Frequently Asked Questions

Your first visit at SpinalWorks Chiropractic includes a full consultation with Dr. Steve Van Laecken DC, a thorough examination, weight-bearing digital X-rays if they're necessary, and, when appropriate, your first adjustment. Plan for 45–60 minutes. New patients receive all of it for $79.

A full consultation, a complete examination, X-rays if necessary, and your first chiropractic adjustment. The special pricing also extends to past patients and their families. Terms and conditions apply; it's a limited-time offer. See the details.

No. Arizona allows direct access to chiropractic care, so you can schedule with us immediately without a physician referral. Book online or call (602) 298-1600.

Dress comfortably. On your first visit, our thorough structural examination requires clear visibility of the spine, so we provide a comfortable, customized gown that opens in the back. On continued visits, comfortable clothing is all you need; the gown isn't required every time.

Yes. Completing your intake forms online before you arrive shortens your first visit. You can also download a printable PDF if you prefer.

Yes. SpinalWorks is a family practice. Dr. Steve DC adjusts every patient according to their body, age, and condition: an infant is never adjusted like a 250-pound truck driver. He regularly provides chiropractic care to his own family.

Most routine adjustment visits take 10 to 20 minutes. Dr. Steve DC performs a focused spinal check at every visit, so care stays precise without taking over your day.

Yes. Care is always matched to your body, age, and bone health. Gentle, low-force options such as the ArthroStim instrument make chiropractic comfortable for older adults.

Many patients feel looser and more mobile right away. Mild soreness for a day or so is normal, similar to starting a new exercise. Drink water, keep moving gently, and tell us how you responded at your next visit.

Care can often be adapted for pregnancy, and many expectant mothers seek chiropractic care for back and pelvic discomfort. Some services, such as shockwave therapy, are not used during pregnancy. Call us to discuss your situation before booking.

Your first visit is $79 as a new patient: consultation, examination, X-rays if necessary, and your first adjustment. Ongoing care costs depend on your personalized plan; you receive exact pricing before care begins, never after.

We work with many insurance situations, and for auto accident injuries where you're the not-at-fault party, care is often paid by the at-fault driver's insurance. Coverage varies by plan, so call (602) 298-1600 and we'll verify your benefits before you commit to anything. Some services (CDL exams and PRP injections) are cash-based.

Most complete spinal decompression care plans range from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the number of sessions your condition requires. You receive exact pricing after your evaluation and before care begins.

Platelet-rich plasma injections are $700 for one knee and $900 for both knees. PRP is a cash-based procedure and isn't billed to insurance. A consultation determines whether you're a good candidate first.

CDL/DOT physicals are a flat $100 cash rate, not billed to insurance. Dr. Steve DC is a certified DOT Medical Examiner authorized to perform CDL physicals in Arizona.

Yes. As a corrective care facility we build personalized wellness plans that may include adjustments, traction, decompression, and rehabilitative therapies. Our current special adds $30 in additional visits when you enroll. Contact the office for plan details and pricing.

Chiropractic care is typically an eligible expense for HSA and FSA accounts. Check your plan's rules, and our team can provide the documentation you need.

Ask our office about financing options, including CareCredit, for larger care plans such as decompression or PRP. We will always give you exact pricing before care begins so you can plan with confidence.

Nothing is guessed. Dr. Steve DC performs a precise, segment-by-segment spinal analysis at every visit, supported by weight-bearing X-ray analysis when clinically necessary, to identify exactly which spinal segment needs correction. Building each plan around posture corrective exercises, he uses those structural measurements to plan each adjustment and track your progress.

One of the most extensively researched methods of structural spinal correction, combining postural corrective adjustments, posture corrective exercises, and corrective traction. Dr. Steve DC prescribes posture corrective exercises matched to your own postural pattern. We describe posture correction as the glue that helps adjustments hold.

Most patients feel relief, not pain. Adjustments are specific and controlled: delivered to the exact segment that needs correction, nothing more. Some patients feel mild soreness afterward, similar to starting a new exercise, which typically resolves quickly.

It depends on your condition and goals. Relief-focused plans often run 6–12 visits. True structural correction (changing the underlying alignment so results last) typically takes 6–12 months with corrective exercise and traction. Dr. Steve DC maps out your recommended plan after your examination, and you always know the plan before care begins.

Short-lived relief is usually a posture problem. If the underlying structure and posture are never corrected, the same stresses pull the spine back out of alignment. That's why we pair precise, specific adjustments with posture corrective exercise and traction, retraining the structure so corrections last.

Chiropractic care is widely recognized as a safe, conservative, drug-free approach to spine and joint pain when delivered by a licensed chiropractor. Dr. Steve DC begins with a thorough examination (and weight-bearing X-rays when necessary) precisely so care is matched safely to your condition. We also screen for red flags that call for referral to another provider.

To see is to know. Weight-bearing (standing) digital X-rays show how your spine actually stacks up under gravity, which lying-down imaging can hide. This lets Dr. Steve DC measure alignment precisely, plan corrections, and track objective progress. More on our on-site X-ray. X-rays are taken only when necessary.

That sound is called cavitation. It is a small, harmless release of gas from the fluid inside the joint as it moves, similar to opening a soda bottle. It is not bones cracking, and an adjustment can be effective with or without the sound.

You have options. Dr. Steve DC offers low-force, instrument-assisted adjusting with the ArthroStim tool, which delivers precise corrections without twisting or popping. Tell us your preference and we will build your care around it.

Relief care calms pain and inflammation, often in 6 to 12 visits. Corrective care goes further: it retrains the underlying spinal structure and posture with adjustments, corrective exercise, and traction so results hold long term. Most structural correction takes 6 to 12 months.

