The Joint Chiropractic - Apple Valley

Dr. Mitchell Maristuen joined The Joint Chiropractic network of local chiropractors in 2014. He attended St. Thomas University for his undergraduate study and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology, then went on to Northwestern Health Sciences University, whereupon he received his doctorate of chiropractic degree in 2003.

“The thing I love most about being in the chiropractic field is helping people reach their maximum physical potential in the health and wellness arena,” Dr. Maristuen says, adding that there’s also another perk: keeping his family well-adjusted.

He previously worked in St. Paul before settling in Apple Valley. He and wife Sarah have three children, two cats and a dog.

An injury led Dr. Maristuen into the chiropractic field. He says he knew he would pursue a career in chiropractic after hurting his back while playing football in high school. He spent six weeks in rehab attempting to recover, but with little success. He then began seeing a chiropractor, who was able to get Dr. Maristuen’s body to function and perform well enough to make the varsity hockey team. After his high school success, he he went on to play Division 3 hockey for St. Thomas. He doesn’t think any of that would have been possible if he had not been under chiropractic care following the football injury.

Dr. Maristuen still enjoys spending his spare time playing hockey and a couple of less physical pursuits: hunting and fishing.

In Case You Didn’t Know

The one thing Dr. Maristuen always keeps in stock in his refrigerator is ranch dressing, and if he could share a big salad with plenty of ranch with any four figures from history, he would love the opportunity to sit down and talk to religious figures Jesus Christ and the Dali Lama, as well as President Abraham Lincoln, and musician Tom Petty.

Like Jesus, one of the coolest things Dr. Maristuen has ever done took place on the water -- literally. “The neatest thing was barefoot water skiing,” Dr. Maristuen says, “because hardly anybody can do it.”

Dr. John McKeague has been practicing at The Joint in the metro area since 2015. A graduate of Northwestern Health Sciences University, Dr. McKeague leads our Region by wearing many hats. His focuses include developing the market. hiring, training. and certifying our doctors, as well and treating patients in our Apple Valley, Bloomington, Burnsville, Eagan, Maple Grove, Roseville and Woodbury clinics.

“The thing I like best about being in the chiropractic field is affecting the community in a positive way on a daily basis,” he says. “The other thing I really love is working with athletes and kids.”

In his spare time, Dr. McKeague enjoys spending time outdoors, typically hiking or fishing. He and wife Kari also delight in playing with their two sons and daughter, and overseeing their cat, Lucy.

Dr. McKeague says he became interested in chiropractic when he was a college athlete and he recognized how much it helped him. “After shadowing some doctors at some chiropractic offices, I knew I wanted to do that,” he says.

As a doctor who sees patients in multiple locations, Dr. McKeague sees many different people, which fits right in with his love for the craft of healing with his hands. He gets to spread the message to more people.

“I love The Joint’s focus on the importance of wellness care and the positive impact it has on your life,” he says.

In Case You Didn’t Know

Dr. McKeague likes it spicy. The one item he must have in his refrigerator at all times is hot sauce. “I have been a chili head from the age of 1,” he explains, “and living in a bland world would be rough.”

Given an opportunity to put together the dinner party of his dreams with various figures from history, Dr. McKeague would gather together those he says have had the most influence on his life: Egyptian ruler Cleopatra, inventor/futurist Nikola Tesla, businessman Elon Musk and comedian/host Joe Rogan.

But rather than ask questions of Cleopatra, Dr. McKeague says he would much rather have the opportunity to have dinner with himself at various points in his lifetime, “say the 10-, 25-, 50- and 80-year-old versions of me.”

“They would all be very different people, which I think would be fascinating to actually see,” Dr. McKeague says. “I think it would be cool to learn from the past and things that I may have forgotten about, and to see where I am going in the future.”

He says the coolest thing he has ever done was become a father because every day is an adventure. “Outside the lame dad answer,” he says, “I took a 100-mile hike through the canyons in Utah that was pretty amazing.”