What is UPGRADE | Chiropractic?
UPGRADE | Chiropractic is a wellness plan membership practice that consists of chiropractic, massage, body mechanics, stretching & flexibility training, rapid technology, corrective movement patterns, work ergonomics, and Kinesio Taping.
Our mission is to bring the UPGRADED experience to the community. Our practice guide patients through a “body conditioned” experience that’s designed to upgrade the mind, body, and soul. We call it body conditioning — how we treat our bodies today can influence the quality of life for our future. Our patients say it’s changing their lives. With every treatment, our minds and bodies restore back to their true and best selves — through the shared UPGRADED experience.
BUYING A MEMBERSHIP & SERVICES
What options do I have for getting a service?
You have two options: wellness plan memberships or single-service selections, depending on the kind of relationship you’ll have with UPGRADE | Chiropractic.
By signing up for one of our Wellness Plans, you’ll receive full access to exclusive services & benefits: chiropractic treatments, massage therapy, stretching & flexibility training, exercise portal, discounted rates, and so much more.
Do you accept insurance?
Insurance is not accepted at this time. Cash and Credit Card Only.
Per request, a super bill (billing statement) can be provided to the patient. In some cases, patients may be reimbursed by their insurance provider with acceptable documentation; typically in the form of a billing statement. Some insurance providers will also allow payment via the patient's (FSA) Flexible Spending Account.
Are there any long-term contracts or initiation fees with memberships?
There are no long-term commitments or initiation fees. There is a 2-month minimum required for all wellness plan memberships. All members will need to complete a New Patient Exam, prior to initiating any wellness plan membership, to evaluate the patient's physical condition and to determine an accurate individualized treatment plan. There is a charge for a physical examination.
Can I freeze my membership?
If you commit to a membership, you can freeze your membership for up to 3 months if you are traveling — documentation will be required. For expecting mothers, you can also freeze your membership for the duration of your pregnancy. We are here for you, and when you are ready to come back to UPGRADE, you can take it at your own pace.
BOOKING
How do I book?
We recommend booking ahead of time, as time slots can fill up fast. You can book through our online booking portal or at the facility. You will see a schedule with available time slots and the therapist for your chosen service(s).
What is your cancellation policy?
If you need to cancel, all we ask is for at least 24 hours prior notice. This allows us to make sure other patients can book an appointment during that available time slot.
Any patient who cancels an appointment less than 24 hours prior to their scheduled appointment will be charged 50% of the service value per occurrence ($15 minimum), and appointments that are canceled within 2 hours of their scheduled appointment will be charged 100% of the service value per occurrence.
What if I miss my appointment?
If you book an appointment under your membership and don’t show up, you’ll forfeit your monthly service credit(s).
Any patient who does not show up for a scheduled appointment will be charged 100% of the service value per occurrence.
What if I’m late to my appointment?
Please give us a call at (858) 634-2505.
If you are running late 5 minutes or less, we will let the therapist know and you might be able to resume your scheduled appointment — this is not 100% guaranteed. If you are running more than 5 minutes late, the same rules apply as above.
Can I move my reservation?
If you are outside the 24-hour cancellation window, you can always switch to another time slot that’s available. If you need to reschedule your appointment — but there are less than 24 hours until your scheduled appointment — that’s considered a cancellation, and the above policy would apply.
Is a New Patient Exam required for Massage Therapy services?
If you are only utilizing massage therapy services, a New Patient Exam is NOT required. Although an examination is not required, an examination is recommended so that the patient can be properly assessed for a massage that meets the patient’s therapeutic needs.
Is a New Patient Exam required for Stretching & Flexibility Training services?
If you are only utilizing stretching & flexibility training services, a New Patient Exam is NOT required.
Is a New Patient Exam required for Low Level Laser Therapy services?
All patients will need to complete a New Patient Exam, prior to scheduling a low level laser therapy service, to evaluate the patient's physical condition and to determine an accurate individualized treatment plan. There is a charge for a physical examination.
Two Contraindications: If you are currently pregnant or have a pacemaker, you are NOT eligible to receive low level laser therapy services.
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) care for patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. They are especially well known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain and headaches — particularly with their highly skilled manipulations or chiropractic adjustments.
