Frequently Asked Questions in Mayfield Heights OH

Chiropractic, is a holistic approach to health that emphasizes the body’s natural ability to heal when proper biomechanics and movement are restored. Unlike traditional models that focus solely on the adjustment, we prioritize optimizing how your body moves and functions through a combination of targeted adjustments, corrective exercises, and lifestyle guidance. The adjustment is a powerful tool we use to address joint dysfunction and nervous system interference, but it’s just one part of our comprehensive strategy. By focusing on proper alignment, mobility, and strength, we empower you to achieve lasting wellness, prevent injury, and move better in everyday life.

In our practice, focused on proper biomechanics and movement while incorporating adjustments, we can help address a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Back Pain (e.g., lower back pain, mid-back pain, sciatica)
• Neck Pain (e.g., stiffness, whiplash, tech neck)
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJD) (e.g., jaw pain, clicking, or locking)
• Shoulder Pain and Dysfunction (e.g., rotator cuff issues, frozen shoulder, impingement)
• Knee Pain and Dysfunction (e.g., patellar tracking issues, runner’s knee, meniscus discomfort)
• Ankle Pain and Dysfunction (e.g., sprains, instability, Achilles tendon issues)
• Wrist Pain and Dysfunction (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, sprains, tendonitis)
• Foot Pain and Dysfunction (e.g., plantar fasciitis, flat feet, bunions)
• Joint Dysfunction (e.g., restricted or misaligned joints in the spine, hips, or extremities)
• Muscle Tension and Imbalances (e.g., tight hamstrings, weak core)
• Postural Issues (e.g., forward head posture, rounded shoulders, scoliosis-related discomfort)
• Headaches and Migraines (often related to tension, TMJD, or poor neck biomechanics)
• Sports Injuries (e.g., sprains, strains, tendonitis)
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (e.g., tennis elbow)
• Limited Range of Motion (e.g., difficulty with bending, twisting, or reaching)
• Chronic Pain Syndromes (e.g., fibromyalgia, when related to biomechanical issues)
• Movement Dysfunction (e.g., gait abnormalities, poor balance)
• Injury Prevention and Performance Optimization (e.g., enhancing mobility and strength for athletes or active individuals)

Our approach integrates targeted chiropractic adjustments with corrective exercises, movement retraining, and lifestyle advice to address these conditions, improve function, and promote long-term wellness. Always consult with our team for a personalized assessment to determine how we can best support your specific needs.

In our practice, the adjustment is a precise, hands-on technique used to restore proper alignment and function to joints, particularly in the spine and extremities, while supporting the body’s nervous system. Unlike practices that center solely on the adjustment, we view it as a targeted tool within our broader focus on optimizing biomechanics and movement. By applying controlled force to specific joints, we correct misalignments (subluxations), reduce nervous system interference, and enhance mobility, which complements our corrective exercises and lifestyle strategies to promote overall wellness and long-term health.

Yes, our treatment approach in our cash-based chiropractic practice, which emphasizes proper biomechanics, movement, and targeted adjustments, is generally safe when performed by our trained and licensed professionals. Chiropractic adjustments, when applied with precision to address joint dysfunction, are low-risk and well-tolerated for most patients. Our focus on corrective exercises and movement retraining further enhances safety by strengthening the body and promoting sustainable function, reducing the likelihood of injury.

However, safety depends on a thorough assessment of your individual health history and condition. We conduct comprehensive evaluations to tailor care to your needs, minimizing risks such as temporary soreness or discomfort, which are rare and typically mild. Certain conditions (e.g., severe osteoporosis, fractures, or specific neurological issues) may require modified approaches, which we carefully consider.

Always communicate any concerns or pre-existing conditions with our team during your consultation to ensure personalized, safe, and effective care. For specific risks or questions, we’re happy to discuss how our methods align with your health goals.

The number of treatments you’ll need in our chiropractic practice depends entirely on your specific condition, health goals, and how your body responds to care. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, which is why we conduct a thorough examination, including a detailed health history, biomechanical assessment, and movement analysis, before curating a personalized care plan. Whether you’re addressing TMJD, back pain, shoulder issues, or another condition, our tailored approach—combining targeted adjustments, corrective exercises, and lifestyle guidance—ensures we address your unique needs. Some patients see improvement in just a few visits, while others with chronic or complex issues may require ongoing care to achieve lasting results. After your evaluation, we’ll provide a clear, individualized plan outlining the recommended frequency and duration of treatments to optimize your wellness.

