Dr. Dan Daniels, Chiropractor in Racine, WI

Dr. Dan Daniels is a second-generation chiropractor at Daniels Chiropractic in Racine, Wisconsin, and a former physical education teacher and wrestling coach who has been in practice since 1987. He still approaches care the way he coached, explaining what is going on and why, and treating each patient like an athlete he is helping get back to what matters to them: their work, a round of golf, time in the garden, their exercise routine, or keeping up with the grandkids. The son of Daniels Chiropractic founder Dr. John S. Daniels and the father of owner Dr. John Daniels, Dr. Dan has helped carry the practice from its first generation into its third.

A Racine native, Dr. Dan grew up watching his father care for patients. He played football and was an All-State wrestler at Case High School and went on to wrestle at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology. He came home to teach physical education in the Racine Unified School District and coach wrestling at William Horlick High School. As a coach, he brought injured wrestlers to his dad for care, and at one tournament he helped a wrestler whose back went out using his dad’s techniques. His dad kept asking whether he would go back to school and join the family practice. After almost eight years of teaching, and partway through a master’s degree in education, Dr. Dan said yes. He and his wife packed up their two young daughters and moved to Atlanta, where he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Life Chiropractic College before joining the practice in 1987.

Dr. Dan never really stopped teaching. He takes the time to explain what is going on and why, so patients understand their care and know what they can do at home. He brings a coach’s mindset to every appointment too, showing up each day ready for “game time” and treating each patient like an athlete he is helping get back to what they love. He draws on decades of experience and on the approaches of the other doctors in the practice. Many of the students he taught and the wrestlers he coached in Racine have since become his patients, and the comment he hears most often is, “I wish I’d come a long time ago.” His workday ends not when the clock says 5:00, but when he has finished caring for his last patient.

Outside the office, Dr. Dan loves time with his wife, Alice, their children, and their grandchildren. He serves on the board of Southeastern Wisconsin Youth for Christ and has served on medical mission teams with Word of Life, in Ukraine and Romania in the late 1990s and Venezuela in the early 2000s, and he has gone back to Guatemala most years since the early 2010s. Most of his free time is spent outdoors, whether that means a walk on his own, hiking in the woods with a grandchild, splitting wood, or looking after his chickens, ducks, goats, turkeys, and barn cats. He is also a lover of golf, though he figures 9 holes is too short and 18 is too long, so 14 is about right.

Video Transcript

We’re lucky to have a dad who was a chiropractor. He always was encouraging to us to pursue what we wanted to be, and that’s what I did. I was an athlete in high school and college, and I thought, what better profession to be than a phys ed teacher? That’s what I pursued, and as time went on, I found some great success with that. My dad would always just kind of put a little thought in my mind: would you reconsider and possibly go back to school, be a chiropractor, and join the family profession here? Enough times of hearing that persuaded me to make the jump. After teaching for almost eight years, I resigned from that position, took our two little daughters, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to start chiropractic school.

The thing that we see, and I hear from patients all the time, is, “It’s taken me a long time to get here. I wish I’d come a long time ago.” The focus of our practice has always been taking care of our patients. Many people leave with big smiles on their face and great relief. It’s fun to see that transition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Dr. Dan Daniels?

Dr. Dan Daniels is a second-generation chiropractor at Daniels Chiropractic in Racine, Wisconsin, in practice since 1987. A former physical education teacher and wrestling coach, he is known for explaining care clearly and treating each patient like an athlete getting back to what matters to them.

Is Dr. Dan accepting new patients?

Yes. Dr. Dan is accepting new patients and sees patients Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Call or text (262) 638-9999 to schedule.

Was Dr. Dan a teacher before becoming a chiropractor?

Yes. Before becoming a chiropractor, Dr. Dan taught physical education in the Racine Unified School District for almost eight years and coached wrestling at William Horlick High School. Many of his former students and wrestlers are now his patients.

How does Dr. Dan’s coaching background shape his care?

Dr. Dan approaches each patient the way he approached his athletes. He explains what is going on and why, gives patients an active role in their care, and focuses on getting them back to the activities that matter to them, from work and golf to gardening, exercise, and playing with their grandkids.

Is Dr. Dan related to the other doctors at Daniels Chiropractic?

Yes. Dr. Dan is the son of Dr. John S. Daniels, who founded Daniels Chiropractic in 1948, the brother of Dr. Don Daniels, and the father of Dr. John Daniels, who now owns the practice.

How do I schedule an appointment with Dr. Dan?

Call or text Daniels Chiropractic at (262) 638-9999 or request an appointment online at danielsdc.com/schedule-now. The office is at 2609 Rapids Dr, Racine, WI, serving Racine, Caledonia, and Mt. Pleasant.