Whalen Chiropractic

Dr Whalen has more than 40 years experience in the health care field, including 30 years in chiropractic. He is Board Certified in Chiropractic Neurology, a Fellow of the International College of Chiropractors, and an acknowledged expert in workers’ compensation.

He has extensive experience in treating a wide variety of patients, including weekend warriors, auto and whiplash injuries, work injuries, children and adults of all ages. We commonly see: Back injuries | Neck pain | Headaches | Overuse syndromes | Plantar fascia | Jaw problems | Shoulder and knee pain and much more!

Dr Whalen has been a leader in his profession, having served as President of the California Chiropractic Association, and he chaired the national chiropractic organization charged with developing treatment guidelines. He is published in the scientific literature on a variety of subjects, and remains active in professional volunteer activities.

Treatment for a wide variety of disorders, including:

• A variety of chiropractic treatment approaches, including traditional diversified techniques, drop-able, flexion-distraction for disc injuries and sciatica, non-force Activator methods
• Auto and other Accident injuries
• Neck and low back pain
• Arm and leg numbness
• Carpal Tunnel
• Headaches
• Fibromyalgia
• Work Injuries
• Plantar Fasciitis

We offer state of the art services, based on the latest evidence-based guidelines, including:

• Soft tissue techniques
• Exercises and rehabilitation
• Nutritional advice and supplies
• Orthopedic supports, pillows, braces and more
• Custom foot orthotics
• Class IV low level laser surgery
• Whole body vibration therapy
• Physiotherapy techniques
• Second opinion and disability evaluations
• Workers’ compensation disability evaluations, consults and treatment
• And more!

What’s Wrong? 

You have both the right, and need, to know what is causing your problem. Before any treatment is provided we will first obtain a thorough history, then perform a complete orthopedic/neurological examination, to properly diagnose your condition. We are strong proponents of using an evidence-based approach to care, and in fact Dr. Whalen has co-authored several “best practice” documents on appropriate chiropractic evaluation and treatment. We will refer you for imaging studies such as x-ray or MRI if they appear necessary. Only after we are satisfied that you are a chiropractic candidate will you be accepted for treatment.

Can We Help?

Our office policy/mission statement is a simple one: If we can help you we will tell you. If we cannot help you, we will tell you that as well and make the appropriate referral. After we form the diagnosis and agree to accept you as a new patient, we will explain your condition and answer any questions you may have. Once we are satisfied we can effectively and safely treat you, your condition is explained in a way you understand, and you agree to treatment; you will be given your first chiropractic adjustment, a safe gentle manipulation of the spine. If you present with a non-spinal related condition, other treatment provided at this office will be discussed (ex. Nutrition, fibromyalgia treatment, extremity treatment, massage etc.) If it is not a condition we normally treat or if a second opinion or further testing is necessary, we will make a referral to the appropriate health care specialist.

How Long Will It Take?

This is a very good question. Your schedule of care will be determined based on what you need to recover from your condition, so it will vary from person to person. Many factors affect the treatment schedule. The most common are; compliance with your treatment schedule and recommended exercise, severity, how long the condition has been present, job duties, lifestyle, age and pre-existing arthritic conditions, delayed treatment, previous episodes/injury, disc involvement, etc. Simple cases may take days to treat. Complicated cases may take weeks, even months. You will be given only the treatment you need, nothing more, and nothing less. National guidelines recommend trials of care, typically 6-12 visits to determine if it helps.

How Much Will It Cost? 

We understand that the cost of health care is on the rise. It is our goal to make Chiropractic care affordable to everyone. If you have been injured at work or as result of a motor vehicle accident those costs are usually covered 100% by an insurance carrier. We are on the panels of most large insurance carriers. If you do not have insurance, we offer other options for payment as well, including CareCharge. Our mission is to take the mystery out of insurance/work comp/personal injury, and make it as easy as possible on you financially to be able to afford care. Our staff is on your side! We are happy to discuss our fees with you and your payment options.

What is chiropractic? 

“Chiropractic” comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning “effective treatment by hand.”

The American Chiropractic Association defines chiropractic as follows:

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic services are used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

What is a Doctor of Chiropractic?

Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

Like their MD colleagues, doctors of chiropractic are subject to the boundaries established in state practice acts and are regulated by state licensing boards. Further, their education in four-year doctoral graduate school programs is nationally accredited through an agency that operates under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education. After graduation, they must pass national board exams before obtaining a license to practice, and then must maintain their license annually by earning continuing education (CE) credits through state-approved CE programs.

What conditions benefit from chiropractic care?

80% of the patients who consult our office present with low back pain, herniated or bulging discs, neck pain, or headaches. However, we commonly treat other conditions such as arm and leg pain, thoracic pain, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle pain, plantar fasciitis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, work injuries, and automobile injuries (whiplash).

How educated is your doctor of chiropractic?

You may be surprised to know that like medicine it generally takes 8 years of college after high school to receive a degree in chiropractic (4 years undergraduate and 4 years graduate). A chiropractic degree from an accredited chiropractic college, followed by passage of the state boards, ensures the public that the chiropractor is well rounded in knowledge and scope.