Mr. Rogers’ Neighbor – the Chiropractor

By: Lake Erie Spine & Injury Center

Growing up, most adults today took many a tip from the most peaceful man in show business, Mr. Fred Rogers.  Mr. Rogers was famous for his kind and gentle mannerisms, his soft voice, and even more so his mild-mannered attire.  What better person to be the Maitre d’ of story time for young ones for generations – 31 years of television, to be precise.

One of his most endearing qualities was his ability to handle any situation and make it accessible for audiences of all ages.  When he was commemorated by the US Senate in 2002, for his contributions to the country and the nation’s children, they stated of Mr. Rogers:

“More importantly, he did not shy away from dealing with difficult issues…

but rather encouraged children to express their emotions in a healthy, constructive manner, often providing a simple answer to life’s hardships.”

One simple answer that Fred Rogers used throughout his life was the simple answer of chiropractic.  Mr. Rogers’ chiropractor, who himself passed away a dozen years after Rogers’ death, was famous for caring for and adjusting numerous entertainers and Hollywood stars.  

Mr. Rogers’ chiropractor was a man by the name of Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, who, after graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic, saw many of the biggest stars of the 1970s and beyond, including Olympians, members of the Pittsburgh Steelers (where he practiced, also the hometown of Fred Rogers).  And it was Mr. Rogers who was one of the very closest of all of these entertainers to their chiropractor, Dr. Cohen.  Dr. Cohen’s obituary from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reads: 

“One of Jeffrey’s most meaningful relationships was with Fred Rogers, to whom he became a confidant and source of relief from physical pain.”

And in the words of Fred Rogers himself, we see the manifestation of the mindset that so many chiropractors, chiropractic patients, and their families, have that sets them apart.  Rather than simply treating or covering up the symptoms and pains of life, they are looked at as something to, perhaps not embrace, but to learn from, strive through, and grow and get better from.  According to America’s neighbor:

“There is no normal life that is free of pain. It’s the very wrestling with our problems that can be the impetus for our growth.”

And perhaps that is part of what made Mr. Rogers so uniquely connected to the American people – he understood their pain.

1  The World According to Mr. Rogers: Important Things to Remember.  Fred Rogers.  Hachette Books.  2003.