Ever since Dr. John Hitchiner was 13 years old and his brother was born, he knew he wanted a career in the medical field.
While he was taking pre-med courses at the University of Connecticut, his parents’ experiences with chiropractic medicine motivated him to learn more about the field. In 1987, the Internet and its search engines didn’t exist. Hitchiner, with the help of UConn’s guidance department, contacted the American Chiropractic Association and the International Chiropractic Association. Soon after, they sent Hitchiner packets of information about careers as a chiropractor.
“The more I read, the more convinced I was that this type of medicine was for me,” Hitchiner said. “A non-surgical and holistic approach to healing.”
As a chiropractor, Hitchiner treats patients from infants to seniors for a variety of conditions. He has special training in sports injuries and is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician. He has completed the rigorous training and passed an intensive examination by a national board to become a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians. He will complete the final requirement with publication of his article in a medical journal this spring.
“I also have completed several hours of extra training in work injuries and their prevention,” Hitchiner said. “We also provide nutritional products and therapeutic massage services.”
In the 1980s, Dr. Walter Ialacci, a chiropractor, opened a satellite office at 35 Hartford Avenue in Granby and saw patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ialacci called his company Chiropractic Care of Granby.
When Hitchiner graduated from the New York Chiropractic College in 1992, he practiced at chiropractic offices in Bloomfield and Simsbury. In April 1994, when he learned that Chiropractic Care of Granby was for sale, he decided to purchase the practice and move to Granby. As the new owner, he turned the office into a six-day a week practice.
“It took a lot of effort to let people know who we were and that we were open more than Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Hitchiner said.
In November 2002, Hitchiner had the opportunity to purchase the property located at 50 Hartford Avenue from Doctors Barwick and Blomquist, when they moved their practice.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chiropractic Care of Granby was a busy place. Starting in the second half of March 2020, when things were getting shut down to “flatten the curve” it was still open, but the business was very slow. However, things slowly improved in April, and have gotten closer to normal this fall.
“We have been very careful to keep everything clean and safe for our patients since COVID began in March,” Hitchiner said. “We plan to continue with the Personal Protection Equipment and use of hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial cleaning, even as COVID dies down.”
Hitchiner’s favorite part about being a chiropractor is helping people in a natural holistic way without medication or surgery. Hitchiner said he has helped many people when other methods have failed.
Hitchiner has lived in Granby since 1994 and he now lives in North Granby with his wife, Sharyn, their sons John and David, and dogs Taz and Lucy.
The practice is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Call 860-653-5581 to make an appointment.