In the bustling landscape of Southern California, Dr. William De Board stands out as a chiropractor deeply committed to unlocking his patients’ full healing potential. At Epic Spine Solutions, with locations in Laguna Niguel and Westwood, Dr. De Board employs a unique, holistic methodology that goes far beyond conventional chiropractic adjustments, addressing not just physical ailments but also the intricate interplay of nutrition, mind-body connection, and energy flow.
Dr. De Board’s passion for healing stems from a personal experience that redirected his path from aspiring athlete to dedicated doctor. His story offers a compelling glimpse into the philosophy that drives his innovative practice.
A Personal Journey to Holistic Healing
Dr. De Board’s decision to pursue a career in chiropractic care was deeply influenced by a pivotal moment during his youth as a passionate basketball and tennis player. At just 15 years old, a pop in his shoulder during a tennis serve left him in excruciating pain and unable to lift his arm. Faced with the prospect of surgery at a young age, he sought alternative solutions.
“A lot of medical doctors were saying I would need surgery, but I didn’t really like that answer because I was so young,” Dr. De Board recalled.
His search led him to a holistic chiropractor who utilized a technique similar to what he practices today. The results were astounding.
“In just three visits, my holistic chiropractor had me back out on the court playing again, with no pain. It was crazy how quickly I saw results, and I knew I wanted to be able to help athletes with similar injuries,” he shared.
This transformative experience became the bedrock of his professional mission.
Beyond the Adjustment: A Four-Pillar Approach
Dr. De Board’s practice at Epic Spine Solutions challenges the common perception of chiropractic care as a quick fix.
His appointments are typically 30 minutes long, allowing for a comprehensive application of his “Eastern medicine style” technique, which evaluates the body across four different planes. This holistic approach is built upon four interconnected pillars.
The first pillar is structure. This encompasses the physical components of the body, including joints, muscles, and their alignment.
The next pillar is nutrition. Dr. De Board emphasized the profound connection between organs and muscles, explaining that every muscle in the body is linked to a specific organ.
“For example, the psoas is connected to the kidney, the TFL to the large intestine, and the lats to the spleen or pancreas,” he explained.
The third pillar is the mind-body connection. This is Dr. De Board’s favored area of focus due to his intuitive nature. Utilizing Neuro Emotional Technique (NET), he delves into the subconscious to address deep-seated issues.
“I can help with something as simple as a golfer getting the yips on hole thirteen,” he noted. “We can explore why it’s happening, then visualize him confidently sinking his putt on thirteen, and adjust as he pictures it going in.” This same technique can also help patients process deeper traumas, allowing them to “release it and address the subconscious, so it becomes just a story, rather than something they continue to carry.”
The final pillar is moving energy. This ensures that the body’s energy flows freely, identifying and clearing any blocks or stuck energy anywhere that might impede healing and optimal function.
A Deeper Dive into Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
The Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is a core component of Dr. De Board’s mind-body work. He explained that each organ system is associated with specific emotions. By asking the body targeted questions and using muscle testing, he is able to dive into the subconscious and understand why deep pains aren’t healing properly. This allows him to pinpoint underlying emotional issues that manifest as physical discomfort, even if the patient is consciously unaware of them.
Treating the “Hard Cases” and High-Profile Patients
Dr. De Board primarily treats athletes, especially “overhead athletes,” and individuals who have experienced significant trauma or chronic conditions that other practitioners have failed to resolve.
“I get a lot of cases that other doctors haven’t been able to resolve for their patients,” he noted. “That was true for me when I was in school, and continues now that I’m in practice. I like puzzles, and when patients come with hard cases, it excites me at the prospect of being able to help.”
With two thriving offices—one in Laguna Niguel and another in Westwood near UCLA—Dr. De Board has found himself working with more high-profile individuals over time. He expressed enthusiasm for working with professional athletes, finding it supercharges him to help individuals performing at the highest levels.
“I do enjoy treating athletes and people who have a broader reach,” he said. “It feels meaningful to help people who can then help and influence others.”
Still, he admitted that word about his work often spreads quietly. “It sometimes feels like I’m a bit of a secret,” he explained. “Athletes will keep coming to me, but they don’t always want to tell their competitors. So, I just stay under the radar.”
He hopes to eventually attract collegiate athletes, envisioning helping California excel on a national level. “Working with college athletes and being part of their success would be amazing,” he enthusiastically remarked.
At his Westwood location, Dr. De Board collaborates with Jimmy Bluff, a renowned “muscle therapist,” whose hands-on approach complements Dr. De Board’s holistic methods, particularly for challenging cases. Jimmy Bluff has built his technique of Advanced Muscle Reconstruction over the years and has also coined the phrase “surgery without the knife” for the conditions that he helps to treat.
