You might have found yourself wanting to ask many questions regarding chiropractic alignments and the health and wellness benefits associated with them. Fortunately, Austin´s highest rated chiropractor, Dr. Matt Delgado is here to provide clarity.

Here is everything you´ve ever wanted to ask a chiropractor:

What are some of the common misconceptions people have about chiropractors?

Chiropractic is one of the most misunderstood professions. According to Dr. Matt Delgado, a chiropractor in Austin, Texas, it has a major branding problem. There are many different ways in which chiropractors practice and articulate what they do, which can be confusing to the general public. One of the most common misconceptions is that you have to have back pain to benefit from seeing a chiropractor. This is similar to the fact that you do not have to be overweight to benefit from a workout, or have a metabolic disease to benefit from a healthy meal. We tend to wait until symptoms are present to take action with anything in health, but this does not mean we should. While most people seek chiropractic care due to pain, this is not the sole purpose of seeking chiropractic care. Chiropractors work with the spine and nervous system. As they restore proper health to the spine and nervous system, pain is one thing that changes. The other things that commonly improve are range of motion/flexibility, sports performance, mood, energy, and sleep. This is because the nerves in the body control every cell, tissue, muscle and organ! As the health of these improve, many symptoms resolve naturally. 

Why is it so important for proper health to go in for a routine check-ups?

Like anything health related, we get better outcomes and save money in the long run with a proactive approach. Dentistry has done an amazing job at educating the general public on the importance of dental hygiene and maintenance care. We see a dentist to optimize our oral health and to prevent crises. The same holds true with chiropractic services. We can benefit from seeing a chiropractor to optimize our spinal health and prevent a lot of the common musculoskeletal conditions and pain that we so commonly see. I believe that as chiropractors unify their message and work on their branding as a whole, people will better understand the importance of maintenance care.

Are there any age restrictions for chiropractic work?

No! I have adjusted babies that were as young as 4 days old. Typically, birth is the first trauma of life as we get turned or twisted through the birth canal, even under the most optimal conditions. Moms typically bring in kids for things such as ear infections, allergies, torticollis, and colic as they understand that chiropractor get great results with these types of cases. While people may think this is dangerous, it is actually very gentle and extremely safe. There is no twisting or popping but rather just a sustained contact with a very light amount of pressure on the spine. Think of the amount of pressure you’d touch your eyelid with if you were rubbing it. This is all the force needed to make an adjustment to a baby!

How did you start your business Lifespring Chiropractic and do you have any advice for other young entrepreneurs like yourself?

I started my business in 2017 with a $2,000 loan from a family member. I started very small and simple, and grew into a larger space and eventually started hiring people. In the beginning, I rented a small room within an established chiropractic clinic. The only tools I had were my chiropractic table and one handheld chiropractic adjusting tool. I didn’t have any previous business skills or knowledge, just a lot of grit and passion for what I was doing! I found a lot of friends that also own businesses who offered support and advice.

Mentorship and coaching is something I would absolutely recommend to anyone new in business. Just like in any industry there is a lot of misinformation out there, so find a business mentor who has had success and has a similar voice to ask for help. Have patience and don’t wait until your business reaches a certain revenue amount or customer amount to start enjoying life! Life is too short to not enjoy it now. Creating a great work life balance with meaningful friendships and experiences has greatly contributed to my success as a business owner.

What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your work?

I get to see people’s lives change tremendously every week! It really is miraculous to see so many people come off of different medications, live a healthier, happier, more meaningful life. It’s one of the most rewarding things in the world to be of service to others and see life transformations. My job has also given me the opportunity to work with some of the world’s best athletes, musicians, and celebrities which has been really fun!  It has brought many really amazing experiences and taken me all around the world, in just a short 4 years. I can only image what the next 30 years brings!

We notice you’re very active on social media, in your opinion what is the secret to building a great community?

Build relationships! I started my social media accounts when I opened my business in 2017 with no clue how to use them effectively. Luckily I’ve had friends help me to use best practices and also find my voice. I’ve found that as long as I give value, have fun, and try to relate to other people, that great opportunities keep happening! I think we get into trouble when we purely use something to “sell people” rather than to find meaningful connection.

What are your plans for 2022 from a business expansion perspective?

I’m looking to expand and open another location in the Austin area. I currently have one location in South Austin, Lifespring Chiropractic. To me it’s not a race though. It’s more important to find the right person to join in our mission to help change the way the world views health. I hire on values and purpose, not on chiropractic skills. Whenever I find the right person, we will welcome them in and work on expanding the business!

Please share with our readers what the main benefits of a chiropractic alignment are?

The benefits of seeing a chiropractor regularly include having a healthy spine, nervous system, and surrounding joints. This leads to a pain free high quality of life Aside from living with less pain, many people notice better movement, and better function of their body which translates to improved posture, better sleep, energy, and mood! A lot of times we live with pain and tension in our body because we have had it for years and believe that we just have to live that way! This is the furthest thing from the truth. We have the power to change our health at any age in life. The earlier we stack health habits in our favor, the better health we will have for life!

What are some of the illnesses or conditions that can be prevented by the treatments you provide?

While we do not claim to cure or treat any disease, we do see people heal or improve from many different types of conditions. Some of the most common things we see people benefit from include arthritis, degenerative disc disease, tendonitis, bursitis, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis. Outside of the joints of the spine, we also see amazing results. This is because the spine and nervous system influences the health of the entire human body. As we improve its health, we see the body return to normal, optimal function. When this happens, symptoms of many kinds tend to disappear. Some of the conditions we see improve include autoimmune conditions, vertigo, tinnitus, ear infections, anxiety, and depression.

How often do you recommend visiting a chiropractor?

It depends! Everybody is different and therefore requires a different amount of frequency. Some of the things that affect treatment time include things like age, past traumas, occupation, stress levels, and exercise frequency. Traumas that contribute to longer treatment times include things like sports injuries, car accidents, falls, broken bones, etc. Other things that we take into account include how someone spends most of their time. If they work at a tech job in front of a computer, and have little motion in their daily routine, they typically need more treatment. High stress levels impact our health by adding tension in our muscles and surrounding joints, which typically results in longer treatment times. When it comes to age, the younger someone is, the quicker they usually respond to chiropractic and the less treatment is needed. This is why we recommend getting an evaluation earlier in life.