Rob DeStefano

Dr. Rob DeStefano first learned about chiropractic when he was 14 years old, inspired by an Osteopath who did adjustments and motivated Rob to want to help people get and stay healthy. Having sustained serious injuries playing high school football, Rob was treated by a chiropractor who got him back on the field. These injuries and his recovery helped him to understand the injuries of others--in fact, in high school and college, Rob was known for helping his teammates recognize and address injuries and other health issues. Throughout his academic sports career, Rob excelled in track, football (earning a scholarship to Kutztown University), deacathlon, powerlifting, lacrosse, rugby (earning a scholarship at Palmer College of Chiropractic) and triathlon. To date, he has competed in over 300 races, including 9 Ironmans and 2 Ironman World Championships. He has experienced the ins and outs of injury and recovery many times over, and it has become his passion. In part due to this athletic experience, Dr. Rob recognized early the importance of muscle in the big healthcare picture: even in his days at Chiropractic college, he set himself apart by incorporating muscle work in his treatment of fellow students. Soon after graduation, he earned his CCSP (Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician), and attended his first ART (Active Release Techniques) seminar. After a few years of practicing chiropractic and ART, he began teaching, and since the early 90's has lectured and taught at over 100 ART seminars and related teaching and lecturing events. Dr. Rob opened his first offices in Ridgefield Park and in Lodi, NJ in 1987. In 1999, he had the opportunity to open his first NY office, at the elite training facility La Palestra on the upper west side. In the world of athletics he has worked with athletes of all levels, including the US Olympic Bobsled/Luge/Skeleton teams, US Olympic Hockey Team, the NHL, NBA, LPGA, and the NFL. Dr Rob became an official ART provider to the New York Football Giants in 2002, seeing them through their 2008 Superbowl Championship and continuing at present as the official ART provider and official Chiropractor. 2009 saw the opening of his first two satellite offices in NY, in The Orion and The Ariel. As a result of the past few years of working and discussing cases with Dr. Kelly, Dr. Rob felt that the time was right to champion the emerging need for diagnosis and treatment of muscle, and muscle's important role in the future of healthcare. Work began on what is now Muscle Medicine, available now. As appears in the book, he has developed a new treatment technique and self-treatment modality to compliment doctor care that has already been successfully adopted by many of his athletes and patients (see thefastprogram.com). An accompanying self-treatment tool, already being used by national, professional sports teams, will be introduced next, all in the service of Muscle Medicine.