What to Expect as a New Patient

Patients can schedule their appointment in person, filling out our online form, or by calling or texting us at 205-356-7204. Patients are provided access to our online scheduling app so they can schedule their own appointments. Appointments can be booked online up to an hour in advance. To cancel or reschedule, please contact our office.

We are in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield and VIVA Health. If you have coverage through another insurance provider (primary or secondary), we will gladly provide you with the necessary documentation needed for you to submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. 

Typically insurance doesn’t cover anything until you’ve met your deductible for the year, so appointments can actually cost less via direct pay. Let us know if you have any questions about what your insurance covers!

We do accept HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards as forms of payment.

• The first appointment for a new patient typically takes 1 hour.

• The second appointment takes about 20 minutes.

• The third appointment is roughly 30-40 minutes.

• Routine chiropractic appointments take about 15-20 minutes.

Wear something comfortable that allows for movement. You’ll likely spend some time lying face down on the chiropractic table, so plan accordingly for hair, makeup, and clothing.

An adjustment is many things! On the most basic level, most chiropractors will tell you that an adjustment is the mobilization of a joint in the body, delivered at high velocity and low amplitude (ie. fast and over a short and safe distance). This movement causes the joint capsule to stretch, which increases the volume of that joint capsule, which leads to a pressure change that causes dissolved gasses to come out of solution and make a “pop” sound. The “pop” is not the therapeutic event, but rather a side product. Not all joints make this sound. And by the book, the absence of this sound does not necessarily mean that nothing good happened. That being said, most patients describe the popping sensation as being quite pleasant.

I’ll make sure you’re totally comfortable and let you know just what I’m about to do and what it feels like. I’ll try to make you laugh as much as I can. And you’ll be on your way. Sometimes it’s necessary to work on soft tissue like muscles, fascia, ligaments, and tendons. This type of work can be uncomfortable and intense. Many patients appreciate the feeling.

Well, you probably didn't ask that, but I’ll tell you anyway. Skip along if the above answer was sufficient to satisfy your curiosity. An adjustment mobilizes joints. I already covered that, yes, but this mobilization does two main things. Mobilization allows your various “parts” to be more able to move within their full range of motion. However, it’s not that simple. Having the range of motion within one joint does not guarantee that it WILL move properly. We are not brick chimneys that can be fixed by just pushing a misplaced brick back into place. Our structure is dynamic and is the result of many parts tensioned in many opposing directions. Think of a tent. The structure only works if all the poles are in their proper place, all pulling or pushing in the proper directions with just the right amount of tension. Take one pole out and the entire structure collapses.

There are many changes that happen in the body in response to an adjustment.  Research shows that the balance between the sympathetic (“Fight or Flight”) and parasympathetic (“Rest and Digest”) is tipped toward parasympathetic—which could translate to things like a decrease in blood pressure, improved digestion, less anxiety, and better sleep.  Advanced imaging studies have also shown that an adjustment lights up the brain!  The reason for this is the brain is not just a human computer that sends outgoing messages.  The brain also requires input from the environment.  When an adjustment causes movement in your “parts”, millions of receptors in those “parts” send information to your brain about their position in space.  This interaction stimulates the brain, improving the communication between it and the rest of your body.  Movement becomes more precise and coordinated when the brain and all your parts are in tune.  Often this improved coordination translates to more strength and fewer injuries.  This is one of the reasons you see high-level athletic teams employ a team chiropractor!