What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is a healthcare profession focused on assessing and treating musculoskeletal disorders and issues, particularly those affecting the spine. Chiropractors use adjustments — with their hands or a specific handheld instrument — to align the spine and support the body's ability to function at its best.

Chiropractors generally use chiropractic adjustments (using their hands or a specific handheld instrument) to areas of the spine to properly align the body’s musculoskeletal structure to allow the body to function at its best.

How does chiropractic care work?

Our approach is rooted in the idea that misalignments of the spine, sometimes called subluxations, can affect nearby nerves, muscles, and surrounding structures. As chiropractors, our goal is to locate these misalignments and correct them, supporting the body's overall structure and function. Chiropractic care is commonly sought for back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other musculoskeletal concerns — though people come to us with all kinds of symptoms, curious whether they may be connected to posture and spinal alignment.

How does adjusting the neck help my low pain?

Short answer: Body compensations and posture

In our office, we want to find the cause of dysfunction in the spine and body — not just chase symptoms. As upper cervical chiropractors, we focus on the top bone in the neck, the atlas (C1), named for its job of holding up the skull, much like the Greek Titan Atlas held up the world. This bone is more vulnerable than the rest of the spine and more prone to misalignment from accidents, injuries, repetitive strain, or even the birthing process.

When the atlas misaligns, it creates a head tilt. Since the eyes and brain resist this position, the body compensates to "fix" it — one shoulder drops to keep the head level, which creates a twist or exaggerated curve in the mid-back, and overactive low-back muscles can raise one hip. Lying flat, this often shows up as one leg appearing shorter than the other. While we always start by correcting the atlas, we may also address other areas of the spine as needed — it depends on your specific misalignment and how your body has compensated over time.

Want to learn more about our upper cervical approach? Visit our Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care page.

What can I expect on my first visit?

Your first visit starts with a complimentary 30-minute consultation. This conversation helps us understand your health concerns, listen to your story, and determine whether chiropractic care is the right fit for you — no exam, X-rays, or adjustments yet.

If we determine we can help, we'll move forward with a New Patient Appointment, which includes a thorough exam — case history, vitals and postural assessment, a detailed spinal exam, neurological testing, and digital X-rays if needed. From there, we mathematically calculate the precise angle needed to correct your upper cervical spine, and determine whether other areas of your spine need adjusting as well.

Your upper cervical adjustment is delivered using our handheld instrument while you lie on your side in a neutral position — no twisting, cracking, or popping of the head or neck. If other areas of the spine need adjusting, manual adjustments may be performed. Afterward, you'll rest in our dedicated recovery room for 20 minutes while your new alignment sets in.

For more information visit our What to Expect page.

What symptoms do people commonly seek chiropractic care for? 

Chiropractic care focuses on the spine, and adjacent muscles and nerves, making it highly focused on aiding the regulation of the nervous system. Going deep to this root cause is what allows us to support so many ailments and abnormalities, including but not limited to:

• Headaches / migraines

• Neck pain / stiffness

• Low back pain

• Sciatica

• Poor posture

• Vertigo / balance issues

• Whiplash

• Shoulder pain / weakness

• Jaw tension

• Scoliosis-related discomfort

Because every case is different, we're happy to discuss during your complimentary consultation whether upper cervical care may be a good fit for what you're experiencing.

Learn more about our approach to adult chiropractic care on our Adult Chiropractic Services page.

What conditions can chiropractic care support during pregnancy & postpartum? 

• Low back pain / pelvic pain

• Sciatica

• Round ligament pain

• Pubic symphysis dysfunction

• Carpal tunnel

• Headaches / migraines

• Preparation for labor & delivery

• Preconception work

• Sacral joint pain / stiffness

• Poor posture from carrying / feedings

Want to learn more about our approach to prenatal and postpartum care? Visit our Prenatal/Postpartum Chiropractic Care page.

What do parents commonly bring their children and teens in for?

We see patients from infancy through the teenage years, with care tailored to each stage of growth and development. Common reasons parents bring in their children and teens include:

• Torticollis (difficulty turning the head) or muscle tension

• Excessive crying or fussiness

• Postural concerns

• Support during developmental milestones (crawling, walking)

• Sports-related injuries

• Posture and tension from backpacks, screen time, and growth spurts

Every child is different — we're glad to talk through your specific concerns during a consultation.

Learn more about our age-specific approach: Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Is chiropractic safe?

As with any hands-on care, there are always some risks involved. As your spine realigns and posture improves, you may notice different sensations coming and going — this is a normal part of the process. Mild aches or tightness can occur but are typically self-limiting.

At Be Well Chiropractic, we take a gentle, highly specific approach. Knowing when — and when not — to adjust is central to our technique. Using orthospinology, we take precise x-rays to calculate the exact degree of misalignment and confirm it's safe to proceed before any adjustment.

Upper cervical adjustments are delivered with a handheld instrument calibrated to your individual anatomy, providing a specific, low-force correction — no popping, twisting, or cracking of the head or neck.

If we find a contraindication during your consultation or exam, we'll refer you to the right provider to make sure you get the care you need.

What services are offered during an appointment? Do you only adjust the neck? 

Our main objective is to align the spine, and we focus on the neck first because it's often where the root cause of many issues and compensations begins.

Depending on your needs, we may also use PNF stretching, soft-tissue work, full-spine adjustments, and extremity adjusting to support and extend the results of your upper cervical correction.

We believe in staying focused on our craft, so for services outside our scope, we refer out to trusted local providers, including:

• Cupping

• Dry needling

• Acupuncture

• Traction devices

• Physical therapy

• Massage

• Nutrition

We're happy to connect you with a provider from our local network for any of these.

Do you accept insurance? How does billing work?

We've chosen to operate as a cash-pay practice so we can spend more time with each patient and provide thorough, individualized care — without being limited by insurance-dictated visit lengths or treatment protocols. We're fully out-of-network, and accept HSA/FSA cards. We can also provide a superbill upon request that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Please note: we're not able to verify your benefits or handle claims or denials on your behalf — that's between you and your insurance provider.

How much does chiropractic care cost?

Pricing depends on your appointment type (pediatric, adult, or prenatal) and what's completed during your visit — such as the exam and X-rays, if needed. Cost can also vary based on the length and complexity of your visit. Regular follow-up visits are a flat rate. For exact pricing, feel free to call our office or book a free consultation.

Will I be locked into a contract or care plan?

No. Most patients simply pay per visit, with no minimum commitment and no cancellation fees. If you'd like, you can also prepay for a care plan at a discounted rate — we're happy to walk you through the details if that option interests you.

How often will I need to come in, and how long will I need care?

Care plans are individualized based on your specific case and what we believe it will take for your spine to stabilize and hold corrections longer. Most new patients start with weekly visits, though this can vary, and initial care plans typically range from around 10 to 24 visits depending on your needs.

Our goal is to help your spine hold its correction for 1–2 months at a time — some patients hold even longer — though as with any care, results can't be guaranteed. Patients who complete their initial care plan and stay consistent with our recommendations tend to see the best results, whether paying per visit or prepaying.

Many patients choose to continue with periodic maintenance visits after their initial plan to stay ahead of misalignments. Those who do often report benefits like more comfortable workouts, less discomfort while traveling, and better tolerance for long hours at a desk or physically demanding work.