The benefits of care in our practice, which emphasizes proper biomechanics, movement, and targeted adjustments, are tailored to your unique needs and goals. Based on our thorough examination and personalized care plan, here are the key benefits you may experience:

• Pain Relief: Reduced discomfort from conditions like back pain, neck pain, TMJD, shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist, or foot issues through targeted adjustments and movement correction.
• Improved Mobility and Function: Enhanced range of motion and joint function, allowing easier movement in daily activities or sports.
• Better Posture and Alignment: Corrected postural imbalances (e.g., forward head posture or rounded shoulders) to reduce strain and prevent future issues.
• Enhanced Nervous System Function: Adjustments reduce interference, promoting optimal communication between the brain and body for overall wellness.
• Increased Strength and Stability: Corrective exercises address muscle imbalances, improving core strength, balance, and injury resilience.
• Injury Prevention: Optimized biomechanics and movement patterns lower the risk of future injuries, especially for active individuals or athletes.
• Reduced Muscle Tension: Relief from tightness and spasms, such as in the hamstrings or shoulders, for greater comfort and flexibility.
• Headache and Migraine Relief: Alleviation of tension-related headaches or migraines, often linked to neck or TMJD issues.
• Improved Performance: Enhanced movement efficiency and body mechanics for better athletic or daily functional performance.
• Holistic Wellness: Lifestyle guidance and movement retraining support long-term health, empowering you to maintain results beyond the clinic.

Each care plan is customized based on your specific condition and progress, ensuring these benefits align with your health goals. Regular reassessments allow us to adapt your plan for optimal outcomes. For a detailed understanding of how these benefits apply to you, we’ll discuss specifics after your initial examination.

In our practice, which focuses on proper biomechanics, movement, and targeted adjustments, treatments are generally safe when performed by our trained and licensed professionals. However, as with any healthcare intervention, there are potential risks, though they are typically rare and mild. These may include:

• Temporary Soreness or Discomfort: Some patients may experience mild soreness or stiffness in the treated area, similar to post-exercise fatigue, which usually resolves within 24-48 hours.
• Fatigue: Adjustments or exercises may occasionally lead to temporary fatigue as the body adapts to new movement patterns or alignment.
• Rare Complications: In extremely rare cases, specific adjustments (particularly cervical spine manipulations) may carry a minimal risk of complications, such as muscle strain or, in very rare instances, vascular issues. Our thorough examination and health history review help identify any contraindications to minimize these risks.
• Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions: Certain conditions (e.g., severe osteoporosis, herniated discs, or inflammatory disorders) may require modified techniques to avoid exacerbation, which we carefully assess during your evaluation.

Our personalized approach—tailored to your specific condition through a comprehensive assessment—ensures we select safe and appropriate techniques, whether adjustments, corrective exercises, or lifestyle modifications. We prioritize open communication, so please share any concerns or medical history during your consultation. This allows us to further reduce risks and customize your care plan for safe, effective results. If you have specific questions about risks related to your condition, we’ll address them after your initial examination.

Chiropractic care in our practice, which focuses on proper biomechanics, movement, and targeted adjustments, is generally not painful. Some patients may experience mild discomfort during certain adjustments or corrective exercises, particularly if addressing areas of tension or dysfunction, but this is typically brief and minimal. Most of the time, our treatments are very comfortable, with adjustments being quick and precise, often providing immediate relief and improved mobility. Our thorough examination ensures we tailor your care to keep discomfort to a minimum, making the experience both effective and pleasant.

• Personalized Care: We don’t just treat symptoms; we conduct a thorough examination to understand your specific issues—whether it’s TMJD, back pain, or joint dysfunction—and craft a tailored care plan combining targeted adjustments, corrective exercises, and lifestyle guidance to optimize your biomechanics and movement.
• Holistic Approach: Unlike practices that rely solely on adjustments, we focus on long-term wellness through movement retraining and strength building, empowering you to move better, prevent injuries, and enhance daily or athletic performance.
• Expertise in Biomechanics: Our emphasis on proper alignment and functional movement ensures sustainable results, addressing root causes rather than offering temporary fixes.
• Comfort and Safety: Our treatments are designed to be comfortable, with adjustments that are quick, precise, and minimally invasive. We prioritize your safety through comprehensive assessments to customize care and minimize risks.
• Proven Benefits: From pain relief and improved mobility to better posture and nervous system function, our approach delivers measurable outcomes, tailored to your needs, whether you’re managing chronic pain or optimizing for sports.
• Patient-Centered Philosophy: As a cash-based practice, we focus on quality over volume, giving you undivided attention and a care plan that evolves with your progress.

With our commitment to your individual needs and our expertise in movement-based chiropractic care, we’re here to help you achieve lasting wellness and perform at your best. Choose us for a transformative approach that puts you first.

