Frequently asked questions
What is a chiropractic adjustment? Is it safe?
An adjustment is a controlled, hands-on movement applied to a specific joint, aimed at restoring motion where it has become restricted. Your chiropractor uses the hands, or a gentler, lower-force technique when that fits your exam, and the movement itself is quick. You may hear a pop, which is simply gas releasing from the joint, known as cavitation. Safety starts with the exam. We take your history, examine you, and tell you plainly if an adjustment is not appropriate for your case or if imaging or another provider should come first. We will also walk you through what to expect before we begin.
What is a subluxation?
Subluxation is the word the chiropractic profession uses for a joint that is not moving through its normal range or is not sitting in its normal position. That is all the term describes here: restricted or altered joint motion, found on examination. Different chiropractors use the word in different ways, so we prefer to tell you in plain language what we found, which joint it involves, and what technique we are considering. We do not use the term to explain conditions outside the muscles, joints, and related soft tissue.
What happens at a first visit, and what should I bring?
Your first visit starts with a conversation about your history, what you are feeling, and what you want to get back to doing. From there the doctor performs a musculoskeletal exam, then reviews the findings with you and talks through what care, if any, makes sense. Bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you are using insurance, a list of any medications or supplements you take, and any recent imaging or records related to the problem. You can download and complete the new patient forms ahead of time to save a few minutes at check-in.
Do I need a referral to be seen?
You do not need a referral to book an appointment with us. Call or book online and we will get you on the schedule. Some insurance plans do require a referral or prior authorization before they will pay. Tell us your plan when you book and we can look that up for you. If a physician, an attorney, or another provider sent you, bring whatever paperwork they gave you. Animal chiropractic is the one exception on our end: your veterinarian must refer first, and we provide all the forms for the vet to sign.
Do you take my insurance? What about Medicare?
We work with a number of insurance plans, and private-pay options are available. Participation and coverage vary by plan and provider, call our office and we will check your specific coverage before your visit. One point worth knowing up front: the Medicare chiropractic benefit covers manual manipulation of the spine only. Medicare does not cover exams, therapies, or extremity work performed by a chiropractor. We will tell you what is billable and what is not before we do it, so nothing on your bill is a surprise.
How do you decide whether chiropractic care is a fit for my case?
By examining you first. Chiropractic care here is aimed at musculoskeletal complaints, things like back pain, neck pain, joint pain, and injuries to muscle and connective tissue. The doctor takes your history, performs a musculoskeletal exam, and decides from those findings whether the techniques we offer are a reasonable fit. Sometimes the answer is that they are not, and in that case we will tell you plainly and refer you out or recommend imaging. We would rather send you to the right place than start a plan that does not match what we found.
What does a care plan look like, and how do you know if it is working?
A plan starts from your exam, not from a template. The doctor lays out what was found, which techniques are being recommended, roughly how often we would like to see you, and what you can work on at home. We recheck as we go, comparing how you are moving and what you are reporting against where you started, and we adjust the plan based on that. If your response is not what we would expect, we say so and change course, including referring you to another provider or for imaging when that is the right call. No visit count is locked in.
Will I be prescribed any medications?
No. We do not prescribe medications. Care here is hands-on and drug-free: adjustments, soft-tissue work, and in-office therapies chosen from your exam findings. We may offer general nutrition or nonprescription supplement guidance when it relates to your musculoskeletal care. If something belongs with a physician, a pharmacist, or a dietitian, we will say so and point you in that direction. Keep taking whatever your prescribing doctor has you on, and bring that list with you to your first visit so we have the full picture.
If I get adjusted, will I also receive other therapies?
Sometimes, and it depends on what your exam shows. An adjustment is often paired with an in-office therapy chosen for your case, such as interferential electrical stimulation on the LSI System IV unit, therapeutic ultrasound on the Chattanooga Intelect Legend unit, cupping, or red light on our LZR UltraBright dual wavelength unit. These are adjuncts to the adjustment, not stand-alone treatment, and each is used within the manufacturer's labeled indications. We will explain why we are recommending a given therapy for you before we use it.
I was just in a car accident. What should I do?
Whiplash and other soft-tissue injuries do not always show up the same day, so a musculoskeletal exam after a collision gives us a baseline to work from. Call the office and tell the front desk it was an auto injury, and bring your accident information, any insurance or claim details you have, and records from the emergency room or urgent care if you were seen. We document each visit clearly: your history, our findings, and the care provided. If your exam points to something outside our scope, we will refer you for imaging or to another provider.
Do you see children and older patients?
Yes. What changes is the technique, not the welcome. Dr. Adams and Dr. Ow draw on a range of approaches, from traditional manual adjusting to gentler, lower-force methods, and they select based on the exam, your age and build, your bone health history, and your comfort. Every patient gets a history and a musculoskeletal exam first, whatever the age. If we find something that calls for a pediatrician, a physician, or imaging before we proceed, we will tell you and hold off.
Where are you located and what are your hours?
We are at 3151 West 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075, and the office number is (972) 596-1611. We are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8am to 6pm. We are closed Wednesday and closed on weekends. You can book online any time, day or night, and if you would rather talk to a person about which day works, call during office hours and the front desk will find you a time.