Meet the Doctor

Dr. Michael Fanelli utilizes a unique approach in his practice, specializing in soft tissue treatment.  'Since my early days as a chiropractic intern, I have seen the tremendous benefits achieved by focusing on the muscles, in addition to adjusting the spine and extremities.  Results are often immediate, patients feel 'looser' and hold their adjustments better -- I couldn't imagine practicing any other way.'  

Dr. Fanelli earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Rowan University in 1986.  He graduated from New York Chiropractic College in 1990 and, following 100 hours of postgraduate course study, achieved status as a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician in 1992.  After working as an Associate Doctor in several clinics, he opened his own practice in Mantua in 1994.

In the early 1990's, Dr. Fanelli was introduced to Dr. Michael Leahy of Colorado.  Dr. Leahy was traveling the country, teaching a groundbreaking soft tissue treatment technique he had recently developed.  He was achieving very promising results working on elite athletes with sport-related muscular adhesions (i.e., scar tissue, or 'knots') resulting from repetitive motion injuries.  However, Dr. Leahy soon discovered that many common complaints experienced by the general public were also due, in large part, to the same type of muscular adhesions.  These occurred from poor posture or sedentary jobs/lifestyle.  Recognizing this as a highly specific form of what he had been providing his patients all along, Dr. Fanelli devoted the next few years to mastering this technique.  In 1995, he became a certified provider of Active Release Techniques.  He currently remains the only certified provider of A.R.T. in Gloucester County.

'My goal is to help as many people as possible to not only get well, but to stay well.  New patients come to me initially wanting to get out of pain -- and while Active Release Techniques and chiropractic care often help to reduce the pain quickly -- I caution them that this is usually temporary.  Aging well involves good posture and alignment, normal nerve function, mobile joints, and flexible muscles.  Regular chiropractic and A.R.T. care (generally once or twice a month) coupled with some basic home exercise goes a long way toward achieving this.  Our patients find that the benefits of wellness and preventative care are far superior to that of symptom relief care.'