Yes. Corrective care typically includes posture corrective exercises and, when appropriate, home traction such as a Denneroll orthotic. Home work is a large part of why corrections last.

That is your choice, and we will give you an honest recommendation. After the corrective phase, many patients choose periodic wellness visits to protect their progress. The frequency is personalized to your spine, lifestyle, and goals.

Our on-site X-rays are digital, which uses a substantially lower dose than older film systems. Dr. Steve DC orders imaging only when it is clinically necessary, never as a routine upsell.

Usually not. A thorough examination and weight-bearing X-rays answer most structural questions. If your findings suggest a condition that needs advanced imaging or a different specialist, we will refer you appropriately.

Yes. Dr. Steve DC walks you through your images in a report of findings, shows you exactly what he sees, and explains how it shapes your care plan. You will never be left guessing.

Computer-guided traction (we use the Dynatron DX2 Advanced Decompression by Dynatronics) that gently stretches the spine and creates negative pressure within the discs. This can help retract bulging or herniated disc material, relieve nerve pressure, and draw in nutrients that support healing, all without surgery. Learn more.

Decompression is most often used for herniated and bulging discs, sciatica, degenerative disc disease, facet syndrome, spinal stenosis, and chronic low back or neck pain. It isn't appropriate for every condition (pregnancy and certain spinal hardware or instability are contraindications), which is why every plan starts with an evaluation and imaging review.

A typical course runs 15–20 sessions; more involved cases may need 20–30 sessions over 5–7 weeks. Each session takes about 10–15 minutes. Your exact protocol is set after your evaluation.

No, it's gentle. Most patients find sessions comfortable, and many find them relaxing. You lie on the table while it applies a precise, computer-controlled stretch, and you can stop the session at any time.

It depends on the surgery. Certain spinal hardware and instability are contraindications, while some post-surgical patients remain good candidates. Bring your surgical history to your evaluation and Dr. Steve DC will tell you honestly whether decompression is safe for you.

An inversion table applies one generic stretch to your whole spine. Our Dynatron DX2 Advanced Decompression by Dynatronics is computer-guided and targets a specific spinal level with controlled force and timing, which is what allows discs to respond without triggering muscle guarding.

Within 24–48 hours if possible, even if you feel fine. Whiplash symptoms (neck pain, headaches, dizziness, stiffness) often surface days or weeks after the collision, and early documentation matters for both your health and any claim. We offer same-day appointments for auto injuries.

No. If you are the not-at-fault injured party, you do not need an attorney to begin chiropractic care at our clinic. If you do have a personal injury attorney, we're happy to work with them to coordinate documentation and payment.

When you're the not-at-fault injured party, chiropractic care is commonly paid through the at-fault driver's insurance. We maintain detailed medical records, document every treatment, and ensure injuries are accurately diagnosed and recorded to support your claim.

No. Untreated whiplash injuries can surface or worsen weeks after a collision. An evaluation is still worthwhile for your health, and documentation may still support an open claim. The sooner you are examined, the better.

Neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, shoulder or arm pain, numbness or tingling, low back pain, and trouble sleeping or concentrating. Symptoms can appear days after the accident, which is why we recommend an evaluation within 24 to 48 hours.

Yes. If you have a personal injury attorney, we maintain detailed records, document every treatment, and work with their office to coordinate care and payment.

Targeted acoustic waves that boost blood flow, reduce pain, and stimulate healing in stubborn soft-tissue injuries: Achilles and patellar tendinopathy, tennis and golfer's elbow, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff issues, and chronic muscle strains. Most conditions respond within 3–6 sessions of 10–20 minutes. New patients get a free consultation and a $20 initial session. Details.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy concentrates the healing platelets from a small draw of your own blood, prepared in about 25–30 minutes, and injects them precisely into injured joints, tendons, or ligaments under ultrasound guidance. Most patients need 2–6 injections spaced weeks apart. Because PRP works with your biology, individual results vary, and we'll tell you honestly whether you're a good candidate. Learn more.

Yes. Dr. Steve DC is a certified DOT Medical Examiner authorized to perform CDL/DOT physicals in Arizona at a flat $100 cash rate. Bring your photo ID, driver's license, a list of medications, and any glasses, contacts, hearing aids, or CPAP/diabetes documentation that applies to you. What to expect.

15640 N 7th Street, Suite A-3, Phoenix, AZ 85022, in Moon Valley, North Phoenix, on the 7th Street corridor near Lookout Mountain, just south of Greenway Parkway. Free parking is available at the suite. Get directions.

Monday 7–11 AM and 1–5 PM · Tuesday 1–5 PM · Wednesday 8–11 AM and 1–5 PM · Thursday 1–5 PM · Friday 7–11 AM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Same-day appointments are often available for auto injuries; call (602) 298-1600.

Moon Valley, North Phoenix, Desert Ridge, Deer Valley, North Mountain Village, and the greater Phoenix area; most patients reach us in under 15 minutes via 7th Street, Bell Road, I-17, or SR-51. See areas we serve.

SpinalWorks is a Christian-based practice built on purpose, integrity, and a commitment to serving families well. Practically, it means you're treated as a whole person (listened to, respected, and never rushed) in a clean, calm, faith-centered environment. Patients of every background are warmly welcome.

Dr. Steve DC is a Parker University honors graduate with a Doctorate of Chiropractic and a B.S. in Anatomy, a certified DOT Medical Examiner, and a father of seven who has practiced for more than 20 years. Read his full story on our team page.

Yes, warmly. New patients receive the full $79 first visit: consultation, examination, X-rays if necessary, and your first adjustment. Book online or call (602) 298-1600.

Often, especially for auto accident injuries. Call (602) 298-1600 and we will do our best to see you the same day when the schedule allows.