Frequently Asked Questions

Chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper spinal movement to reduce nerve interference, improve communication between the brain and body, and support the body’s natural ability to heal and regulate itself. By correcting joint restrictions in the spine, chiropractic adjustments can relieve back pain, neck pain, nerve pain, and headaches while helping the nervous system function more effectively and supporting long-term health.

No, you don’t need to be in pain to see a chiropractor. While many people start care because something hurts, chiropractic care supports your body’s overall function, mobility, and long-term health. Regular adjustments can help maintain balance and prevent problems—much like routine dental cleanings prevent cavities and servicing your car keeps it from breaking down.

Chiropractic can help with more than pain by supporting the nervous system. Common benefits include better posture, improved mobility and performance, fewer headaches and tension, reduced stress, better sleep, and improved overall wellness. The scope of chiropractic is by no means limited to pain relief.

Chiropractic care for children can help improve bodily functions, prevent injuries, support proper development and overall wellness, help correct posture, and relieve pain (such as headaches and back pain). Many studies show that pediatric chiropractic care can aid common issues like ear infections, colic, digestive issues, and torticollis. It’s a good first step in managing infants with tethered oral tissues and plagiocephaly as well.

People of all ages can be safely adjusted, though the technique is tailored to each individual. Many newborns benefit from gentle adjustments after the physical stress of birth. Even though most children don’t experience ongoing back or neck pain, Dr. Cory has yet to see anyone—of any age—without some degree of spinal misalignment.

Chiropractic care is considered safe for pregnant women, especially when provided by a chiropractor with additional training/certifications in perinatal care (such as Webster Certification). Adjustments can help relieve common pregnancy-related discomforts such as back pain, sciatica, and pelvic area complaints. Getting adjusted has also been shown to help provide proper pelvic alignment, helping your baby have optimal space to shift as needed and promoting a smoother labor and delivery.

Chiropractic adjustments are typically not painful. Most people experience relief or a sense of comfort following an adjustment; however, some may feel mild discomfort or temporary soreness. This is most common following the first adjustment in a long time (or ever) and usually resolves within a day or two. If you ever feel uncomfortable during an adjustment, it’s important to communicate this to your chiropractor.

Most of our joints contain a bit of fluid and a pocket of air. When a joint is moved enough to change the pressure within it, that air bubble can pop, creating an audible cavitation. That bubble reconstitutes over time. Not every adjustment will make a noise, but hearing popping/cracking is normal and safe during an adjustment.

If you are on-time to your appointment, there should be little to no wait time. When you come inside, you’ll be greeted and introduced to the doctor, who will go through your intake forms with you to gain a good understanding of your health history and your current complaint. Next, the doctor will perform a physical exam and palpate your spine to assess for subluxations (spinal misalignments/restrictions). This will prepare the doctor to walk you through your first adjustment. Following your adjustment, any questions will be answered and recommendations will be given concerning a follow-up visit and home care. You will be given an official recommendation for care typically on your second visit. How your body responds to your first adjustment helps guide this recommendation.

It depends on the severity of your case and how long your spine has been misaligned. Some patients feel significant relief after just a few adjustments, while others need weeks to months to experience lasting improvement. A follow-up visit will help assess your body’s initial response and guide the recommended course of treatment.

If we’re not able to identify or address the underlying cause of your specific health concern, we’ll refer you to another specialist who may be better suited to help. Your health and well-being are always our top priority.

Typically, no. When clinically indicated, x-rays can improve safety and help diagnose underlying issues. They are often used after an accident to rule out fractures and help guide care. However, they are usually not needed to receive quality chiropractic care—so if a provider recommends them without a clear clinical explanation, it’s worth questioning. Dr. Cory orders x-rays only when truly necessary to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

Most people pay between $30 and $50 for each office visit. An adult new patient appointment costs $60, while most pediatric appointments cost $30. We offer membership discounts to adult patients, and members can bring their children in for half-priced adjustments (just $15).

For many people, the answer is no. Unfortunately, most insurance plans don’t have great coverage for chiropractic wellness care, and plans that do still require a copay at all appointments. To mitigate this, we operate using a cash model, where patients pay competitive rates for their care, regardless of their insurance situation. We do, however, accept HSA and FSA funds as payment for care. We do not bill insurance companies directly, and we are considered out-of-network with all providers. Some patients can be reimbursed by their insurance provider depending on their out-of-network coverage.

New patient appointments and prenatal visits take about 30 minutes, while follow-up adjustment appointments take about 10-15 minutes.

Yes, you can. A chiropractor will avoid putting undue pressure on an area that has been fused or where inorganic materials have been placed in the spinal column. Sometimes surgery is necessary to aid an issue, but many times a spinal surgery will lead to additional spinal issues and instability over time. Chiropractic care can help.

Wear comfortable clothing that has some flexibility to it. Avoid dresses and skirts without an additional clothing layer beneath. Active wear is best, but you can still be adjusted in most other types of clothing.

