Wantagh Chiropractor Offers Free Services for Veterans

With many U.S. military personnel expected to come home by the end of 2011, one local chiropractor is doing her part to help and honor those who have served the country.

Coming to the aid of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Gina Marino, the founder of Wantagh-based , has joined a nationwide initiative with other chiropractors to help veterans coming home from war by offering the free services.

According to a release from the center, Marino is “at the forefront of this movement on Long Island to serve those who have served us so courageously.”

Dr. R.J. Kelly, Southern Regional director of the International Chiropractors Association, developed the initiative.

Marino said that she was inspired by Kelly’s initiative because she knew chiropractic care “would be very helpful in treating many of the conditions that our returning soldiers were suffering from, including, but not limited to back pain, neck pain, anxiety, depression and all related issues.”

“By volunteering in this program, I would be able to help those veterans have a better chance of healing from their injuries without them having to be concerned about the financial cost, since many of them do not have the resources to pay for this type of care,” she continued.

President Obama has stated that the last U.S. troops will leave Iraq by the end of the year. Marino said that as these military personnel come back home to civilian life or stateside deployment, they continue to deal with the strain of service, including a “new pattern of injury and trauma.”

“Regrettably, the care those returning veterans have been receiving through official channels has not always been adequate,” said Marino. “Other methods of treatment, such as chiropractic are helpful, but are not available through VA services.”

So far, Marino said that the center has been able to serve five veterans with this program, but they are hoping to inform the public and get more returning military personnel involved.

“With our troops coming home by the end of the year, we hope to get this information out to them so that they are aware that we are here to help them,” she said.

Marino said that she has seen patients report less pain, improved function and better emotional health after the chiropractic treatments. The best part of assisting the veterans in this capacity, she added, was that she could see improvement in “their overall condition and outlook allowing them to return to a better life.”

“I believe that through the power of chiropractic care, we can help returning veterans strive to recover and restore their lives physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,” she said.

Marino explained that veterans have been very appreciative of the center’s effort and “they feel like they get the special attention that they need.”

"They report improvement in their symptoms and in their overall quality of life,” she said.

The program for veterans includes one year of free chiropractic services for any United States military veteran “returning from overseas deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq,” according to the release. Veterans will be asked to show their service certificate. For additional information, please call (516) 221-3500 or visit align-me.com.