Welcome to our clinic! Our mission at Charlottesville Family Chiropractic is to get you out of pain and on with your life as quickly as possible. We also want to empower you with the information and exercises you will need to prevent re-injuring your back in the future.  For your convenience we have included our intake forms here if you’d like to fill them out before you come in. Just hit the Patient Forms button at the top of the page. Call today at 434-975-2995 to schedule an appointment!

After you complete the intake forms, Doctor McGaughran will begin a thorough examination of your health history and current complaint. Our clinic is equipped with a radiology suite, and if necessary for an accurate diagnosis, Dr. McGaughran will order x-rays. After this initial examination Dr. McGaughran will offer a recommended course of treatment. This treatment will likely include CMT (chiropractic manipulative therapy), therapeutic modalities like electric stimulation and moist heat, and core-stabilizing exercises.  We also offer massage therapy through the expert hands of a certified massage therapist. If you have never heard of chiropractic and are curious please hit the link below called “Chiropractic Truth”. 

Below are some answers to FAQ’s: 

What is chiropractic? Chiropractic is a specialty in manual medicine focusing on the non-surgical treatment of neuromuscular skeletal conditions by means of manipulation of the spine and related structures. "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic is simply the American incarnation of a speciality that is thousands of years old. The German version is called Bonesetting, and it can be traced to the Dark Ages. The Eastern version has been in existence for 5000 years, and there are murals from ancient Greece showing the first physicians giving manipulations.

What conditions benefit from chiropractic care? Although chiropractic is used most frequently to relieve low back pain, it also treats headaches, migraines, chronic pain, neck pain, shoulder and arm pain, whiplash injuries from car wrecks, ear infections, asthma, numbness or tingling in limbs, athletic injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, T.M.J syndrome., knee and foot pain, sciatica, and many others. 

Are there any studies that back these claims up? Yes. Many studies have documented the effectiveness, safety, and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care for a number of musculoskelelal problems. Most of these studies compare chiropractic care to physical therapy, medicine and acupuncture. Chiropractic care is favored especially for relieving back pain, neck pain and headaches. We are happy to direct you to the studies available. 

Does chiropractic hurt? Adjustments usually do not cause pain, and very often provide instant pain relief. There is occasionally soreness similar to muscle soreness 3-5 hours after an adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The popping that often accompanies adjustments is the result of the change in pressure that occurs when the joint is adjusted. It is the same thing that happens when you "pop" your knuckles, and it not bones or tendons or pieces of cartilage snapping across each other. 

What kind of education and training do doctors of chiropractic have? Chiropractors receive education that is similar to the training of a medical doctor. They complete 4 years of undergraduate study and then continue to a 5 year doctorate program. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas of learning; basic training in the biological and health sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, clinical and radiological diagnosis); specialized training in the chiropractic discipline (theoretical studies, practice, differential diagnosis and application); and extensive clinical training. 

Please explore our website, and don’t hesitate to call us at 434-975-2995 if you have any questions. Thanks for visiting and have a great day!