You should stay hydrated and avoid poor posture. Rest if needed, and avoid high-impact exercise for the rest of that day. If you’re uncomfortable, stretch and use ice on sore areas for 10-20 minutes at a time. For best results, don’t skip follow-up visits. Most spinal issues gradually develop over time until reaching a painful tipping point, and it takes time and repetition to keep our bodies in better alignment.

It varies, but generally people feel relief immediately. Others may take up to 12-36 hours to feel better. Some patients may even feel temporarily worse following an adjustment, but the professionals say the average person will know how they responded to their adjustment about 6 hours afterward.

While most patients will have a similar experience having their spine adjusted, not all patients are adjusted the same way. Chiropractors often use a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust to adjust the spine. Dr. Cory commonly uses the hands-on approach referred to as Diversified technique. This technique is tailored to the patient’s size, age, flexibility, and other health factors. He uses Thompson Drop technique for some pelvic misalignments. He adjusts pregnant mothers using the Webster protocol, while small children and infants are adjusted using Sustained Contact and Logan techniques. Patients that prefer or need instrumental adjusting can be adjusted with the ArthroStim hand-held device. Regardless of the technique used, the goal is the same: Remove tension from the nervous system by aligning the spine.

No, you do not. A chiropractor is a portal of entry provider, meaning that anyone can see a chiropractor without a referral. This also means that your chiropractor can refer you to a specialist if needed.

Chiropractors are in fact “real doctors” but are not MD’s. They must complete a rigorous doctorate program (DC) from an accredited chiropractic college, following undergraduate education, and successfully pass national board exams prior to licensure. In most states, including Tennessee, they hold physician status and can make referrals to specialists. DC’s are nervous system and spinal specialists, but they cannot prescribe drugs like an MD.

Chiropractic adjustments typically consist of a controlled, precise thrust intended to improve motion in spinal joints that are restricted or not moving correctly. When preceded by a comprehensive evaluation, these procedures are regarded as very safe. Although some sources have raised concerns that manipulation of the upper neck could damage surrounding arteries and potentially result in stroke, the estimated risk of a serious adverse event following cervical manipulation is about 1 in 2 million treatments. Proper screening further minimizes any serious risk. (Dabbs V, Lauretti WJ. J Manip Physiol Ther 1995 (Oct); 18 (8): 530–6)

In contrast, a 2000 Institute of Medicine report estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 deaths occur each year in the United States due to medical errors (Charatan F. Brit Med J 2000 (4 Mar); 320:597).

Furthermore, a government study conducted in New Zealand concluded that chiropractic adjustments are “remarkably safe.”

Those in the medical community who repeat these claims have either been misinformed or are spreading inaccurate information. When properly assessed, chiropractic patients have little to no risk of this. Research shows that reported injuries often cited in past analyses were linked to spinal manipulation performed by non-chiropractors—including a medical doctor, naturopath, physiotherapist, barber, and individuals attempting self-manipulation—none of whom are trained to properly evaluate the spine or deliver a chiropractic adjustment.

Chiropractors are the only professionals specifically educated and licensed to assess spinal conditions and perform adjustments safely, appropriately, and legally, which is why spinal manipulation should be done exclusively by a doctor of chiropractic. Data from the National Center for Health Statistics further indicates that—even when including incidents involving untrained individuals—the stroke mortality rate among chiropractic patients is less than half that of the general population, demonstrating a significantly lower stroke risk among those receiving chiropractic care.

The simple answer is NO, but you can certainly get things to make a popping or clicking sound on your own, and it may even feel good to do so. A join that needs to be adjusted is one that’s motion has become restricted. When a joint gets stuck like this, our highly intelligent bodies will compensate by loosening adjacent joints to maintain maximum mobility. These are the joints that often click and pop when we try to get things moving on our own. The nerve stimulation can feel temporarily relieving, but the true issue is typically left unchanged until it is properly adjusted by the trained hands of a licensed chiropractor. Attempting to “adjust” yourself can lead to degenerative changes over time, hypermobility, injuries, and in some cases even life-threatening vascular events.

You’re in control of your healthcare decisions and are never obligated to do anything you don’t want to do. That said, spinal hygiene is a new concept for most people. Like your teeth, your spine needs ongoing attention to stay healthy—without it, old issues tend to return and new issues arise. Similar to how cavities can develop without regular dental care, spinal degeneration can develop if maintenance is neglected.

A good one will go out of his/her way to make you feel comfortable while showing empathy and building a personal connection with you. A bad chiropractor will rush the treatment and won’t seem to care much about your needs or feelings. A good chiropractor will help you reach your goals, while a bad one may focus on getting you to commit to a long-term, expensive care plan before starting to work on your problem.

Some older medical doctors may distrust chiropractic care because they were trained during a time when the American Medical Association openly opposed chiropractic and discouraged collaboration. Their education focused heavily on drugs and surgery, leaving little exposure to chiropractic’s musculoskeletal and holistic approach. This lack of familiarity, combined with outdated concerns about safety, regulation, and professional competition, shaped long-lasting biases. Today, however, chiropractic is research-supported and widely integrated into modern healthcare, with younger doctors embracing a more collaborative, team-based approach.