The Joint Chiropractic’s mission is to improve the quality of life through routine and affordable chiropractic care. While they are part of a franchise, one group locally owns and manages four locations in the region: Avon, Broad Ripple, Carmel, and Greenwood.
Dr. Emma Balensiefer, D.C., of The Joint Chiropractic in Carmel, grew up in a family of physicians and believed she would be a doctor from a young age. However, in her small town, Balensiefer saw the opioid epidemic running rampant and based her field of choice on what she had experienced.
“I decided that I wanted to try to find an area where I could still practice health care but more conservatively,” she said. “I didn’t want to follow a system of prescribing medications, so that led me down a path of exploring different fields that are more natural or holistic.”
The chiropractic practice doesn’t instantly heal with adjustments and exercises, but by working together, the chiropractor and patient can find a solution to the problem causing them discomfort.
“It’s nice when someone gets instant relief after an adjustment, but more often than not, it’s me and the patient putting in a little bit of work toward our goal,” Balensiefer said. “It’s about finding what works for that patient and then seeing those things through.”
She said often, society has it backwards. We try medications and surgeries before trying a conservative method like chiropractic care.
Dr. Christopher Gardner, D.C., had a personal experience that led him to pursue chiropractic.
“I had a neck injury and had been to my primary care doctor,” he said. “I had two rounds of muscle relaxers and the pain continued to come back. It was short-term relief. I went to the chiropractor, and just understanding how the muscles, joints and nerves play a huge role in the complexity of our system and the longevity of relief I experienced led me to change my major in college.”
Both Balensiefer and Gardner say that a trip to the chiropractor shouldn’t be a last resort. Instead, exploring alternatives to back, neck and joint pain is becoming more and more prevalent in the U.S.
There are a few factors that set The Joint Chiropractic apart from other chiropractic offices. For starters, there are nearly 1,000 clinics across the nation. Once you’re a member, you can stop in at any clinic for an adjustment, advice or treatment. They are open for night and weekend hours, and accept walk-in patients.
For those with chronic back pain, having a location near your favorite vacation spot can be a life saver, and staff at The Joint Chiropractic can pull up your records from anywhere in the country to see what treatment has worked for you in the past.
If a patient that routinely visits a single location develops a relationship with a specific doctor, schedules are posted in each clinic so those patients can see their preferred provider.
The Joint Chiropractic makes every effort to keep prices affordable so everyone has access to the care they need. They accept HSA/FSA in addition to traditional forms of payment.
“We can provide patients with superbills to seek reimbursement from their insurance provider, but we do not have the ability to directly bill insurance plans because our primary mission is to improve the quality of life for our patients through routine and affordable chiropractic care,” said Gardner.
For many, chiropractic treatment is a part of their lifestyle, and they appreciate the walk-in appointments and large, open treatment space.
“If we have a patient with a private matter, we can certainly have that conversation behind closed doors, but as far as the treatment we provide, it’s an open adjustment area,” Gardner said.
The chiropractic field can assist in a variety of ailments spanning from heartburn to rib dysfunction.
“A lot of patients are surprised that chiropractic can play a role in this, but after that first adjustment, sinuses are opened up, and breathing isn’t restricted,” Gardner said. “It’s noticeable. We definitely take care of patients who have a lot of ailments, from low back or neck pain to migraines.”
Though they treat numerous ailments, the focus at The Joint Chiropractic is for those who make chiropractic part of their regular routine. Just like someone might choose to go to the gym every day or get a massage once a month, a routine adjustment can also help the person feel better and have more energy.
Gardner has seen treatment make a difference in patients from professional athletes to stay-at-home moms.
“I’ve seen chiropractic change people’s lives,” Gardner said. “I’ve seen a mom whose low back pain is so bad she can’t pick up her 2-year-old anymore, and we’re able to give her some of her ability back so she can enjoy her loved ones and do tasks without feeling pain. We’re giving people hope that they don’t have anymore.”
At The Joint Chiropractic, the new patient special is $29, which includes initial consultation, exam and first adjustment.