FAQ

The “Pop” Most of us associate chiropractic adjustments with “cracking” or “popping” noises. Don’t worry – those aren’t the sounds of your bones breaking! While many do experience popping, the noise is only the result of a change of pressure within the joint, which releases a gas bubble. It’s the same tension-relieving process that occurs when you “crack” your knuckles. 

Chiropractic adjustments, while they can be immensely useful in alleviating joint and muscle pain, will not heal a body when practiced alone. Many chiropractors tout spine or neck misalignment as the root of all musculoskeletal issues: our approach widens the scope of treatment with an emphasis on continued active care for long-term results.

Chiropractic adjustments are an excellent precursor to active care. As mentioned, adjustments can release tension and pain in joints and muscles. After the initial relief, a person must continue to stretch, strengthen, eat a healthy diet and get adequate amounts of sleep — this is what we call active care. The more someone invests into themselves by making healthy choices, the less they will need to visit our clinic. We are here to bridge the gap. 

Before getting adjusted, a chiropractor will warm up the muscles in your back and spine with targeted stretches. There are many different methods of adjustment, but you will likely be lying down or standing with your back against a wall for the procedure.

Then, the chiropractor will perform the adjustment. They use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. A patient may experience an immediate reduction in pain and improved mobility. Sometimes, patients may feel sore following a chiropractic adjustment, which is relieved by gentle stretching, movement, and rest over a period of a few days.

Active care differs from chiropractic care because it addresses the root of the problem (poor posture and accompanying poor musculature) rather than temporarily relieving the side effects of the problem (pain). With commitment to active care, a patient can often completely restore or even improve their joint, muscle, and nervous system functioning.

To book an appointment, call Elevate Sport and Spine at  (510) 646-8344 or email us at info@elevateberkeley.com If it is your first time visiting a chiropractor or your first time visiting our practice, you may want to book a consultation beforehand.

Visit our Contact Us page for other communication details.

You may wear anything that you feel comfortable in to a chiropractic appointment – but it is best not to wear anything overly restrictive or tight. Keep in mind that most appointments will involve stretching, gentle movement, or targeted exercises.

The short answer is “it depends.”  Sometimes given the history of the patient, imaging would be a useful tool in helping with the treatment plan and diagnosis.  Many times however, imaging does not help determine the next steps of treatment and therefore is not necessary.

The largest professional organization of Chiropractors in the United States, the American Chiropractic Association, recently updated its guidelines to recommend AGAINST the routine use of x-rays in chiropractic practice.

“Unnecessary imaging incurs a monetary cost, exposes the patient to ionizing radiation, and can result in labeling patients with conditions that are not clinically meaningful, creating a false sense of vulnerability and disability.

Indeed, several studies have shown that the routine use of radiographs in the care of low back pain may result in worse outcomes than without their use.”

Yes. We are in network with TriWest, Blue Shield and Berkeley SHIP insurance. We can also bill out for most PPO insurances. Insurance is complicated. The best way to find out about your specific plan is to contact us with your insurance ID and date of birth so we can look up your specific plan and quote you accordingly.

Here is a link to our time of service rates. VIEW IT HERE