Our Wellness Team

Wes C. Martin, Neuromuscular Therapist

Wes Martin’s neuromuscular training and life experiences with physical therapy enable him to help clients overcome muscular problems and reduce stress through applied soft tissue techniques.

Wes is a Certified Professional Therapeutic and Sports Massage Therapist and a professional member of the American Massage Therapy Association. Wes graduated with 1000 hours of study from Western Institute of Neuromuscular Therapy, named one of the top three schools in the nation. He has specific training in sports injuries, chronic pain conditions, repetitive motion syndromes and whiplash.

He grew up in this area surfing, snow and water skiing, motocrossing, rollerblading and fishing. Having experienced a number of mishaps leading to surgeries, he understands rehabilitation. This, along with his schooling in many modalities for soft tissue therapy, helps him to facilitate and motivate an individual to recovery.

Wes’ training helps him to identify specific needs of an individual, whether they are office athletes, weekend warriors or highly competitive sports participants. He was on the volunteer team helping athletes at the L.A. Marathon with pre and post event sports massage. Other events have been the MS bike ride from Huntington Beach to San Diego and the Long Beach Invitational Fencing Tournament.

Wes believes that Chiropractic Care along with Muscular Therapy is a winning combination. He feels fortunate to be teaming up with everyone at Fountain Valley Chiropractic, joining like-minded people in the pursuit of helping others to get the most out of their lives-- through keeping their bodies in the best possible functioning state.

Alan Lew, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac.
Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist

At this location Thursdays and by appointment on Saturdays

Alan Lew, L.Ac., Dipl. Ac. Is a board certified National Diplomat in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine through NCCAOM (National commission for the Ceritification of Acupuncturist and Oriental Medicine) and a licensed acupuncturist in the State of California. Alan attended Emperors College of Oriental Medicine where he graduated with highest honors in 2001. His clinical experience includes internships at Daniel Freeman Hospital, Emperors College Clinic, Los Angeles Free Clinic, Harbor UCLA, St. Mary’s Hospital, and Long Beach Sports Medicine, where he treated and gained experience in a variety of disorders including back pain, whiplash, carpal tunnel syndrome, headaches, digestive disorders, skin conditions, menstrual pain, chemical dependency, hypertension, and allergies.

Alan has trained and uses a variety of techniques including Traditional Chinese Acupuncture, Herbology, Korean Constitutional Acupuncture, Japanese Acupuncture, Acupressure, exercise, Neuroenergetic Release, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Advanced Jaffe-Mellor Technique (JMT), Neuromuscular Reprogramming, Auricular Medicine, heavy metal detoxification, postural re-education, and allergy elimination techniques. Alan specializes in the treatment of chronic disorders such as musculoskeletal pain, allergies, and stress related conditions. He continues to take seminars every year on the treatment of disorders such as hepatitis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, digestive dysfunction, infertility, premenstrual symptoms with using natural remedies.

Born and raised in California, during his free time, he likes to read, mountain bike, play volleyball, go camping, and train in Brazilian Jujitsu.

On chiropractic: I recommend chiropractic to many of my patients. I feel that chiropractic and acupuncture are a wonderful combination. I have found that patients that have chiropractic adjustments tend to be healthier, are easier to treat, and respond quicker to acupuncture.

Melissa Valdez
Chiropractic Assistant

Hello my name is Melissa Valdez and I have been part of the family here at Fountain Valley Chiropractic for 4 years. Over the years I have learned so much about Chiropractic Care and how much ones life can benefit from chiropractic care. I began working as a Chiropractic Assistant in Newport Beach in 1999. In August of 2002 I was given the opportunity to join the team at Fountain Valley Chiropractic. It was then when I became part of the family at Fountain Valley Chiropractic that I knew that being a Chiropractic Assistant was what I love doing, seeing and being a part of the miracles that occur; helping to educate people on the benefits of chiropractic care so that they too can begin their road to recovery and soon can maintain a healthy life style through Chiropractic Care.

In November of 2002 I found out that I was expecting a baby. I was unaware of the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy. I had so many questions, is it safe for my baby and I? How can we benefit from a chiropractic adjustment? The list goes on. It was then that I became more educated on chiropractic care during and after pregnancy. There are a few things that I have learned that I would like to share with you. Chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy are especially safe and gentle and require far less force than a regular adjustment, this is due to the increase in hormones causing significant muscle and ligament relaxation. There are many different “adjustive” positions used during pregnancy to help you remain comfortable and relaxed. Did you know that the average woman gains anywhere from 25-35 lbs during the 9 months of pregnancy? This amount of weight can cause a tremendous amount of muscle strains and low back discomfort due to possible nerve interferences. I learned that chiropractic adjustments can effectively reduce the average amount of time spent in labor. There is nearly a 25% reduction in the average labor times in those receiving chiropractic care versus those who don’t.. There was a study done proving that Postpartum pain was relieved in 90 of 120 patients who received chiropractic adjustments during pregnancy.

