For 45 years, the Swetz family offers Lewis County their services at Morton Chiropractic Center. Three generations of Swetz men have dedicated their chiropractic care to Morton. Building a legacy, they aim to support the backbone of the hardworking community, literally.
Morton sits peacefully as a valley nestled in hills lined with timber. Known in the 1950s as the “Tie Mill Capital of the World” and hosting the annual Loggers Jubilee, the timber industry saturates the town. As a timber and logging community, the residents can experience hard tolls taken on their bodies daily from the strenuous lines of work.
Grandson Josef Swetz talks about the family heritage stemming from Switzerland on his grandmother’s side and Germany and Austria with his grandfather’s family. He remembers the family’s dairy cows, of which they had around 100 beautiful Brown Swiss, to produce decadent fresh milk and cream.
The founder of Morton Chiropractic Center was Grandfather, Frank Swetz D.C. His interest in chiropractic care started after an accident he sustained while working on a dairy farm. He landed on his back and was dependent on crutches at age 27. The hope doctors gave him was a risky spinal surgery to fuse his spine. He opted not to pursue that avenue and sought chiropractic care from a provider in Puyallup. After treatments, he regained his ability to live life as before. That healing was the defining moment that spurred him to his new career in chiropractic service.
At age 40, the eldest Swetz decided to pursue a degree in chiropractic care at the world’s first chiropractic college, Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. He graduated in 1974 and started Morton Chiropractic Center in 1975. In obtaining his degree, he was able to give back a person’s livelihood when robbed by pain or injury. As he was able to regain his mobility and life after care, he sought to give back in the same manner.
His son, John A. Swetz D.C., decided to pursue a career in chiropractic after feeling the hard toll operating heavy machinery was taking on his body. After his father offered a partnership in the chiropractic center, he went to Palmer College of Chiropractic – West Campus located in Sunnyvale, California. He graduated 10 years after his father in 1984.
Grandson Josef A. Swetz D.C. had many reasons that led him to join the family practice. He suffered an accident while break dancing and while attempting a backflip landed on his head. The injury to his neck left him with severe headaches. Suffering from that injury on top of multiple car accidents, he was able to see personally how chiropractic care can change someone’s life to be pain-free. Combined with watching his father’s healing hands in action and hearing the stories of his grandfather’s experiences led him to change his acting dreams and trade them for patient care through chiropractic.
Continuing the family legacy, as the third-generation care provider, Josef A. Swetz D.C. joined the family practice after graduating from the Palmer College of Chiropractic – West Campus in December of 2019. He is a Centralia College alumni and attended Eastern Washington University as well.
The Morton Chiropractic Center offers care to mill workers in the area, adding a different patient niche than most chiropractors see. A bus or van used to bring loads of loggers into town for chiropractic services and the waiting and treatment rooms would be coated in a layer of sawdust that told the story of the men being seen. While waiting for treatment some men would go to have their saws sharpened for the next workday.
The practice has offered care to many amazing hardworking folks. As a family practice, they see people of all ages. Morton Chiropractic Center has three treatment rooms for chiropractic care and a massage therapy treatment room with services provided by Sara Webb, LMT.
With newly installed digital x-ray capabilities, their technology is up to date and offers great new experiences for patients. Josef is able to bring his training of alternative care treatments to the center. His services include cupping therapy, activator technique for gentle adjustments, IASTM (instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization) and nutritional supplement recommendations.
To sum up Josef’s beliefs and practice model he refers to Thomas Edison’s quote, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will instruct his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” He also strives to provide higher quality care and consistency for his patients using evidence to inform [his] practice, remaining committed to the American Chiropractic Association code of ethics and exhibiting the highest level of professional excellence.
Morton Chiropractic Center accepts Cigna, Premera, First Choice insurance, as well as discounts offered for time of service cash payments. To see if your plan has benefits, it is best to call the office first.
Morton Chiropractic Center
118 2nd St.
Morton
360-496-5870