In our practice, regular appointments typically last 30 minutes, allowing ample time for targeted adjustments, corrective exercises, and personalized guidance to optimize your biomechanics and movement. New patient exams or extended visits, which include a thorough assessment or in-depth care plan adjustments, take about one hour to ensure we fully understand and address your specific needs.

• Undergraduate Education: Chiropractors typically complete a bachelor’s degree or a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours, often with a focus on sciences like biology, anatomy, or kinesiology to build a strong foundation for advanced study.
• Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) Degree: They then attend an accredited chiropractic college, completing a rigorous 4-year Doctor of Chiropractic program (approximately 4,200 hours). This includes in-depth coursework in anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neurology, radiology, and clinical diagnosis, as well as hands-on training in spinal adjustments, soft tissue techniques, and rehabilitation methods.
• Specialized Training: In our practice, chiropractors pursue additional training in biomechanics, movement assessment, and corrective exercise techniques to complement their adjustment skills, ensuring a holistic approach tailored to your needs.
• Licensing and Continuing Education: After earning their DC degree, chiropractors must pass national and state board exams to obtain licensure. They also complete ongoing continuing education to stay current with the latest research, techniques, and safety standards.
• Practical Experience: During their education, chiropractors gain extensive clinical experience under supervision, refining their skills in patient assessment, adjustments, and care plan development.

This comprehensive education equips our chiropractors to perform thorough examinations, deliver precise adjustments, and design personalized care plans that optimize movement and wellness, ensuring you receive expert care tailored to your specific conditions.

Yes, pregnant women can safely see a chiropractor in our cash-based practice, provided care is tailored to their unique needs. Our approach, focusing on proper biomechanics, movement, and gentle adjustments, is well-suited for pregnancy, as it supports comfort and function during this transformative time. Benefits may include relief from common pregnancy-related issues like lower back pain, pelvic discomfort, sciatica, or postural strain, as well as improved mobility and alignment to support a healthier pregnancy and delivery.

We conduct a thorough examination to customize care, using pregnancy-safe techniques such as low-force adjustments and specific exercises that accommodate your stage of pregnancy. Our chiropractors are trained to work with pregnant patients, ensuring comfort and safety by avoiding contraindicated maneuvers and focusing on gentle, effective methods.

However, every pregnancy is unique, so we assess your health history and any specific concerns (e.g., high-risk conditions) during your initial visit. Always consult with your healthcare provider to ensure chiropractic care aligns with your pregnancy care plan. Appointments typically last 30 minutes for regular visits or one hour for new patient exams, allowing us to create a personalized plan that supports your well-being throughout pregnancy.

In our cash-based chiropractic practice, the “crack” sound sometimes heard during an adjustment, known as cavitation, occurs when a quick, precise force is applied to a joint, typically in the spine or extremities, to restore proper alignment and function. This sound is caused by the rapid collapse of tiny gas bubbles within the synovial fluid inside the joint, creating a popping noise as pressure changes. It’s a normal, harmless byproduct of the adjustment and not an indication of bones breaking or grinding.

Our focus is on optimizing biomechanics and movement, and while the adjustment is a key tool to correct joint dysfunction and reduce nervous system interference, the “crack” is not the goal—it’s simply a possible outcome of some techniques. Many patients find adjustments comfortable and relieving, with the sound being a minor aspect of the process. If you prefer quieter, low-force methods, we can tailor your care plan accordingly after a thorough examination, ensuring effective treatment that aligns with your comfort level

Technically, you may attempt to “adjust” yourself by moving or twisting your body to produce a popping sound, but this is not recommended. Self-adjustment lacks the precision and expertise of a professional chiropractic adjustment and can add instability to already compromised joints, potentially worsening conditions like pain, misalignment, or muscle tension. In our cash-based practice, we prioritize proper biomechanics and movement, using targeted adjustments based on a thorough examination to address specific dysfunctions safely. Attempting to self-adjust may cause further issues, such as increased joint laxity or nerve irritation. Instead, consult our trained chiropractors to ensure safe, effective care tailored to your needs.

No, we do not accept insurance directly, as our chiropractic practice operates on a self-pay model. However, we provide you with the proper paperwork, including detailed receipts and necessary codes, to submit to your insurance provider for potential reimbursement. This approach allows us to focus on personalized care tailored to your needs, prioritizing proper biomechanics, movement, and targeted adjustments. For specific details on submitting claims, we’ll guide you during your visit, which typically lasts 30 minutes for regular appointments or one hour for new patient exams.

Yes, our chiropractic practice can effectively help with neck pain, a common issue often caused by poor posture, muscle tension, joint dysfunction, or related conditions like TMJD or tech neck. Our approach, centered on optimizing biomechanics and movement while incorporating targeted adjustments, is tailored to address the root causes of your neck pain.

