Today we’d like to introduce you to Luke Bergner.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Oh boy…
I was actually in the corporate construction world straight out of college. I had a business degree with no background in medicine really. But things changed drastically when I was 25 and I came down with a barrage of symptoms out of nowhere. Intense brain fog, visual and other neurological issues, extreme fatigue, inability to control my emotions…we didn’t know what was going on and doctors really didn’t have an answer for me. It turned out to be Lyme Disease, which was confirmed by the first doctor to really listen to me. That lead to an interest in medicine and my primary interest being that of functional medicine. I was obsessed with it and spent hours and hours learning different things about health, and that lead me to what to go back to school. Chiropractic school was the best option because frankly, it was easy to get into and the scope was so large I knew I could do functional medicine. And that was my intention…until about halfway through school. I started seeing a lot of the same ethical issues in the functional med world that I had seen in the western med world. It was the same thing under a prettier face…extremely profit driven, lacking evidence, treating people with an extreme bias. I didn’t want to be a part of it. So I decided I’d go the traditional chiropractic route. You know, crack backs and help that way. The power of the adjustment! But I couldn’t do that either…same reasons. Total lack of evidence, same plans and treatments for everyone no matter their background…spending 5 (maybe 10 at best) minutes with the patient and somehow acting like that was enough for us to know what’s going on. I felt like I was stuck and didn’t know where to go. I luckily ran into a mentor at that time who showed me a better way…he taught me evidence-based treatment. REAL evidence-based treatment that honors the person in front of you, spends real time with them, leverages research without sacrificing the benefits outside of it, utilizes technology in an empowering way, and shows people how to truly live their life confidently, even if they have had years and years of chronic pain. I loved it. Since then, I’ve dedicated countless hours (and $ spent) on being the best I can be at utilizing great communication, education, manual therapy, and strength and mobility training to truly change people’s lives. And I’m still learning everyday.
I opened Rebuild Chiropractic + Strength with the goal of genuinely hearing my patients, educating them well, and getting them stronger. I always tell people that Chiropractor probably isn’t the right term…I’m truly not sure what is, but I’ve kind of landed on Physical Health Coach…because that’s what I do, is I coach people to a life of greater strength and resilience. I love doing it with integrity and knowing I’m giving them my very best. It was a tough road here, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything else.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Haha, no no.
There’s always challenges. Halfway through school I felt completely lost…like I had made a huge mistake. But the right people came into my life at the right time and I’m so glad they did. I’ve also had some degree of lingering symptoms throughout and some days they’re very heavy…but they always push me to serve others harder, because frankly, that makes me feel better and I do love every minute of it.
Opening a business has many difficulties. Getting people in the door is hard and that’s a constant challenge…I’m unique, which works in my favor – but also scares a lot of people away. I’m sure you know, but people don’t typically love change and Kansas City is chock full of traditional chiro and PT clinics. I’m hoping to be the spearhead of a new movement of providers who truly value the right principles.
The struggles don’t feel so daunting since I believe wholeheartedly in what I do. And I’m also a man of faith, so I know that in the grand scheme of things, God’s ways are higher than my own. That can be scary at times, I mean who doesn’t like control – but ultimately it’s comforting.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rebuild Chiropractic + Strength?
At Rebuild Chiropractic + Strength, we help active adults move better, get stronger, and live life free from pain so that they can show up for all the things in life with confidence.
We’ve really made our focus on people who are 40+ who typically have years of pain that they’re trying to overcome…most of which feel like they’ve hit a wall and plateaued. Almost everyone that comes through my doors has already seen a PT, chiro, ortho, etc. A lot of times all of the above. We fix what others don’t, and I truly believe that two things set us apart:
1. Our Evaluation
– This is not some surface level check or X-Ray. We go in deep. We get extreme clarity on your history, how you’ve dealt with injuries in the past, how this pain is affecting YOU specifically, what you’re afraid of, and most importantly, what your specific goals are as it relates to living life the way you want. We use amazing tools to get crystal clear on mobility limitations, strength deficiencies, and movement dysfunctions. Then everything is laid out for you to see compared to where you want to be, so we already have clear evidence of what exactly needs to happen to get you where you want to be.
2. Our Hybrid Process
– Patients don’t just come in for adjustments or exercises. They get:
>>>> 1-on-1, hour-long sessions
>>>> Custom strength and mobility programming
>>>> Ongoing coaching and communication between visits – this can be on lifestyle changes, pain science, or just to be a listening ear when bumps in the road happen. It’s all crucial.
It’s rehab and coaching that meets people where they’re at, and gives them a path to where they want to go.
We don’t believe in passive care or generic protocols. Our approach is rooted in education, progressive strength training, and real-world application – whether your goal is to run a 10K, hike a mountain, play 18 holes of golf, or simply wake up without stiffness.
What I’m most proud of brand-wise is the clarity we’ve built. We don’t try to be everything to everyone…we serve a specific type of patient who’s tired of managing symptoms and ready to rebuild. The ones who’ve tried other things, still don’t feel right, and know they finally need a real plan.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know, it’s this:
You’re not broken. You’re just underprepared.
We help you rebuild the body – and the confidence – to do the things that matter most to you.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Honestly, I don’t have any revolutionary or complicated. My biggest tenets for finding a mentor/networking:
1. Ask
2. Be authentic
3. Ask lots of questions (listen more than you speak)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rebuildchiro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebuildchiro/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553349747352
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RebuildChiro
