Dr. Jeffrey Dickhut, D.C.
Clinic Owner & Chiropractic Physician · Central Illinois Spine, Normal, IL
Dr. Jeffrey Dickhut is the founder and clinic owner of Central Illinois Spine — Bloomington-Normal's most awarded chiropractic and spinal health clinic. With nearly two decades of experience treating complex spinal conditions, Dr. Dickhut built CIS around one core principle: identify and treat the root cause of pain, not just the symptoms.
A Personal Story — From Patient to Advocate
In 2014, Dr. Dickhut woke up one morning unable to get out of bed. Pain shot down his leg like a lightning bolt. He had to ask his wife to push him out of bed just so he could get to work. An MRI confirmed two massive herniated discs at L4 and L5 — and immediate surgery was recommended. He declined.
Instead, he designed a treatment plan using the DRX 9000 spinal decompression system, laser therapy, and physical therapy. Four months later, he was pouring concrete with a friend. Today, he is more physically active than he was 20 years ago — touching his toes, lifting weights, and staying active outdoors with his family.
"Decompression basically saved my life. The biggest thing is that it gave me back the life that I wanted to have — being outdoors, doing things with my kids. I can touch my toes now. I couldn't touch my toes in high school." — Dr. Jeffrey Dickhut, D.C., Clinic Owner
Clinical Approach
Every patient at CIS undergoes a thorough examination — including in-office digital X-rays and, when indicated, digital motion X-ray — before any treatment begins. Treatment plans are individualized to each patient's specific condition and goals, never a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Dr. Dickhut's clinical platform includes chiropractic care, DRX 9000 spinal decompression, Class IV laser therapy, physical rehabilitation, neuropathy treatment, Knee-on-Trac therapy, and invisa-RED body contouring — one of the most comprehensive non-surgical treatment platforms available in central Illinois.
Why 6 DRX 9000 Machines
After Dr. Dickhut's own recovery, he expanded CIS's spinal decompression capacity to 6 DRX 9000 machines — more than any other clinic in central Illinois. His reasoning was straightforward: the treatment works best with consistent, closely-spaced sessions, and he was not willing to let scheduling bottlenecks limit patient outcomes.
Background & Credentials
Originally from Port Byron, Illinois, Dr. Dickhut began his studies at the University of Illinois to become an engineer before a chiropractor changed his life — and inspired him to do the same for others. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2002. He and his wife, Dawn, were married in 1998 and have four children.
Dr. Dickhut is a professional member of the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), the ACA Rehab Council, the Illinois Chiropractic Society (ICS), and the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. He was the first to implement DRX Non-Surgical Disc Decompression and DMX Digital Motion X-Ray in the Bloomington-Normal area, and serves as Director of Patient Care at Central Illinois Spine.
Education & Specialty Training
- 1998–2002 — Palmer College of Chiropractic, Doctor of Chiropractic
- 2007–2008 — National University of Health Sciences: certification to perform and interpret Electrodiagnostic Studies
- Completion of the Croft Whiplash Program
- 100-hour Post-Graduate Certification in Applied Kinesiology
- Digital Motion X-Ray interpretation & protocols training — October 2007
- Low Level Laser Therapy — Determining the Most Efficacious Therapeutic Strategy
- Certified in Postsurgical Rehabilitation by the Laser Institute — February 2015
- Concussion Assessment & Treatment Protocol — June 2015
- Scoliosis Assessment & Treatment Protocols — June 2015
- Nationally Certified in Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression, Parker College — 2015
- 2019 ACA Rehab Council Symposium Speaker — "Revolution of Healthcare Delivery"
