Who is Dr. J. Shafer

Dr. Joseph Shafer, DC, CCSP, DIBAK

Founder and Scientific Director

Dr. Joseph Shafer is an internationally respected clinician, educator, and researcher whose professional career has focused on advancing the understanding of neuroplasticity and functional neurological rehabilitation.

For more than forty years, he has combined clinical practice with postgraduate education and the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with neurological and musculoskeletal disorders. His work has consistently centered on translating neuroscience into practical, patient-oriented rehabilitation strategies.

After graduating cum laude from Louisiana State University, Dr. Shafer earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1980. He subsequently completed extensive postgraduate education in Applied Kinesiology, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and functional neurology, laying the foundation for a career dedicated to clinical innovation and professional education.

Throughout his career, Dr. Shafer has taught healthcare professionals across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. His educational activities have included postgraduate programs for physicians, chiropractors, osteopaths, physiotherapists, and other rehabilitation professionals. His longstanding commitment to education has been recognized through honorary academic appointments in postgraduate medicine.

A major focus of Dr. Shafer's work has been the development of non-invasive approaches that support the brain's capacity for functional recovery following traumatic brain injury, concussion, and stroke. This work led to the development of the Brain Recovery Protocol, a multimodal neuromodulation approach integrating Transcranial Vibration Mapping (TVM), Transcranial Static Magnetic Stimulation (TSMS), and Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS).

The protocol is currently being evaluated through independent clinical research. An investigator-initiated randomized pilot study has demonstrated encouraging preliminary results in post-stroke rehabilitation, providing an important scientific foundation for ongoing multicentre research and future clinical development.

Today, Dr. Shafer serves as Founder and Scientific Director of the Brain Recovery Association, where he works alongside an international network of clinicians and researchers dedicated to advancing evidence-informed neurorehabilitation through research, education, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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Areas of Expertise

• Neuroplasticity and Functional Recovery

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

• Concussion and Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms

• Stroke Rehabilitation

• Non-invasive Neuromodulation

• Applied Kinesiology

• Functional Neurology

• Sports Medicine

• Clinical Education

• Rehabilitation Research

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Academic and Professional Qualifications

• Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Palmer College of Chiropractic

• Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP)

• Diplomate, International Board of Applied Kinesiology (DIBAK)

• Honorary Professor of Postgraduate Medicine

• International Lecturer in Neurorehabilitation and Functional Neurology

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Research Vision

Dr. Shafer's current work is guided by a simple principle: meaningful advances in neurological rehabilitation require the integration of clinical expertise, scientific investigation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Through the Brain Recovery Association, he continues to promote the development of reproducible clinical methods, investigator-initiated research, and postgraduate education that contribute to a growing body of evidence supporting innovative approaches to neurorehabilitation.