Albion Hills Chiropractic and Massage marks 30 years

By Riley Murphy

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Dr. Nigel Hudson, also known as “Thumbs of Death”, a name he wears with pride, is celebrating 30 years of his business, Albion Hills Chiropractic and Massage, and the community that helped make it happen.

Dr. Hudson opened the doors to his business in Bolton on April 2, 1996, a choice he made purposefully to avoid the looming joke of April 1, and for the next 30 years, he put his patients top of mind.

After more than a decade of education, obtaining his BSc in Human Anatomy, a MSc in Neuroanatomy, a three-year sports fellowship specialization FRCCSS(C), and a four-year Doctor of Chiropractic Degree, it's clear his background offers a wealth of knowledge.

It is not only his education, but also his personal experience: as Hudson laughs, he has had every athlete's injury known to man.

He competes in Ironman competitions, marathons, various sports and races, and more.

“I've met a lot of athletes around this area, and they would come in because I could figure out weird athletic injuries. That's my forte,” says Hudson.

Not only that, but as an anatomist, Hudson looks beyond textbook conditions and takes a hands-on approach to give each client a solution suited to their needs.

After working in a few high-volume practices, Hudson knew that type of work wasn't for him, and so Albion Hills Chiropractic and Massage came into being.

Being from Saskatchewan, Hudson says he loved the smaller town feel of the Bolton community at that time of his opening, as well as the good group of doctors he had around him in town.

They were able to refer patients to one another and work as a team.

“There's a lot of amazing doctors in town, and dentists, all these people,” says Hudson. “There's a whole group of us that kind of started around the same time.

“We all helped each other and referred to each other, and it's kind of neat if you can develop a community that way.”

At Albion Hills Chiropractic and Massage, Hudson explains, it's a patient-first and education-first approach.

Walking through the halls and rooms, decades of memories shine through, whether it's a Swiss Hockey team jersey from when Hudson helped the Swiss National hockey team, or a jar of JuJubes on the shelf he once accepted as payment from a patient, the office embodies a space of care for their clients.

Care, which can also be tough love, as Hudson explains, he does a lot of work on muscles, and when it comes to things such as scar tissue, you have to be more aggressive.

This tough approach earned him his badge of pride, “Thumbs of Death,” and it may hurt, but it works.

Hudson says he will never be the type to just tell a patient to keep coming back without explaining why.

“I try to really educate and try to explain to people what's going on,” says Hudson. “Explaining anatomically so that they have a picture in their mind as to what's going on so that they know what they're up against, because that terrifies people when they don't know what's happening.”

As he works, he will explain the process, loosening a muscle or moving a joint, afterwards explaining topics such as inflammation and after-care approaches.

“That way, people make their own choices as to when they need to come back,” he says.

After helping some with their issues, people have remarked that Hudson saved them. But, to him, he says it's about helping you help yourself.

“I just educated you so you could look after yourself. You knew what you're up against and you knew what you needed to do.”

“I'm not going to fix everybody, I wish I could, but I've got a big toolbox. I try to do what I can do, but the biggest thing is educating so that people kind of know what's going on,” says Hudson.

The business has hit patient files now into the 10,000s, but Hudson says he still sees patient 3 and patient 43 to this day, and has even been able to watch patients grow up.

“It's really neat to be a part of it, and to have hopefully helped a lot of people along the way.”

The secret to his success for 30 years, he says, is being kind.

“Look after people,” he continues. “I've always made patients a priority… I think I've always felt that it's really, really important to be upfront about things, explain things well, educate people so that people can make their own choices.”

Over the past 30 years, he says he's been able to help amazing people, including the Canadian Men's Bobsleigh team on the World Cup Circuit, AAA Women's Hockey Team, and the athletes and people of the community, including local sports teams and organizations.

“I love the people that I've had over the years,” says Hudson. “Pretty cool.”

Laughing that he's on the “Freedom 95” plan, he hopes for many more decades helping people in the community.

“If I can keep my strength up and keep my joints together, then I'll keep going, because I love what I do. It's not hard to come into work. I love being here. I love all the different people,” he says.

Seeing patients of all ages and skill levels, he adds that everything is fun and a challenge, and that he learns new things all the time, and he hopes to do so for years to come.