Project Description

DR. NATE BAKER

Dr. Nate Baker comes to Total Performance with Bachelor of Science degrees in Kinesiology, Exercise Science and Human Biology. In addition, he has completed a Master of Science in Exercise and Sports Science, and most recently has earned his Doctorate in Chiropractic Medicine. While attending the University of Western States, he was able to apply and further his knowledge in exercise and rehabilitation to help a large variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including a variety of athletic and sports injuries. His internship afforded him several opportunities to work with high schools and athletic training rooms around the Portland area, as well as several regional sporting events throughout the state of Oregon.

Through his doctorate work, Dr. Baker began to grasp and understand the concept of functional movement and the great importance of treating a patient in their entirety, not just at the site of pain. Dr. Baker is trained in the Functional Range Assessment (FRA), Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA) and the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), which helps to identify the true areas of dysfunctional movement so that treatment plans are focused on restoration of proper function and therefore, a reduction in painful symptoms. In addition, he is a certified Functional Range Conditioning Movement Specialist (FRCms) and utilizes those principles to help control joint movement and function, as well as enhance physical performance. Dr. Baker uses diversified adjusting techniques, including some drop table approaches, in adjusting spinal segments and joints of the extremities. He also utilizes myofascial release techniques, instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation (IASTM), and fascial movement taping to help treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. He is a certified Rocktape provider and a Fascial Movement Tape (FMT) specialist. The culmination of these treatment methods come together with the reintegration of correct movement patterns through use of highly selective corrective rehabilitation exercises.

Dr. Baker grew up in Sonora, a small town in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, which attributed to his very active lifestyle at an early age. To this day he enjoys participating in many sports and outdoor activities such as, snowboarding, mountain biking, mountaineering, and camping. He developed an early passion for sports and athletics, competing in football, track & field, soccer, and baseball, which carried over into high school. Having been an athlete all his life, he turned to chiropractic medicine, rehabilitation, and proper nutrition to keep himself working optimally. Chiropractic treatment, functional movement and exercise were essential to facilitating performance. Additionally, this treatment philosophy helped Dr. Baker take his athletic abilities to compete in NCAA Division III college football and track & field. His experience with chiropractic medicine and the benefits it gave him encouraged him to enter a field of health care in which he could help others in a similar manner.

Dr. Baker practiced in Vancouver, WA for 2 years before moving down to Grants Pass, OR to become business partners with Nick and Scott. He is a big family man and loves to spend time with his extended family throughout Southern Oregon. Nate is married to his beautiful wife, Cassie, and they have a child together. Their son, Hayden, was born in March of 2015 and is just as active as they are. They love the area and are excited to call Southern Oregon their home!

Education:
Sonora High School ‘04
University of Redlands ‘05
California State University – Fresno ’05-’09 B.S. Kinesiology – Exercise Science
University of Western States – ’10 – ’13 Doctorate of Chiropractic
University of Western States – ’10 – ’12 B.S. Human Biology
University of Western States – ’10 – ’13 M.S. Exercise and Sports Science

Additional Certifications:

  • Functional Range Conditioning (FRCms)
  • Functional Range Assessment (FRA)
  • Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)
  • Functional Movement Screen (FMS)
  • Rocktape Fascial Movement Taping (FMT) I & II
  • McGill 1
  • Neurodynamic Solutions – Upper and Lower Quarter