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If you’re searching for a chiropractor in Holmen, WI, you have options – and choosing the right one matters more than most people realize going in. The technique, the training, the culture of the office, and how thoroughly the provider evaluates before they adjust all affect whether care actually produces lasting results or just temporary relief. At Leading Edge Chiropractic, we’ve built our practice around doing all of it right – and the feedback from our patients in the Holmen and La Crosse area reflects that.
What Makes a Chiropractor Worth Choosing
Most people searching for a chiropractor are looking for a few things: someone who actually listens, a provider who explains what they’re finding and why, care that produces real results rather than endless appointments with minimal progress, and an office environment that makes the whole experience feel worth showing up for.
Those aren’t unreasonable expectations. But they’re also not universal. The chiropractic experience varies significantly depending on who you’re seeing and what their approach is. A provider who adjusts broadly across the entire spine at every visit is doing something fundamentally different from one who performs a detailed analysis first and adjusts only where the findings indicate. The outcomes differ accordingly.
At Leading Edge, Dr. Chad Updike and Dr. Katie Canar both practice the Gonstead System – one of the most specific and thorough chiropractic techniques in the profession. Every visit starts with reassessment. Every adjustment is guided by what the analysis actually reveals that day. Nothing is guessed at, and nothing is routine.
Two Doctors, Deep Expertise, One Practice
Having two Gonstead-trained chiropractors under one roof is uncommon. Most offices have one primary provider. Leading Edge has two, and each brings a distinct area of depth.
Dr. Chad has more than 350 hours of advanced Gonstead training and 8 years of hands-on experience. He serves as Team Chiropractor for the Holmen High School football team and has advanced training in concussion management – which means he handles serious athlete injuries with a level of clinical expertise that goes well beyond what most chiropractic offices offer. He has also served on the board of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin for 10 years, including 2 years as President – advocating at the state capitol for patients and providers across Wisconsin. When you’re seeing Dr. Chad, you’re seeing someone who doesn’t just practice chiropractic, he shapes it at a state level.
Dr. Katie graduated summa cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic – the most prestigious chiropractic institution in the country. She holds Webster Certification for prenatal care, has completed hundreds of hours of additional Gonstead training through the Gonstead Methodology Institute, and serves as President of the Board for Blue Angels Gymnastics Club here in the area. She specializes in family care, pediatric chiropractic, prenatal care, and working with moms and families who want to take a proactive approach to their health rather than waiting for something to break down.
What Patients in Holmen Are Actually Experiencing
The best way to understand what Leading Edge is like is to hear from the people who have been coming here. Here’s what our patients have shared:
One patient who had struggled with daily headaches for years described her experience this way: after getting adjusted by Dr. Katie, she saw improvement right away. Going consistently has greatly reduced her headaches overall – and now her whole family goes as well.
A patient who came in with back spasms so severe he couldn’t pick up his two-year-old described a long road with Dr. Chad – ups and downs, steady progress over time – and the outcome: he can now live his life the way he wants to without the constant fear of his back giving out.
Another patient put it plainly after years of struggling with neck and shoulder pain: since coming to Leading Edge, she’s a much happier, pain-free person. The doctors and staff genuinely care and will do whatever it takes to make the experience beneficial.
One patient who had received chiropractic care for over 30 years wrote that no one had helped her the way Dr. Updike has in just 1.5 years. His treatment is slowly but steadily straightening her spine – and she and her husband are grateful to have been referred here.
A patient dealing with migraines for years noted that with Dr. Katie’s help, she’s been able to reduce both the frequency and intensity of those headaches – and she’ll definitely be returning.
These aren’t outliers. They’re the kind of outcomes that happen when the approach is specific, the evaluation is thorough, and the providers genuinely invest in understanding what each patient actually needs.
A Team That Makes the Experience What It Is
The office experience at Leading Edge is shaped by more than the two doctors. The team behind the scenes – and at the front desk – plays a real role in why patients keep coming back and why they refer their families.
Brooke, the office manager, has been part of this practice since 2010 and holds her own Doctorate of Chiropractic. That means when a patient has an insurance question or needs to understand the care process, they’re talking to someone with genuine clinical knowledge – not just administrative experience.
Stephanie brings 17 years in education to her role as patient coordinator, which means she’s naturally skilled at explaining things clearly, meeting people where they are, and making sure patients leave every visit understanding their options and feeling confident in their care plan.
