About Us

About KCUCS

KCUCS has been influenced at least at some level by nearly every Upper Cervical technique, taking concepts brought forth by others and applying them to Knee Chest Posture Upper Cervical Chiropractic work.

KCUCS began in the winter months of 2001 as “weekend get togethers” in Cape Girardeau, Missiouri in Dr. Kessinger’s basement. Twenty to thirty doctors and students would gather on weekends going over the Philosophy, Science, and the Art of Upper Cervical Chiropractic. The first official seminar began November, 2001 in Atlanta, Georgia.

The first official KCUCS (Knee Chest Upper Cervical Specific) Seminar took place on November 16th and 17th, 2001, which culminated from a series of meetings that took place in Dr. Robert Kessinger’s clinic and residence in the Spring and Summer of 2001.

Our Guiding Principles

From its beginning, KCUCS laid out three priorities which have become guiding principles for the organization.

  1. Education: It was the desire of the original KCUCS leaders that Knee Chest work would be elevated in the level of education. This became a primary pursuit of the young organization and still remains to this day. KCUCS originated the Upper Cervical Neurology module as a natural consequence of this educational desire. There is a significant academic influence running through every KCUCS module. KCUCS finds a good balance between “bringing the  Spiz” of Upper Cervical Chiropractic while also bringing the science.
  2. Research: There is a growing body of research in Upper Cervical Chiropractic; however, much more is needed. KCUCS has as one of its major tenets the idea of significantly adding to this body of research in Upper Cervical in general, as well as Knee Chest work specifically. A number of articles have been published using KCUCS Knee Chest procedure. KCUCS is currently working on laying an infrastructure for multiple studies in the near future. It is the desire of KCUCS to promote a research and publishing environment.
  3. Mastery: The third priority of KCUCS is in “Developing Masters.” It has been the desire of the KCUCS Leadership to assist doctors on the road to mastery in Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractic. We believe that KCUCS Knee Chest is something worthy to put forth effort to Master. It takes Dedication, Desire, and Education. All three must be present over time. KCUCS has developed innovative ways in training doctors and prides itself in providing a home for those with this level of commitment.

Our Leaders

KCUCS Leaderships meets consistently throughout the year at seminars as well as conference calls. Once per year the whole KCUCS Leadership team gathers together over a weekend at Evin’s Mill in Tennessee. These meetings are for the purpose of goal setting, planning, and creating strategies. Many of the updated ideas regarding improving quality of the program have come out of these meetings.

Dr. Michael Kale

KCUCS has received its central influence through Dr. Michael Kale and his work.

Dr. Michael Kale, born September 20, 1939 and passed on July 2, 2001 was almost solely responsible for the resurgence of Knee Chest Upper Cervical work in the 1980′s and 1990′s. It had become a dying art, almost lost in time. Without his perseverance and leadership, Knee Chest Upper Cervical procedure as we know it today may well have been lost. Therefore, all Knee Chest Upper Cervical procedures and the patients that get well through these doctors owe a large amount of gratitude to Dr. Kale.

Dr. Michael Kale was the only doctor to have interned with Dr. Lyle Sherman. He worked with him for 4 years in the mid-1960′s in Spartanburg, SC. Dr. Lyle Sherman (3) had moved to Spartanburg in 1951. Sherman had formerly worked at the BJ Palmer Chiropractic Research Clinic as Chief of Staff for a number of years. Dr. Lyle was second only to BJ Palmer in the BJ Palmer Chiropractic Research Clinic.

Dr. Kale founded the Kale Network, Kale Research Council and the Kale Foundation. All of these organizations as well as the Kale seminars were passed down to his son, Dr. BJ Kale, and still continue today.


Dr. Robert Kessinger of Cape Girardeau, MO, USA primarily developed the KCUCS program. Drs. Mike Anderson and Henri Dallies gave assistance. Drs. Mike Anderson, Henri Dallies, and Bruce White were instrumental in their roles of guidance and advice in the beginning stages of KCUCS and its development. Dr. Dallies organizational skills allowed for growth of the program while Dr. Anderson’s steadfast stance on the fundamental principles of Upper Cervical Chiropractic helped anchor KCUCS. Dr. Kessinger was largely responsible for the original content of the KCUCS program. All four put their heart and hands to action in an effort to construct a solid foundation for the program to endure through generations.


Dr. Robert Kessinger

Dr. Robert Kessinger was the founder of the Knee Chest Upper Cervical Specific (KCUCS) organization which began in 2001. He trained under Dr. Michael Kale in January 1991. He went on several foreign mission trips with Dr. Kale bringing Upper Cervical care to many. He served on the Kale Research Council from 1992 to 1997. He was also a lead instructor for the Kale certification program from 1992 through 1997 and received the Instructor of the Year award in 1994 and 1997. In 1998 to 2000, Dr. Robert Kessinger stepped away from his leadership position in the Kale Network and devoted his time to research and publishing several works in various Chiropractic journals, such as JVSR, JMPT, Chiropractic Research Journal, and Today’s Chiropractic, (4-17). He also studied the Blair X-ray analysis. It was in the summer of 2000 that seeds were sown for the beginning of KCUCS.


Dr. Henri Dallies

Dr. Henri Dallies was a lead instructor and Instructor of the Year 1996 for the Kale Certification program. He worked with Dr. Kale from 1991 to 1999 in the Kale Research Center and three satellite clinics. Dr. Dallies was a member of the Kale Research Council from 1992 to 1998. He participated in many foreign mission trips with the Kale organization. He has played an important role in the founding of KCUCS.


Dr. Mike Anderson

Dr. Mike Anderson attended Kale seminars from 1992 to 2000 and as well served on the foreign mission field with the Kale organization. He as well played an important role on the founding of KCUCS.


Dr. Zachary Sedivy

Dr. Zachary Sedivy is one of the instructors of the of KCUCS European seminars. A graduate of Logan College of Chiropractic in 2010, Dr. Sedivy has been doing Knee Chest Upper Cervical Chiropractic for 15 years, with his clinic in Treviso, Italy, being the first in Europe to integrate Cone Beam CT technology directly into his clinic. He was one of the founding members of the Upper Cervical Council in 2014, which helped formalize and advance Upper Cervical Chiropractic care across Europe.


Dr. Peter Lawrence

Dr. Peter Lawrnce is one of the instructors of the of KCUCS European seminars.  With over 35 years of experience in Chiropractic, Dr. Peter Lawrence is one of the first chiropractors to bring Upper Cervical Chiropractic to Europe. As a fundamental contributor to the founding of the Upper Cervical Council in 2014, Dr. Lawrence has been instrumental in promoting and teaching the technique throughout the continent. His dedication to advancing the precision and effectiveness of Knee Chest care, along with his years of clinical expertise, make him one of the best educators for chiropractors seeking mastery in Upper Cervical. His seminars and mentoring have shaped many of the top Upper Cervical doctors practicing today.


Dr. Luca Nannetti

Dr. Luca Nannetti is one of the instructors of the of KCUCS European seminars.  Dr. Luca Nannetti is among the earliest chiropractors in Europe to specialize in Knee Chest Upper Cervical Chiropractic, playing a pivotal role in expanding the technique across Italy. With more than two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Nannetti was one of the key founders of the Upper Cervical Council in 2014, which helped standardize and promote Upper Cervical care in Italy.

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