When your car is giving you trouble, you bring it to a mechanic. The same goes for spines. Steve Schiffman is a spine mechanic otherwise known as a chiropractor.

But Schiffman isn’t just any chiropractor: He’s been voted best chiropractor for 2008 in the Best of Whidbey competition.

Patients walk into Schiffman Chiropractic Clinic with back pain or headaches caused by musculoskeletal problems.

“Chiropractors try to alleviate the stress on the neck and spine,” Schiffman said.

This is done using techniques to loosen up the spine. These techniques range from gentle to more firm. When the spine is loose, it’s not as inflamed, so there is less pain, explained Schiffman.

“I try to put youth and vitality back into patients’ joints. That puts vitality back into life,” he said.

But vitality isn’t just limited to joints at the clinic. It’s no wonder Schiffman was voted best chiropractor with his friendly, easygoing demeanor.

“He really cares about people. Not just physically, but spiritually. He’s a good Christian man and I think patients can feel that when they walk in,” said Schiffman’s wife, Grace, who is the clinic’s receptionist and who also manages the Scrub Shop next door.

Schiffman grew up in Alabama. Later, the Navy brought him to Oak Harbor. As a child, he never imagined becoming a chiropractor, but in the Navy, he decided it would be a good follow-up career.

“I’d seen and been helped by chiropractors as a youth and in the Navy and I knew it was a good way to help people,” Schiffman said.

He hasn’t regretted becoming a chiropractor.

“I get a lot of job satisfaction from helping people,” he said.

He often sees an instantaneous response to his work. Schiffman especially loves his job when a patient walks in with a headache and leaves without one.

Schiffman is more than just an award-winning chiropractor. He’s the father of three children and he takes Tuesday and Thursday afternoons off work to coach sports, Grace Schiffman said. He’s also a member of the Rotary Club.

“He’s such a great dad and he’s a good guy to look up to,” said Grace Schiffman.