Maddy, the lead laser technician, has been personally connected to this practice since Dr. Katie coached her all four years of high school gymnastics. That kind of relationship doesn’t just happen in a transactional office. It reflects a practice where people genuinely know and care about each other – and that shows up in how patients are treated.
Angie, who also works with patients on laser therapy, brings a background as a mental wellness coach and second-grade teacher alongside her work here. She’s someone patients immediately feel comfortable talking to – and that matters more than people expect when they’re dealing with pain or navigating care for the first time.
Services That Go Beyond the Adjustment
What sets Leading Edge apart from a standard chiropractic office isn’t just the Gonstead approach – it’s the range of tools available to support complete healing.
The Aspen Laser Apex provides targeted Class IV laser therapy for acute pain, soft tissue injuries, and inflammation that isn’t responding to adjustments alone. The THERALight 360 full-body red light therapy bed supports whole-body recovery, reduces systemic inflammation, and is used regularly by athletes and wellness-focused patients in the Holmen area. Having both systems available – not just one – is uncommon and reflects the practice’s commitment to giving patients every effective tool available.
Pediatric and family care is a core part of what Leading Edge does. Dr. Katie is Webster Certified for prenatal chiropractic, sees newborns and infants regularly, and has created an office environment where families genuinely feel welcome. Kids feel comfortable here. Parents bring their whole family. That’s not something you manufacture – it’s something you build over years of actually showing up for families.
Sports and performance care with Dr. Chad’s concussion management expertise means athletes from across the Coulee Region have access to a level of sports chiropractic care that goes well beyond the typical office. From Holmen High School football players to adult recreational athletes to competitive gymnasts, the range of athletes who come through Leading Edge reflects real depth in this area.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Your first visit at Leading Edge is a full evaluation – not a quick intake and a rapid adjustment. Dr. Chad or Dr. Katie will take a thorough health history, discuss what’s bringing you in, and perform the full Gonstead analysis: visualization of posture and movement, nervoscope instrumentation to detect heat pattern irregularities along the spine, static and motion palpation of each spinal segment, and X-ray evaluation when clinically appropriate.
From there, they’ll explain exactly what they found, what they believe is driving your symptoms, and what a care plan would look like. You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions before any care begins. There’s no mystery to the process and no pressure to commit before you understand what you’re dealing with.
Most patients receive their first adjustment at the initial visit. Many leave feeling noticeably different than when they walked in.
Serving Holmen, La Crosse, and the Coulee Region
Leading Edge Chiropractic is located at 525 McHugh Rd in Holmen, WI. The practice serves patients from across the La Crosse area including Onalaska, West Salem, Galesville, Trempealeau, and surrounding communities. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 7am to 6pm, and Tuesday from 7am to 11am.
If you’re ready to find out what chiropractic care done right actually feels like, contact Leading Edge Chiropractic or call 608-526-2854 to schedule your first visit. Dr. Chad and Dr. Katie are ready to meet you where you are.
Leading Edge Chiropractic serves Holmen, WI and the surrounding La Crosse area with precise, results-driven chiropractic care. Dr. Chad Updike and Dr. Katie Canar are both extensively trained in the Gonstead method, bringing a level of specificity and thoroughness to every patient that goes well beyond a standard adjustment. Dr. Chad serves as Team Chiropractor for the Holmen High School football team and has spent a decade on the board of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, including two years as President. Dr. Katie graduated summa cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic, holds Webster Certification for prenatal care, and has completed hundreds of hours of advanced Gonstead training. Together they care for patients of all ages, from infants and student-athletes to active adults and seniors. If you’re ready to find out what’s actually driving your symptoms, contact Leading Edge Chiropractic today.
Leading Edge Chiropractic serves Holmen, WI and the surrounding La Crosse area with precise, results-driven chiropractic care. Dr. Chad Updike and Dr. Katie Canar are both extensively trained in the Gonstead method, bringing a level of specificity and thoroughness to every patient that goes well beyond a standard adjustment. Dr. Chad serves as Team Chiropractor for the Holmen High School football team and has spent a decade on the board of the Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, including two years as President. Dr. Katie graduated summa cum laude from Palmer College of Chiropractic, holds Webster Certification for prenatal care, and has completed hundreds of hours of advanced Gonstead training. Together they care for patients of all ages, from infants and student-athletes to active adults and seniors. If you’re ready to find out what’s actually driving your symptoms, contact Leading Edge Chiropractic today.
