Photos Andy Calvert
Back aches, knee pain, and arthritis: sounds like the shopping list of old age. At Harbin Clinic Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, three skilled chiropractic physicians focus and treat many disorders of the musculoskeletal system for the young and old alike. “We help navigate young athletes through sports-related injuries as well as treat our aging patients’ chronic conditions —through spinal and joint manipulation— to improve mobility and overall health,” Dr. Mack Burt says.
What makes Harbin Clinic Chiropractic & Physical Therapy unique is the combination of services from chiropractic physicians, certified physical therapists and technicians, as well as licensed massage therapists who together create a holistic approach to patient care.
It is obvious that doctors Mack Burt, William Hunter, and Chris Nelson work well together and enjoy what they do. When asked how they found themselves practicing chiropractic medicine, the friendly rips and jabs begin. Teasing each other from across the table, they each detail their similar yet personal stories of back injuries that ultimately led them into a chiropractor’s office. Burt, Hunter, and Nelson share the same experience of a miraculous recovery and lasting impressions of the benefits of chiropractic care.
Nelson recalls, “My dad was a physical therapist. I often saw people go to their family doctor and receive pain medication for their problems but saw there was never a lot of work done for functionality after an injury. Later in life when I sought help with my own injury, I saw how chiropractors help with a person’s mobility and function. I knew then this was cool and something I wanted to be a part of.”
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- Dr. Mack Burt
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- Dr. Chris Nelson
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- Dr. William Hunter
The field of chiropractic medicine has made many advances in the last twenty years. “Most people associate chiropractors with the snap-crackle-pop-adjustments for bad backs,” Hunter says. In truth, a chiropractor treats many disorders of the musculoskeletal and the nervous systems and the effects of these disorders on general health. Back pain, neck pain, pain of the joints of the arms and legs, and certain headaches are common ailments seen at the clinic.
“We work to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal dysfunction of the spine and extremities, to unlock and mobilize the joints, and to rehabilitate and retrain the soft tissue: muscles, ligaments, and tendons to function in a more normal pattern,” Nelson explains.
It is the superior approach to comprehensive care that sets Harbin Clinic Chiropractic & Physical Therapy apart in north Georgia. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach to our practice. We incorporate physical therapy, massage therapy, and rehab with the chiropractic,” Burt says. Having access to state-of-the-art imaging services and a multitude of expert physicians across many disciplines, providers at Harbin Clinic can diagnose patients quickly and accurately, providing faster treatment plans and saving both time and money for the patient. Hunter elaborates, “We can do multiple modalities in one treatment.
Someone may come in with back pain and in our evaluation, we discover the patient has a weak core, ‘here are some helpful exercises.’ Then we may discover they have a tight neck, ‘let’s get you over to our massage therapist.” Adding to Hunter’s comments, “The consistent success in our treatments relies largely in the scope of medical resources and equipment at our disposal, as well as the expertise of our doctors, technicians, and specialists. We offer a variety of treatments to get joints moving again and retraining muscles through stretching exercises and/or strength building exercises; because what works for me may not necessarily work for you,” Burt says.
Whether you are a young athlete in the height of your training season or you have been living with joint pain and limited mobility for years, the chiropractic team at Harbin Clinic Chiropractic & Physical Therapy can help improve your movement patterns and pain management through holistic adjustments and therapies.
For more information, visit HarbinClinic.com.
Q: Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?
A: No. Everything we do is designed to help you feel better and alleviate the pain you are currently suffering with.
Q: Does my insurance cover treatment?
A: Yes, most insurance companies cover our services and treatments.
Q: Do I need a referral?
A: This is a common misconception. No doctor referral is needed for chiropractic visits.
Q: What does a typical treatment plan look like?
A: We begin with an initial evaluation and a two-week treatment plan. This is an appropriate time frame to assess the progress of healing. If a patient shows one hundred percent improvement in that two weeks, then we suggest they revisit on an as-needed basis. For someone who perhaps has seen about an eighty percent or less improvement rate, we would consider continuing treatment for another week or two until we can get them where they need and want to be. There are some conditions that will take longer than two weeks, a disc herniation, for example, may require a longer treatment plan or even a referral to a neurosurgeon to get a second opinion.
