One area doctor is working to reduce the number of patients that will come through his doors.

Dr. James Fox, of Gardendale Chiropractic PC, and his team of chiropractic assistants are hosting Lunch & Learn seminars in and around Gardendale.

About four times a month, the team travels to businesses or community groups to provide lunch and teach people how to stay healthy.

“We’ve been in Gardendale for 20 years and the community has been good to us. This is a way for us to give back,” Fox said. “We’re offering strategies that will help people stay out of our office.”

The team was at the Morris Senior Center on Tuesday, serving lunch and giving tips on balance and fall prevention.

Fox said those two issues are the biggest problems with senior citizens.

Fox and his assistants mostly visit places of business, however, where people have a different set of issues.

“In businesses, the problem is neck and shoulders,” Fox said.

That is due to many people using computers and leaning over keyboards all day, according to chiropractic assistant Karen Moore.

Moore helps with the Lunch & Learn seminars along with assistants Rhonda Kendrick and Debbie Morris.

All three are also certified to teach posture and strengthening exercises, which is what they do in local businesses.

Kendrick said she loves to teach people to deal with problems such as asthma and acid reflux, both of which she said are treatable conditions.

“Every one of us has a job and it has an effect on our body,” Moore said. She said that work along with the natural aging process makes it necessary for people to pay special attention to their posture and to strengthen their bodies.

“We’re geared toward teaching people to age gracefully,” she said.

According to Lunch & Learn literature, the seminars cover topics such as:

• reducing back and neck strain from computer use

• exercise techniques to reduce the effects of repetitive motions

• reducing swelling at the joints

• warning signs that lead to shoulder problems and carpal tunnel syndrome

• proper breathing techniques

Fox, Moore, Kendrick and Morris all said they enjoy getting into the community to help others.

Kendrick said people often ask if there are strings attached. She said there are none.

“We are here to serve. That’s what is important to the whole staff,” said Morris.