Preprint / Version 1

Mexican Sobadores in North Carolina: Manual Therapy in a New Settlement Context

Authors

  • Sara Quandt Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
  • Joanne Sandberg Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
  • Alan Graham Graham Chiropractic PLLC, 1300 Ashley Square, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, USA
  • Dana Mora Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
  • Trine Stub Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Division of Public Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA
  • Thomas Arcury Department of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA

Keywords:

USA, Traditional healer, Folk medicine, Healthcare, Manual therapy, Immigrant health

Abstract

Latino immigrants to the New Settlement area of the southeastern United States face structural and cultural obstacles to accessing the conventional health care system, and come from areas with long traditions of medical treatments from healers without professional training or licensure. Little is known about the use of such healers in New Settlement areas. This study focuses on sobadores, healers who use manipulative therapy. Goals were to describe sobadores practicing in North Carolina, including their background, conditions treated, and their understanding of the pathophysiology of their patients’ conditions and how their treatments work. The paper also describes who sobadores treat and sobadores’ understanding of where their treatment fits into patients’ pursuit of relief from symptoms. This focused ethnography draws from in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with six sobadores from Mexico practicing in North Carolina. These sobadores appear to meet both structural and cultural needs for healthcare in the immigrant Latino population. Keywords: USA, Traditional healer, Folk medicine, Healthcare, Manual therapy, Immigrant health

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