Lutz Chiropractor Addressed World Forum

Local chiropractor Dr. Scott Paton was able to share his business philosophy at the World Forum for Ethics in Business at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.

“When I got the invitation I was floored,” Paton said. “I wanted to teach people how to be a better listener, leader and how to take better care of themselves. During the speech, I talked about the five factors of health and the importance of silent communication.”

He said the experience taught him that opportunities can come from some of the strangest places. In 2004, Paton was invited to the scientific congress at the Greek Olympics. He did a presentation on leg length inequality and its effect on sway.

“All the previous studies suggest people with unequal leg length tend to sway more,” Paton said. “Doctors will try to even it out with a lift in the shoe. I choose to let the body adapt. I did a lot of research and I didn’t see a difference when someone used a lift. I think the brain has an unbelievable ability to adapt.”

Paton met Christoph Glaser from Art of Living at the Olympics. They developed a relationship through the years which led to Paton being able to speak at the European Parliament.

Paton said his philosophy on life has helped him to get where he is today.

“I believe you should always be nice to everybody,” Paton said. “You never know what bridge can be built between two people. People miss so many opportunities because they don’t put in 100 percent effort. I like to wake up every morning and make it a point to find something good in everybody.”

Paton said he has learned a lot through the years about what it takes to be successful.

“When people paint a picture in their mind of what is in the future and how it will work out, they forget to put in the speed bumps,” Paton said. “They only see the good stuff, so when the first problem happens the whole world falls apart and they give up. I just see things like that as a part of the ride. It just like the basic Chinese philosophy of yin and yang. For every plus there is a minus.”

At the forum, Paton also had the chance to meet some influential people.

“I sat with and spoke with members of the European Parliament, a NASA astronaut, (the) World Bank CFO and Rudd Lubbers (the former Dutch prime minister),” Paton said.

Paton did not start out his life thinking he would be a chiropractor. His whole life, he said he never really believed in chiropractic care. He started out his career as an environmental chemist at Westing House. He has a bachelor’s in chemistry from the University of South Florida.

“I never grew up with it,” Paton said. “I don’t really hold it against someone if they have an opinion of chiropractic.”

Then one day he got an adjustment and it changed his life.

“When I did my yearly physical, my lower back was killing me,” Paton said. “The doctor adjusted me and I felt fantastic. I started doing research. I found out that a lot of scientifically minded people see a chiropractor. At that point, I knew I wanted to do chiropractic for the rest of my life.”

Paton earned a doctor of chiropractic at Life University in Atlanta. He also earned his master's degree in sport health science from Life University at the same time.

“I wanted to corner the market on conservative management of non-surgical sports injuries,” Paton said.

Paton opened Paton Chiropractic & Sports Medicine, 24722 State Road 54 in Lutz, in 2004. He later wrote a book with the intention of helping people to lead healthier lives. The book, “Health Beyond Medicine” originally only sold 400 copies. He did numerous television and radio interviews and that changed everything. He has now sold thousands of copies.

“Most people would have quit, but it all made sense to me when I was standing at the podium in Brussels,” Paton said. “The speed bumps are all a part of the journey.”

He has also been the team chiropractor for Saint Leo University’s athletic program for about seven years. Barb Wilson, assistant athletic director for sports medicine, said she loves what Paton does for the university.

“He is wonderful,” Wilson said. “He is so helpful with all the athletic injuries. There are always so many people lined up to see him and they just love it. He is so intelligent and he is so passionate. It is his goal to help as many people as he can.”

Wilson said he has helped her personally as well.

“He really knows his stuff,” Wilson said. “I had scoliosis that was mistreated by another chiropractor and physician. He was able to figure out the problem. I had a nagging pain for 15 years and he made it go away. I like that he really takes the time to examine the problem and listen to you. If anybody needs help, they should go to him. He has helped people who didn’t think a chiropractor could help them.”

In his spare time, Paton is with wife Janice and children Tyler, 9, Nicholas, 5, and Hannah Rose, 3. He is a coach for his son Tyler’s flag football team through i9 Sports and he is a pilot.

A video of the speech in Brussels is posted on Paton’s website patonchiropractic.com. For more information, call 813-949-7740.

For more information about the forum, visit wfeb.org.