DCs also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, involving the muscles, ligaments and joints. These painful conditions often involve or impact the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction distant to the region of injury. The benefits of chiropractic care extend to general health issues, as well, since our body structure affects our overall function. DCs also counsel patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.
Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension. Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously, or following everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. Patients with this condition may experience neck pain and headache that leads them to seek professional care — often at the office of a doctor of chiropractic or family physician — but that care is not the cause of the injury. The best evidence indicates that the incidence of artery injuries associated with high-velocity upper neck manipulation is extremely rare – about 1 case in 5.85 million manipulations.
If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider.
It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain — over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and prescription painkillers — as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to the American Journal of Gastroenterology, people taking NSAIDS are three times more likely than those who do not to develop serious adverse gastrointestinal problems such as hemorrhage (bleeding) and perforation. That risk rises to more than five times in people age 60 and older. Regular use of NSAIDS results in about 200,000 to 400,000 hospitalizations per year. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that abuse of common prescription painkillers — such as oxycodone and hydrocodone — are among the leading causes of accidental death in the United States.
Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or use medical outpatient facilities?
Chiropractors are being recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as labs, x-rays, etc.) for their non-hospitalized patients. Hospital privileges were first granted in 1983.
What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
Doctors of chiropractic are educated as primary-contact health care providers, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments and joints of the spine and extremities) and the nerves that supply them. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions.
The typical applicant for chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Doctors of chiropractic are educated in orthopedics, neurology, physiology, human anatomy, clinical diagnosis including laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, exercise, nutrition rehabilitation and more.
Because chiropractic care includes highly skilled manipulation/adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical technique training to master these important manipulative procedures.
In total, the chiropractic college curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the doctor of chiropractic’s intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractic physician typically uses his or her hands — or an instrument — to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to restore or enhance joint function. This often helps resolve joint inflammation and reduces the patient's pain. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.
Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.
Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
Adjustment (or manipulation) of a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble between the joints, which makes a popping sound. The same thing occurs when you “crack” your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint, which results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal, if any, discomfort involved.
What if I’m pregnant or just had a baby?
It is considered safe during pregnancy in the majority of cases. In some circumstances, it may not be a good idea, but your chiropractor will know which questions to ask before treatment to make sure you are a good candidate and that both you and your baby are safe.
Luckily, there are many chiropractic benefits you will receive while pregnant and you will find that your pregnancy progresses much more smoothly and your comfort levels will improve. Chiropractic treatments after you have the baby are also beneficial. Here are 8 benefits of seeing a chiropractor before and after pregnancy:
Proper Pelvic Alignment
Improved Function in the Nervous System
Low Back Pain Relief
Reduce Hip Pain and Discomfort
Shorter Labor and Delivery
Reduction in the Need for Pain Medication
Faster Physical Recovery
Lower Likelihood of Postpartum Depression
Is Low Level Laser Therapy safe?
Yes, LLLT is a safe, painless, and drug-free treatment. It has been used in England, Canada, and Europe for over 20 years with no documented adverse side-effects. Laser therapy is a non-medical procedure and is respected by many physicians as a highly effective treatment.
How does Low Level Laser Therapy work?
The monochromatic coherent and polarized characteristics of the therapeutic light beam permit penetration of deep tissues without affecting normal cells. It promotes growth of new healthy cells to replace damaged, degenerative cells that no longer function to their full potential.
Will the laser hurt?
No. Low Level Laser Therapy is painless. In fact, most people describe the treatment as relaxing.
How long is laser therapy treatment?
A treatment session is only about 5-15 minutes long. It all depends on the size, depth, severity of the injury, or inflamed area, and whether or not this is an acute, or chronic issue that is being treated.
How many sessions are required for laser therapy treatment?
This, too, depends on the size, depth, severity of the injury, or inflamed area, and whether or not this is an acute or chronic issue being treated. We often recommend to patients 2-3 times a week.
How quickly will I see results with laser therapy treatment?
A patient can possibly see results in as little as 1 treatment session. Most patients see results after 3-5 treatment sessions. Again, depending on all of the variables it could be more or less.