Chiropractic Treatment: What Care Involves

What is chiropractic treatment?

Chiropractic treatment is hands-on care for the muscles, joints and nerves, especially those of the spine. A chiropractor examines how your body moves, finds joints that are stiff or irritated and muscles that are tight or weak, and treats them with a combination of manual therapy, exercise and practical advice.

The goal is straightforward: less pain, better movement and the strength that may help keep problems from coming back. Most people come to us for back pain, neck pain, headaches or a sports injury, but chiropractic care may help with a wide range of joint and muscle problems.

What does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor's work generally falls into four areas:

• Assessment. Taking your history and examining posture, movement, joints, muscles and nerves to work out what's causing your symptoms.
• Manual treatment. Chiropractic adjustments, which are quick, controlled movements that restore motion to stiff joints, plus gentler mobilization when that's a better fit.
• Soft tissue care. Myofascial release, trigger point work and instrument-assisted techniques to relax tight, guarded muscles.
• Rehab and education. Exercises, stretches and advice on posture and workstation setup so you keep improving between visits.

An adjustment is one tool within chiropractic treatment, not the whole of it. Two people with the same sore back may get quite different plans: one might need joint work and a few targeted exercises, while another does better with soft tissue care, decompression and a gradual return to training. Your exam decides which mix makes sense.

Your first visit

Your first appointment is about understanding your problem before treating it. It includes:

1. A health history covering your symptoms, past injuries, work and activities
2. A full orthopedic and neurological exam testing joints, muscles, reflexes, strength and sensation
3. A pain assessment and spinal analysis to pinpoint the source of your symptoms
4. An explanation of the findings and a recommended plan with clear goals
5. Your first adjustment, if treatment is appropriate

If anything in your exam suggests a problem that needs imaging or a medical specialist, we'll tell you and refer you. Wear comfortable clothes you can move in, and bring a list of any medications and past imaging reports if you have them.

Treatments we combine

Few problems respond best to a single technique, so your plan may draw on several services across our team:

• Spinal decompression, a gentle, non-surgical traction therapy often used for disc-related back and neck pain
• Massage therapy for tight, overworked muscles and faster comfort between adjustments
• Acupuncture with our acupuncturist for stubborn pain and muscle tension
• McKenzie Method exercises to help manage back and neck pain on your own
• Rehab and personal training to rebuild strength and lower the risk of re-injury
• Custom orthotics for foot, knee and back problems linked to how you stand and walk

Conditions we treat

Chiropractic treatment is commonly used for:

• Spine and nerve problems: neck pain, lower back pain, sciatica, herniated and bulging discs, whiplash and vertebral subluxation
• Headaches and jaw pain: tension-type and migraine headaches, and TMJ disorders
• Sports and overuse injuries: frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, hamstring strains, ankle sprains, shin splints and knee injuries

Each condition has its own page explaining causes, treatment options and warning signs. Browse the full list on our conditions we treat page.

Care for families and athletes

We care for families and for athletes of every level. Family plans make ongoing chiropractic and wellness care simpler and more affordable for the whole household.

For athletes, care focuses on recovering from injury and getting back to training safely. Our founder, Dr. Jean-Pierre Khreich, has worked closely with athletes and sports teams throughout his career, and several of our chiropractors trained in sports medicine settings. Learn more about our sports injury treatment.

How many visits will you need?

Visit frequency depends on your condition, how long you've had it and your goals. Plans often start with more frequent visits while pain is high, then taper as you improve and take on more of the work through home exercises. Your chiropractor will give you a realistic estimate after your first exam and re-check your progress along the way.

Our approach follows the principles of evidence-based chiropractic care: current research, clinical judgment and your preferences guide every decision.

When to see a medical doctor first

Chiropractic care isn't the right first step for every symptom. Seek emergency or medical care for back or neck pain after a major fall or crash, loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness or weakness that's getting worse, back pain with unexplained weight loss or fever, or a sudden, severe headache unlike any you've had before. We'll also refer you if your exam points to something outside our scope.