Dr. Martina Carlini, Pittsburgh Chiropractor
It all started with Cheek-a-morphis.
Strength came easily for me. It’s in my genes.
Thirty pull-ups (without the modern-crossfit-style swinging and jerking up) were a piece of cake for my eleven-year-old six-pack-clad gymnast self.
Flexibility? Not so much. Splits? Not so easy.
Over-splits (exactly what they sound like)? Absolutely not!
One day after stretching, Cheek-a-morphis (as a fellow gymnast called it) quickly set in. And for a few moments, I felt excruciating pain in my left glute and hamstring, and I couldn’t move my leg. As was par for the course in competitive gymnastics, I was used to some soreness, pain, or an injury here and there. Fortunately, it went away as quickly as it set in, and I was back to practice.
Fast forward about three years …
And the Cheek-a-morphis came back with a vengeance.
And this time, it did not go away.
For a while, I tried to just deal with the pain, but my efforts were fruitless. I met with an orthopedic surgeon, desperately hoping he could help in some way. His recommendations? Discontinue all extracurricular sports and physical activities …forever. FOR-EV-ER. FOR-EV-ER. (He didn’t really say “forever.” I just wanted to quote “The Sandlot.”) Anyway, … “Um, no, thank you,” said my fifteen-year-old busily-involved-in-several-extracurricular-activities self.
So there I was, back to just dealing with the pain.
Finally, in my senior year of high school, I began to learn about chiropractic when I started working as a receptionist in a chiropractic practice in Wexford. I learned how a balanced, proper-functioning spine and nervous system are essential to feeling great, healing, and reaching your optimal potential. I began care as a chiropractic patient, and for the first time, I finally experienced some relief from Cheek-a-morphis (or sciatic nerve pain as I now know).
These early experiences with how the body functions, how it breaks down, and how it heals were fascinating to me. It was hard to understand how an orthopedic surgeon’s only solution for me was to quit all physical activities, and a chiropractor (something I had never even heard of when I was younger) was actually able to help me with only a few months of care. Crazy!
Long story short … I decided to become a patient of an upper cervical chiropractor while I was in chiropractic school, and I went on to experience even more improvements in my health, beyond anything I had ever expected or thought was possible. My neck pain, back pain, sciatic pain, headaches, and most importantly, my severe menstrual cramping completely disappeared!
So, what was my take-away from all of this?
I must use this knowledge and my experience as a way to help and teach others about the body’s amazing innate ability to naturally heal itself and be well.
Dr. Carlini’s Professional Bio
Martina Carlini, Doctor of Chiropractic and co-director of Pittsburgh Upper Cervical Chiropractic, PLLC, first became intrigued by the human body—how it functions, how it breaks down, and how it heals—as a young dancer and competitive gymnast. After graduating with honors and receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Movement Science from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Carlini began working as a fitness specialist in two local health clubs in addition to coaching gymnastics. She went on to graduate with honors and receive her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life University College of Chiropractic in Marietta, GA in March 2008. Throughout her education, she was active in extracurricular clubs and activities, including completing a post-doctorate advanced level certification in Knee Chest Upper Cervical Specific (KCUCS). The philosophy, science, and art behind upper cervical chiropractic, along with her first-hand experience as a patient, confirmed her decision to practice specific upper cervical chiropractic. Dr. Carlini is professionally licensed by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the State of Pennsylvania, and she has more than twenty years experience working in health, wellness, and fitness.
Dr. Carlini, a native of Pittsburgh, is pleased to be in her hometown helping her family, friends, and fellow Pittsburghers regain and maintain their health. She is passionately dedicated to helping people understand that health does not come from a potion, lotion, or pill; health comes from within, and chiropractic is about strengthening your body from the inside out. Dr. Carlini lives north of Pittsburgh with her husband, Dr. David Radziercz, their seven-year-old son Agostino, five-year-old daughter Natalia, one-year-old daughter Giovanna, and ten-year-old German Shepherd/Golden Retriever Luna.
*Update: Dr. Carlini is not accepting appointments right now. She has taken on more of an office management role since her children were born. New patients and established patients can all schedule with Dr. Radziercz.
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