he had spent 8+ hours a day standing in a 45–60 degree bent position during surgeries, leading to severe lower back pain that made even basic activities like getting out of bed or walking unbearable. He relied on a back brace to walk and had undergone two costly surgeries—a laminectomy and a spinal fusion—neither of which provided relief. Frustrated after failed attempts with chiropractors, physical therapists, and manual therapists, he told himself this pain was his “new normal.”
During our consultation, he confidently pointed to areas he believed were “off,” saying, “I know my body quite well. My left back is tilted, and areas X, Y, and Z are off.” But when I performed a thorough posture and movement analysis, I found the opposite of what he described. I pointed this out, and he smiled, saying, “Good job.” He had been testing me—after years of being let down, he wanted to see if I could identify the root causes on my own before we even started.
The underlying issue was clear: a lack of deep core (TVA) and pelvic floor activation, which prevented proper 360-degree intra-abdominal pressure for stability. This instability had contributed to decades of improper movement patterns. Compounding this were fascia adhesions in his obliques, abdominals, QL, and glutes—all stemming from years of overuse in his bent position. By addressing these adhesions and reconnecting his deep core for stability, we began to rebuild his foundation for pain-free movement.
In just three sessions, he experienced significant relief—waking up with less pain and even walking without his brace. By session seven, he was pain-free and moving freely. He walked into one session saying, “Look at me—I’m zooming!” and laughed, admitting he had pushed himself a bit too hard from excitement. These small moments reflected the transformation he was experiencing, not just physically, but emotionally too.
In the beginning, he was understandably skeptical, given his past disappointments. But by the end of our work together, he looked at me with both hands extended and said, “Thank you for your work. I really mean it.” Moments like these reaffirm why I do this work—addressing the root causes, not just masking the symptoms, to give people their lives back.
Case Study 2: From Twisted to Transformed
This client had been living with a range of debilitating issues for over 15 years. He described feeling “twisted” internally, a sensation that persisted despite years of physical therapy and other interventions. His history included patella tendonitis, two shoulder dislocations (one on each side), sciatic pain while running, discomfort when sitting, and a complete inability to activate his glutes—something that even two years of dedicated physical therapy couldn’t resolve. His main goal was to figure out why he felt so misaligned and “off.”
During our first session, it took only 60 seconds to uncover something remarkable. I had him perform a simple 90-90 movement on the floor, and he suddenly exclaimed, “What was that? I felt it in my glute.” I replied, “That’s normal—you should feel it in your glute.” His response floored me: “Derreck, you don’t understand. I haven’t felt my glute in over 15 years.”
That moment set the tone for our journey. Through our movement analysis, we discovered several key compensations: a posterior pelvic tilt, a right transverse pelvic rotation, a right lateral pelvic tilt, and both femurs internally rotated. Shockingly, despite all this, he appeared outwardly “normal.” Past chiropractors and physical therapists had reassured him that his hips looked fine, but our analysis revealed the deeper truths hidden in his movement patterns.
The initial focus was on re-establishing neuromuscular connections and retraining his core. He had no idea how to brace his transverse abdominis (TVA) or activate his pelvic floor to create proper intra-abdominal pressure. While these strategies helped for about a month, we eventually hit a plateau. That’s when we shifted focus to something even more transformative: his fascia.
By addressing fascia adhesions in his obliques, glutes, and pelvis, we unlocked mobility and realigned his body. This approach allowed his pelvis to naturally transition to a more neutral anterior tilt, enabling proper hip extension and improving femur rotation. Simultaneously, we revisited his scapula-thoracic region, which had been destabilized by his prior shoulder dislocations. Through specific work on the fascia and neuromuscular activation in this area, we not only rebuilt his scapular stability but surpassed the progress he had made in physical therapy. His shoulders became stronger, more stable, and fully functional—something he hadn’t experienced since before his injuries.
Remarkably, we achieved all of this without any external weight training. Instead, we focused solely on movement training, fascia release, and neuromuscular activation. The idea was simple but powerful: external resistance reinforces the current foundation, so we prioritized rebuilding his foundation without adding unnecessary load. And it worked.
Over the course of 2 years, his transformation was nothing short of extraordinary. His glutes and calves developed to a level that most people dream of achieving through weight lifting, but he did it through walking an average of 10k–14k steps daily, movement training, and dedication. He also completed 2 fat loss phases (8-week cycles each), losing an average of 2.5% body fat per month. In total, he reduced his body fat from 24.9% to 13.9%, achieving a leaner physique entirely through sustainable methods. Perhaps the most rewarding moment came when he noticed his first V-line for his lower abs—something he had always admired in others but never thought possible for himself.
While this journey took longer than the average client, his complexity required exceptional attention to detail. What would typically take over five years was accomplished in just 2 years, proving that frequent, high-quality sessions focused on addressing root issues can accelerate transformation.
His story is a testament to what’s possible when you commit to the process. It wasn’t just about relieving pain; it was about giving him a body that could function—and thrive—in ways he never thought possible.
Case Study 3: From Pain to Empowerment
This client had been living with debilitating lower back pain for seven years, ever since the birth of her daughter. The pain was so intense it would wake her up in the middle of the night, leaving her exhausted and frustrated. She tried everything—physical therapy, expensive pillows, and even investing in a high-end bed to ease the discomfort—but while these helped slightly, they were far from a complete transformation.
She once loved dancing and weight training, but her pain made those activities impossible to enjoy. Feeling defeated, she turned to me, hoping for a solution.
From our first session, it was clear she had a hyperlordotic lower back (excessive anterior pelvic tilt) and significant fascia adhesions throughout her core and legs from years of improper movement. She also struggled to activate her deep core muscles, including the transverse abdominis (TVA) and pelvic floor, which are critical for full-body stability.
After releasing the fascia adhesions and reconnecting her core, she felt immediate relief. For the first time in years, she slept pain-free for 3–4 days after just one session. Convinced by this breakthrough, she committed to a deeper journey to address the root causes of her pain.
Over the next 6–9 months, we focused on movement training, deep core activation, and fascia work. By the end of this process, she had forgotten what it felt like to live with back pain.
She was amazed at how much we could accomplish without weight training—unlocking mobility, eliminating pain, and laying a foundation for future fat loss phases and weight training. For someone who once felt hopeless, this complete comprehensive transformation gave her a new lease on life, allowing her to return to the activities she loved with confidence and joy.
Her story is a reminder: You can choose to end your pain forever by taking a chance on a comprehensive transformation that goes beyond surface-level fixes.