During my 9 months of pregnancy I was adjusted at least once a week sometimes 2-3 times a week. I experienced little to no back pain. This I believe is due to maintaining a healthy lifestyle through chiropractic adjustments. I have to say that this was the best 9 months that any woman could ever ask for.

Approximately 2 weeks after the birth of my son Colin, I brought him into the office not only to show him off but to have his first chiropractic exam and adjustment. Was I nervous? Yea of course but our chiropractor explained to us that the type of adjustment used on a baby is much different than on an adult. Our chiropractor also demonstrated to us using my hand the little amount of force used on a babies adjustment. Our chiropractor did a through examination on him and then gave him his first adjustment, forsure I thought he was going to cry, but he didn’t even make a sound, actually he had a huge smile on his face. People often ask, “why does an infant or a young child need to be adjusted?”. Subluxations may first occur as early as in the birthing canal. Did you know that subluxations in children can cause various things such as, colicky babies, lack of hunger, ear infections, and can cause their immune system not to function properly. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help with all of these things. They can also help monitor the spinal development as infants begin to sit up, hold their heads up, learn to crawl and learn to walk. I remember bringing Colin in for a well baby check up and our chiropractor showed me how misaligned he was from sitting in his car seat and not being able to hold his head up, She gave him an adjustment and immediately I could see the difference. It was amazing. Now my family and I receive regular chiropractic adjustments to make sure that our bodies are receiving maximum nerve flow and that we continue to maintain a healthy life style.

Sharon
Office Manager and Spinal Decompression Coordinator

My journey down the path towards reaching my optimum health and wellness began on a summer day twelve years ago. It was on this warm and sunny day when I joined the team of Fountain Valley Chiropractic. Though I was excited about this new path that I was going to travel, I had no idea that the journey in which I was about to embark would forever change my life. Prior to beginning as a back office assistant at FVC I lacked the knowledge of what chiropractic was as well as the benefits that chiropractic had to offer. It was shortly after I joined the team when I first began to realize the impact that chiropractic has on maintaining a healthy life.

I was eighteen years-old at the time and had been suffering from severe migraines. These migraines were debilitating and would often leave me bedridden for hours at a time. Until this point I had tried everything that I believed would help and was left powerless. I needed to find something that could not only relieve my discomfort, but help to prevent these horrific migraines as well. It was when I voiced my frustrations that one of the Chiropractors suggested I receive an adjustment. Like so many others who are not well-informed about the power of chiropractic, I was initially skeptical. After a thorough exam and x-rays it became clear to me that I was going to give chiropractic a chance. The next day I received my first adjustment and was on my way to living my life to its utmost potential. Subsequent to my adjustment the Chiropractor presented me with an adjustment program that was intended specifically for me and my health. Since I had already felt such improvements I knew that I was going to dedicate myself and commit to the program that the Chiropractor had recommended.

As time went on and I became more educated in the chiropractic lifestyle I found myself fascinated with all that it had to offer. In the meantime I continued to receive adjustments on a regular basis. I was no longer suffering from migraines and began to see other positive changes in my health! With all of the great progress that my body had made by following my adjustment program and by doing the exercises that the Chiropractor had given me, I was ready to set my wellness care into motion.

Since my journey here at Fountain Valley Chiropractic began ten years ago I have experienced what an overwhelming difference chiropractic care can have in a person’s life. I take pleasure in being a part of a team that is truly enthusiastic about making the world a better place through chiropractic. I am proud to say that I am now the Office Manager of a Chiropractic office that takes pride in the care of each individual that we come across. I look forward to being a part of this fantastic team for many more years to come. My dedication to my health and wellness continues to be a key in this life long journey.

Missy

Before I became a part of this wonderful Chiropractic team, I started out as a patient here at Fountain Valley Chiropractic.  During the year 2005, I began to get migraines. These migraines would leave me incapacitated for two or three days at a time.  The only thing I could do was crawl into bed and try to sleep them off.  I had tried many different types of medications to help relieve my migraines, but none had helped. I was at a loss; that is until someone suggested that I see a chiropractor.  I had seen a chiropractor in the past for care after an auto accident when I was about 8 years old.  I had remembered that it had helped me then, so I decided to give it a try. 

            In January of 2006 I became a practice member at FVC.  I was really surprised how welcoming and friendly the office staff was.  Once I started to get regular adjustments, not only did the frequency of my migraines lessen, but the intensity of them (when I did get one) was greatly lessened as well.  In March of that same year, I became a part of the FVC team.

            After about year or so of seeing the magic that chiropractic care possessed, I decided that I wanted to become a chiropractor myself. As part of my job, I take practice members back into the adjustment rooms and also help them make appointments for their future adjustments.  Seeing the difference that just one visit could make, from the time I brought them back to the time that I checked them out, greatly inspired me.  The doctors here are very knowledgeable and they give me the foundation that I need to pursue a life that can make a huge impact on other lives.  I really enjoy being a part of this practice and hope to someday come back as a Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine to help guide people on their journey to a healthier life.