Center for Health and Optimum Performance at Life University

If you are unable to afford a regular DC, I definitely recommend trying out the student interns at the Life University Center for Health & Optimum Performance. Licensed chiropractors oversee the students, so there’s no need to worry and these students have already been through a few years of classes and a student clinic experience before they’re able to be a part of this clinic.
Use your student ID for 50% off chiropractic adjustments. Not a student? Adjustments are still very inexpensive — only about $ 15 – 17 each.
If you’ve never been adjusted, what are you waiting for? It’s the key to feeling your very best!

Excellent front desk staff so friendly and helpful! Interns are quick and prompt! I will be a long time patient!

I’ve been seeing Chiropractic Student Intern Sherry Wang at the Center for Health and Optimum Performance at Life University for my chronic lower back pain. I have two herniated discs and have tried just about everything, short of surgery, for pain relief. This includes seeing an orthopedic surgeon, three different physical therapists, a pain medicine doctor for epidurals, and an acupuncturist. In the end, none of those healthcare professionals could significantly reduce the pain I was experiencing.
I wasn’t completely sold on chiropractors based on what my doctors and physical therapists told me. Quite frankly, they didn’t recommend chiropractors. My dad’s chiropractor friend advised me to try acupuncture. My dad’s neurologist colleague recommended disc distraction therapy. My orthopedist referred me to Midtown Neurology for IDD (intervertebral differential dynamics) therapy. Since my back pain stabilized at a low, manageable level (around a «1» or «2» on the 1 – 10 pain scale) and deterred by the cost, number of visits, and low success rate of IDD therapy, I did not follow through with that route.
Already acquainted with Sherry outside the clinic, I’d learned she was looking for new patients. Life University isn’t far from my workplace and I was told the services were inexpensive, so I decided to give it a shot. Life University has the largest chiropractic program in the world.
The Center for Health and Optimum Performance («C HOP») is a training ground for Life’s chiropractic students. In a sense, the patients are like guinea pigs for the students. I probably wouldn’t have come to C HOP if I didn’t know Sherry beforehand. I know a couple of her patients and asked them about their experiences. I have to admit, I was apprehensive because I didn’t want my back problems to get worse. However, I heard nothing but good things about Sherry and decided to go through with it.
All student interns are monitored by a supervising clinician. In my case, it’s Dr. Paula Rhodes. Dr. Rhodes was present during my initial evaluation and first few chiropractic adjustments. Sherry has been consulting with Dr. Rhodes throughout the course of my treatments. Dr. Rhodes is knowledgeable, helpful, and well-​spoken. All the student interns work closely with supervising clinicians, so that should give prospective patients some peace of mind.
The first two appointments consisted of evaluation, testing, X-​rays, and paperwork. The first appointment lasted at least two hours. The evaluation consisted of a detailed personal and medical history and various body tests. The tests involved such things as strength, range of motion, weight, balance, and spinal measurements using computerized tools. One of the tests reminded me of a test in the Nintendo Wii Fit video game.
Each of the clinic’s departments is headed by real doctors, including the imaging lab where my X-​rays were taken. Dr. Mark Maiyer oversaw my X-​ray procedure.
My initial treatments consisted of adjustments on the chiropractic table and Cox flexion distraction therapy. From what I’ve heard, the chiropractic table adjustments are pretty typical. The table is divided into different, moveable sections. The patient lies on the table. The chiropractor then applies pressure to various parts of the body and «drops» parts of the table. I believe this is to encourage/​restore body alignment. I went through a few of these adjustments and didn’t notice any difference in my body. That’s not to say nothing happened, I just didn’t feel any different afterwards.
I do like the Cox flexion distraction therapy (
). This device is located in the Functional Rehabilitation department of the C HOP clinic, headed by Drs. Roxanne Caron and Joseph Haezebrouck. Cox flexion distraction involves getting strapped into another special table (an $ 8,000 table at that). On this table, the patient lies face down and his/​her lower back is stretched out. While stretched out, the chiropractor moves the patient’s lower body in different directions.
Out of all the procedures I’ve tried up to this point, I feel immediate relief during Cox flexion distraction. I can feel my spine decompress and the disc spaces expand. The stretching and flexion motions are relaxing and therapeutic. Whether this will improve my back in the long run remains to be seen.
During treatment, I visit the clinic 2 times per week. Each visit usually takes 30 – 45 minutes in total, but can vary depending on types of treatment.
The treatments are indeed inexpensive. My evaluation was $ 24, X-​rays $ 32, adjustments $ 15 each, and Cox therapy $ 8 each. Active students get a 50% discount. While C HOP does not accept insurance, I was able to successfully file health insurance claims myself. The treatments are also eligible under flexible spending (FSA).
Notes: Students may observe during treatment. Going to a 15-​minute educational «class» on chiropractic is also required.