Following a thorough examination, we create a personalized care plan that may include precise chiropractic adjustments to restore proper joint alignment, corrective exercises to strengthen supporting muscles and improve mobility, and lifestyle guidance to prevent recurrence. This holistic strategy aims to reduce pain, enhance range of motion, and promote long-term neck health.

Results depend on your specific condition, but many patients experience significant relief and improved function. Regular appointments last about 30 minutes, while new patient exams or extended visits take approximately one hour to ensure a comprehensive assessment. If your neck pain is linked to other medical conditions, we’ll coordinate with your healthcare provider to ensure safe and effective care.

Yes, our chiropractic practice can often help with headaches, particularly those caused by tension, poor posture, neck dysfunction, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJD). Our approach, which emphasizes proper biomechanics, movement, and targeted adjustments, is designed to address the root causes of headaches rather than just masking symptoms.

Through a thorough examination, we identify contributing factors—such as cervical spine misalignments, muscle tension, or poor movement patterns—and create a personalized care plan. This may include gentle adjustments to restore joint function, corrective exercises to improve posture and mobility, and lifestyle guidance to reduce triggers. Many patients experience relief from tension headaches, migraines, or cervicogenic (neck-related) headaches with our tailored approach.

While results vary based on the headache’s cause and your unique condition, our focus on holistic care supports long-term relief and prevention. Regular visits typically last 30 minutes, with new patient exams taking about one hour to ensure a comprehensive assessment. If your headaches are related to specific medical conditions, we’ll coordinate with your healthcare provider to ensure safe, effective care.

• Scope of Practice: Our chiropractors have a wider scope, enabling us to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal conditions, perform spinal and extremity adjustments, and address nervous system interference. We can manage a diverse range of issues, including back pain, neck pain, TMJD, headaches, and joint dysfunctions (e.g., shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist, foot). Physical therapists primarily focus on rehabilitation, exercise, and functional restoration, often requiring a physician’s referral for treatment and not performing adjustments or diagnosing conditions.
• Chiropractic Adjustments: We utilize precise, hands-on adjustments to correct joint misalignments (subluxations) and reduce nervous system interference, which is central to our care but not part of physical therapy. This helps restore proper alignment and function, complementing our movement-based approach.
• Holistic Biomechanical Focus: While both fields emphasize movement, our practice integrates adjustments with corrective exercises and lifestyle guidance to optimize whole-body biomechanics, prevent injuries, and enhance performance. Physical therapy typically focuses more narrowly on rehabilitating specific injuries or post-surgical recovery through exercises and modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation.
• Proactive Wellness: Our care often extends beyond symptom relief to proactive wellness, addressing posture, movement patterns, and overall health to prevent future issues. Physical therapy is generally more reactive, targeting recovery from specific injuries or conditions.
• Personalized, Self-Pay Model: As a cash-based practice, we offer tailored care plans based on thorough examinations, with regular visits lasting 30 minutes and new patient exams taking about one hour. We provide paperwork for potential insurance reimbursement, unlike physical therapy, which often operates within insurance constraints, potentially limiting session time or treatment options.

While there’s some overlap, such as using exercises to improve strength and mobility, our broader scope allows us to address a wider array of conditions holistically, combining adjustments, movement retraining, and preventive strategies to support your long-term health and performance.

Yes, our cash-based chiropractic practice is well-equipped to help with sports injuries, such as sprains, strains, tendonitis, or joint dysfunctions affecting the shoulder, knee, ankle, wrist, or foot. Our approach, which emphasizes proper biomechanics, movement, and targeted adjustments, is tailored to address the unique demands of athletes and active individuals.

After a thorough examination, we create a personalized care plan that may include precise chiropractic adjustments to restore joint alignment, corrective exercises to strengthen and stabilize affected areas, and movement retraining to enhance performance and prevent re-injury. This holistic strategy helps reduce pain, improve mobility, and accelerate recovery while addressing underlying biomechanical issues that may have contributed to the injury.

For example, we can help with conditions like runner’s knee, Achilles tendon issues, or rotator cuff strains by optimizing joint function and movement patterns. Regular appointments typically last 30 minutes, with new patient exams or extended visits taking about one hour to ensure a comprehensive assessment. Our goal is not only to aid recovery but also to enhance athletic performance and reduce future injury risk.

If your sports injury involves complex conditions (e.g., fractures or severe ligament tears), we’ll coordinate with your healthcare provider to ensure safe, effective care tailored to your needs.

Yes, chiropractic care can improve posture.

Yes, chiropractic care is extremely safe and also beneficial for children.