You want help with your back or neck pain, but the thought of being adjusted makes you hesitate.
Maybe you have seen videos of forceful-looking treatments. Maybe a previous appointment felt uncomfortable. Or perhaps you simply want someone to examine the problem and explain your options before you decide what happens next.
Those are reasonable concerns to bring to an appointment.
At Firm Foundation Wellness Center in Keller, an adjustment is not an automatic requirement of your visit. Care begins with understanding your symptoms, examining the concern, and discussing what is appropriate for you.
Does every chiropractic visit require an adjustment?
No. A chiropractic appointment can include a consultation, examination, movement assessment, and discussion of your findings without an adjustment being performed.
Our first-visit approach allows time for those steps. If treatment is appropriate, options can be discussed. If additional evaluation or a referral should come first, that takes priority.
You can start the conversation by saying, “I’m interested in getting help, but I’m nervous about adjustments.” That gives Dr. Corey useful information before treatment is considered.
Can I ask to avoid neck manipulation?
Yes. Tell Dr. Corey if you do not want neck manipulation or any other particular technique.
You do not have to agree to a treatment simply because it is offered. Ask what is being recommended, why it may help, what the potential risks are, and what alternatives make sense.
A clear preference gives us a starting point for discussing your options. Sometimes another approach may be appropriate. Sometimes further evaluation or another provider may be the better next step.
You should understand the recommendation and feel comfortable making a decision. You can also ask to pause or stop during treatment.
What does gentle chiropractic care mean?
“Gentle” describes an approach, but it does not tell you exactly what will happen during an appointment. Ask the clinician to explain the proposed technique and what you may feel.
Chiropractic techniques can differ in how force is applied. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health distinguishes spinal manipulation, which uses a controlled thrust, from spinal mobilization, which uses movement within a joint’s natural range without a thrust. [1]
At our office, hands-on and low-force options are selected according to the examination, your preferences, and clinical appropriateness.
A lower-force technique is not automatically suitable for every condition. The important questions are whether treatment is appropriate, whether you understand it, and whether you consent to it.
What might care include besides adjustments?
Depending on the findings, your plan may include:
- Rehabilitation exercises: Individualized work on strength, mobility, stability, or tolerance for activity.
- Soft-tissue treatment: Hands-on or instrument-assisted techniques when appropriate.
- Movement assessment: Looking at the activities and movements relevant to your symptoms.
- Practical guidance: Discussing work demands, exercise, and manageable changes to daily activity.
These options are part of our chiropractic and rehabilitation services. You may need some of them, a different combination, or referral elsewhere. Every patient does not need every service.
Can gentle care still have risks?
Yes. The word “gentle” should not replace a discussion of benefits, risks, and alternatives.
NCCIH reports that temporary discomfort, stiffness, or headache can occur after spinal manipulation or mobilization. Serious complications have also been reported, including neurological problems and cervical artery injuries associated with neck manipulation. Their frequency is not reliably established. [1]
Share your medical history, medications, previous injuries, and any prior reaction to treatment. That information helps guide decisions about whether a technique should be considered or avoided.
What if I only want an evaluation first?
That is a reasonable place to begin.
Bring your questions, describe what concerns you, and explain what you are hoping to return to—whether that is working comfortably, exercising, or keeping up with your family.
Our Keller chiropractic practice is built around one-on-one time with Dr. Corey Strunk. The purpose of an examination is to help you understand the problem and appropriate next steps.
We cannot promise that a particular treatment will be right for you before that evaluation. We can make room for an honest conversation.
Start with a conversation in Old Town Keller
You do not need to have every question answered before contacting us. If you are looking for a chiropractor in Keller and feel unsure about adjustments, let us know.
Firm Foundation Wellness Center is located at 140 Pecan St, Keller, TX 76248.
Schedule your first visit, or call or text (817) 776-1023. Tell us your concerns so we can discuss what an appointment may involve.
Educational information only. Individual treatment decisions require a personal history and examination.