Chiropractic Care Explained for Iowa City Patients
Chiropractic care is a form of conservative, hands-on healthcare focused on the spine, joints and the muscles around them. Chiropractors evaluate how you move, what reproduces your symptoms and which structures are involved, then use adjustments, soft tissue treatment and exercise to restore movement and reduce pain.
Last reviewed September 2026 · Reviewed by Dr. Dillon Hammes, DC
What do chiropractors evaluate?
Most chiropractic visits start with a mechanical question: which structures are loaded when your pain appears? That usually means examining spinal joints, the hips and shoulders, muscle strength and endurance, and how you bend, lift, sit and walk.
When symptoms travel into an arm or leg, the exam adds nerve testing. When there has been trauma, it adds screening for injuries that need medical imaging or referral.
When might someone consider chiropractic care?
People commonly seek chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain, sciatica, headaches, sports injuries and pain after a car crash. It is often a reasonable first step for mechanical pain that has not settled on its own within a couple of weeks.
Chiropractic care is not the right answer for everything. Signs of fracture, infection, significant nerve loss or non-musculoskeletal illness call for medical evaluation, and a good clinic will say so rather than start a treatment plan.
What does an initial evaluation involve?
- 1
Your history
When symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, past injuries, work demands and what you want to get back to doing.
- 2
Physical examination
Movement testing of the involved area and nearby regions, plus orthopedic testing to load specific structures and see what reproduces your pain.
- 3
Neurological screening
Reflex, strength and sensation testing when symptoms travel into an arm or leg, to check whether a nerve is involved.
- 4
Imaging when indicated
Spinal X-rays are taken when trauma, degenerative change or a lack of progress makes them useful. They are not needed for every patient.
- 5
Findings and options
A plain-language explanation of what was found, what the likely drivers are, what care would involve and when to expect a check-in on progress.
Chiropractic care and physical therapy compared
| Chiropractic care | Physical therapy | |
|---|---|---|
| Main emphasis | Joint assessment and adjustments | Graded exercise and functional retraining |
| Typical visit | Hands-on treatment plus exercise | Exercise plus manual therapy |
| Access in Iowa | Direct access, referral usually not required | Direct access with some plan limits |
| Overlap | Both use rehab, education and load management | Both use manual techniques |
Chiropractic care questions
What does a chiropractor do?
A chiropractor evaluates how the spine, joints and surrounding muscles move and how that relates to your symptoms. Treatment commonly includes joint adjustments, soft tissue work and exercise, along with advice on activity, work setup and load management.
Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?
Most people describe adjustments as quick and relieving rather than painful. Mild soreness for a day afterward, similar to after exercise, is the most common reaction. Techniques can be adapted if you prefer a lower-force approach.
How many visits will I need?
That depends on the problem, how long it has been present and how you respond. A reasonable plan sets a small number of visits, then reassesses. If you are not improving, the plan should change rather than simply continue.
Is chiropractic care covered by insurance?
Many plans include some chiropractic coverage, but limits and requirements vary widely. Total Health Chiropractic can check your specific plan before you start care.
Want to know what's actually driving your pain?
An evaluation at Total Health Chiropractic in Coralville, minutes from Iowa City, starts with finding the cause before recommending care.