FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A: A traditional chiropractor typically focuses on spinal adjustments to address pain. Our sports chiropractors add several layers on top of that: a full movement assessment, sport-specific biomechanical testing, soft-tissue work, and therapeutic exercise.

The goal isn't just to relieve pain — it's to figure out why the pain happened, address the underlying movement pattern, and build the mobility, strength and coordination you need to stay in your sport. We use adjustments as one tool in a broader toolkit, not as the only tool.

A: We sit somewhere between traditional chiropractic and physical therapy — and we borrow what works from each.

A traditional chiropractor typically focuses on spinal adjustments to address pain. A physical therapist typically focuses on rehab exercises and movement re-education, with limited use of hands-on manual therapy. At The Movement Clinic, every care plan includes all of it: chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue work, and therapeutic exercise, layered on top of a full Movement Assessment and sport-specific biomechanical testing.

The other key difference is who we work with. We specialize in golfers, runners, athletes, and active individuals — so we understand swing mechanics, running gait, lifting patterns, and the demands of training and competition. That specialty perspective shapes how we assess you and how we build your return-to-play plan.

If you've tried either approach alone and felt like something was missing, this combined approach is often what closes the gap.

A: Spa massage is built around relaxation. Sports massage is built around movement, recovery, and performance.

Our massage therapists assess where you're tight and why — then use techniques like deep tissue work, assisted stretching, cupping, and Graston to address restrictions that are limiting your training or contributing to pain. The work is more targeted, more focused, and more clinical. You may still find it relaxing, but the goal is to get you back to doing what you love — not just to leave the table feeling good.

A: Going Beyond Par is our recovery program for golfers. It combines our standard sports chiropractic approach — Movement Assessment, adjustments, soft-tissue work, and rehab — with golf-specific testing of your swing mechanics, mobility, strength, and power.

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The goal is to identify why golf is causing you pain and what to do about it, then build a return-to-play plan that keeps you on the course.

A: Rock Your Run is our recovery program for runners. Like Going Beyond Par, it combines our standard sports chiropractic approach with running-specific assessment — breathing, power control, gait mechanics, and load tolerance.

We use it to figure out why running is irritating your body and to build a plan that keeps you running rather than rehabbing.

A: You're not alone in feeling that way — it's one of the most common concerns we hear, and the short answer is no, it isn't required. Neck adjustments (spinal manipulation) are a common part of our care plans because they help restore joint mobility, but we routinely adapt the plan around patient preferences and medical considerations. We can often get similar results with assisted stretching, soft-tissue work, and targeted exercise. Bring it up at your initial movement assessment and we'll build a plan together that you feel good about.

A:  At The Movement Clinic, we always combine adjustments with movement-based therapies — soft-tissue work, assisted stretching, and therapeutic exercise — because that combination is what produces lasting results. Adjustments alone tend to relieve pain temporarily without addressing why the pain happened in the first place.

Our mission is to reduce your pain and maximize your performance, and we've found through experience that the combined approach is what gets patients there. If you have a strong preference for adjustment-only visits, a traditional chiropractor may be a better fit.

A:  Yes — and many patients do. Coordinating both providers in the same visit is especially useful when chiropractic adjustments and soft-tissue work are addressing the same issue. When you book online, you can stack appointments back-to-back. Our front desk can also help coordinate timing if you give us a call.

A: No — and that's not how we structure care plans. Most patients move through three phases:

- A Recovery phase where we address the pain and the underlying movement issue

- A Stabilization phase where we lock in the gains with rehab and periodic reassessments

- An As-Needed phase where you graduate from care entirely or come in when you feel a flare up or new problem

The path looks different for every patient, and we reassess regularly to make sure you're moving forward — not just coming back.

A: Often, yes. Many headaches — especially tension headaches and cervicogenic headaches — are driven by issues in the neck and upper back. Our approach is the same as with any other complaint: a Movement Assessment to figure out what's going on, then targeted treatment to address the root cause. If we evaluate you and the headache pattern doesn't fit our scope, we'll let you know and help refer you to the right provider.

A: Often, yes. Post-surgical patients — whether you're recovering from a shoulder repair, knee surgery, a meniscus repair, an ACL reconstruction, or a back procedure — are a regular part of our caseload. Timing matters: we typically wait until your wounds are closed, you are able to sit, stand and walk without difficulty and your surgeon has cleared you for active rehab. Once you're cleared, our movement-first approach complements the rehab work you've already done and helps you return to your sport, not just to "normal." Bring your surgical and PT records when you come in.