A Doctor’s Ideal Patient and Aspirations
Dr. De Board’s ideal patient isn’t defined by age or background but by one key trait: a genuine desire to get better. “I want to help people who want their condition to change—who are ready to stop carrying it and want to see it resolved,” he said. He thrives on working with individuals who are ready and willing to embark on their healing journey.
While currently focused on his two clinics, Dr. De Board is open to expanding his reach.
“I never set out to expand my practice, but it seemed to be a necessary and exciting next step,” he said of growing the practice to offer multiple locations. His ultimate goal is to “spread the technique and help more people,” whether through a national brand or by making the technique more accessible in various locations.
Education and Experience: A Blend of East and West
Dr. De Board’s academic foundation began with a degree in Kinesiology from Point Loma Nazarene University, giving him a strong understanding of the body in motion, and where he continued to play tennis for the team there. He then earned his chiropractic doctorate from the Southern California University of Health Sciences, a school known for training exceptional practitioners.
Reflecting on his education, he remarked, “They focus on data, which definitely helps ground you in big science. I’d say I have the best of both worlds—I understand what Western medicine can do, but I also view things through an Eastern lens.”
His introduction to Eastern medicine started with a holistic chiropractor who helped heal his shoulder, and his personal experience with acupuncture further deepened it. He values the wisdom of these ancient practices: “Eastern medicine is much older than Western, and I think ignoring it would be foolish.”
While he doesn’t perform acupuncture himself, his applied kinesiology technique incorporates elements of Eastern medicine, allowing him to test the organs through meridian points on the body.
A Most Memorable Case: The Power of Emotional Release
One of Dr. De Board’s most impactful cases as a young doctor involved an engineer suffering from chronic migraines. Despite her high functional capacity, her condition severely limited her. Through muscle testing, Dr. De Board discovered an emotional root: an ice-skating accident where she hit her head but “held in her scream” to avoid frightening the people around her.
He guided her through a visualization exercise, instructing her to “picture the whole incident. Tell me right when you hit the ice.” As he adjusted her occiput, he recalled she started shivering on the table as if she was back on the ice and her body was going through the emotion, and finally letting her cry and let out those negative emotions. This profound emotional release drastically reduced her pain and allowed her to resume her full work capacity.
“That case is one of the most fond memories I have of being a doctor,” he stated.
Another complex case involved a child with a “choppy gait” after a bike accident. Through visualization and techniques to “reorganize” and reconnect the brain’s hemispheres, the child’s movement significantly improved. This involved activating different body parts through specific brain activities, such as humming for the right brain and counting for the left, and then tapping areas of the brain to reconnect them.
“This case was extremely complex. It wasn’t just one issue, and I had to use all four pillars of my approach to help this child get better,” he explained.
Family, Hobbies, and Future Aspirations
Outside of his demanding practice, Dr. De Board cherishes time with his family.
“I’m really big on family,” he shared. “I love my amazing wife, Lupita De Board. She has such a big heart for people and family in general.”
They have two young daughters: one four and the other two, both of whom love being in and around the water. Dr. De Board explained that his ultimate hope is that his kids will grow up to be even better than he is—and “they’re well on their way.”
The family enjoys spending time at the pool, often setting up an inflatable projector to play games. Dr. De Board himself is a fan of strategy board games, while Lupita, a talented Latina sign language interpreter fluent in four languages, brings warmth and connection to every setting.
Dr. De Board also hopes to engage in more philanthropic work, especially since one of his daughters has a speech delay. “I definitely have a soft spot for kids,” he said, noting this as a direction for future community involvement.
Conclusion: A Compassionate Healer’s Enduring Impact
Dr. William De Board’s life and practice exemplify a deep dedication to human potential and well-being. His compassionate nature is evident in his approach to patient care, where he integrates diverse modalities to address the root causes of discomfort and dysfunction.
“I just enjoy helping people and being able to activate others’ full potential,” he shared.
Patients in Laguna Niguel and Westwood can trust Dr. De Board’s caring and knowledgeable hands, knowing that he will apply his unique blend of Eastern and Western medical insights to help them overcome their challenges. His commitment to holistic healing, coupled with his drive to learn and expand his reach continuously, ensures that Dr. De Board will continue to be a leading figure in empowering individuals to live pain-free and fuller lives. His journey is a powerful reminder that the most effective healing often comes from a doctor who not only understands the mechanics of the body but also the profound impact of the mind and spirit.
To learn more about Dr. De Board’s approach and how Epic Spine Solutions can support your journey to better health, visit www.epicspinesolutions.com.
