Charles Street Family Chiropractic

Dr Chris has the skill of mixing professional relationship with being a very personable Doctor. He is a great practitioner and has helped me immensely by getting out of pain with just a few runtime visits. I would recommend him to family and friends.

We’re adults, aren’t we? We don’t have to do anything we don’t want to do. We don’t have to respond to sales pitches, and we don’t have to react if and when we feel pressured by a sales pitch.
And yes, the video is badly produced. It certainly doesn’t represent the quality of care I’ve received here.
I have serious posture and lower back issues. What I really like about Charles Street Chiropractic is that I got a comprehensive overview of my problem, including x-​rays, and have been offered solutions that don’t just include adjustments, which has made me feel as though these issues can be healed and I can participate in my care by doing things at home and in the office. And the staff are wonderful – friendly, responsive, and very knowledgeable. I often have questions and I get them answered.
If you think you won’t like being adjusted in a common area this might not be the place for you. I’m sure this keeps the cost down here. It doesn’t bother me a bit as we’re all there to get help with the same types of issues and the doctors are focused on the patient they’re with.
It’s not a miracle cure but it does work. I’ve noticed that I feel better overall and have more energy and there has been a huge improvement in some… errr…digestive areas. I have greater neck mobility and a lot less neck and lower back pain.
I’m on a strict budget so I also appreciate the straightforward billing practices. Some health insurances pay a percentage or chiropractic care and you can use your flexible spending account here.

First, I do have to thank these guys for getting the ball rolling. I didn’t realize how screwed up my back/​neck are and I’d rather take care of it now rather than later.
My experience was very similar to my of the other reviewers. I met CSFC at an event where they convinced me to come in for a free consultation. Sounds great, right?
Your first session will consist of your consultation, you do have to put down $ 25, but are told it’ll be returned if you decide not to move forward. Unfortunately, to see your results, you must come back for a second appointment. It’s during this session that you’re with the other recruits, and watch an educational video/​sales pitch on chiropractic care. Also, during this visit, you’re told you can pay $ 125 for two alignments (however, you still have not been told your treatment plan). The third session is when you finally sit down and discuss their treatment plan and how to finance this (this is the point I wanted to run). I definitely felt like this practice was more after my money than my well-​being.
My best advice is to get a second, and perhaps a third opinion before committing your time and money to their treatment plans. Have CSFC make copies of their treatment plan, and ask for your xrays. You’re charged $ 15 for your xrays (apparently because they’re on a disc), but they’re required to send them to your doctor if you request it.
I strongly recommend sending them to your PCP, and a second chiropractor. My doctor prescribed PT for me (which my insurance covers), and the second chiropractor prescribed a plan much more affordable and realistic. If CSFC’s plan makes the most sense to you, by all means, go for it, but you may as well explore all options.
On a side note, the second chiropractor could not understand how CSFC came to many of their conclusions, explained why those conclusions could not be made, and noted that the xrays expose you to more radiation than just the targeted area (for example, the xray was of the entire face as opposed to just the neck).
The only positive result from CSFC was that it led me to PT and the second chiropractor.

First, I understand the negative reviews. The set up to this place is different (its an open floor, so everyone is ajusted out in the open). And, they have everyone view a presentation which… can be kind of a put off (its basicly an educational video, but to me it felt very sales oriented and like they were trying to employ sales (read scare) tactics to get people into comiting to a lot of visits, i. e «If you dont buy these products or do this… THESE THINGS CAN HAPPEN!»
While that opening presentation was a little weird — and the lay out is different, they are still very good.
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«Why don’t we evaluate you based on how you feel? Because 40% of people who died of heart attacks did not feel any symptoms.» Sounds like sound logic, right?
This is just one direct quote from the video you are made to watch when going in for an ‘evaluation’ at Charles Street Chiropractic. I bought a ‘promotional deal’ for $ 25 that promised a full evaluation, x-​rays, and other great-​sounding perks. I go in for my first assessment (because they won’t do the assessment and then tell you the results, you have to schedule a 2^nd appointment for that) and the first thing I get is a ‘tour’ of the office — a very canned presentation from the receptionist that (no joke) pointed out the frame of their practice’s motto on the wall (and she read it aloud for me word for word), showed me the alignment tables that are all in plain view, and the back rooms (it felt extremely awkward and unnecessary and cheesy).
I went into one of the private rooms and Chris Quigley asked me a very leading questionnaire (do you play sports? any car accidents? ever tripped and fallen as a kid? I mean, how answers no to any of those questions these days?), went into a 2^nd room and got my x-​rays on their ‘state of the art machine’ which looked like it was from the 70’s, and then had to go make a follow up appointment to get my results. They kept pressing me to get my insurance information (apparently ‘for my convenience’ if I chose to come back) but I didn’t want to give this out because I already had mixed feelings about the practice.
My 2^nd visit was even worse. I was taken into one of the private rooms with 6 other people and offered snacks (already put into paper cups, so who knows what they were, they didn’t show us the packaging) that were ‘these really yummy snacks full of protein that the practice sells’ (so the receptionist who kept pitching them said) and then we all had to watch a 10 minute video about being a chiropractor is, how fixing your spine will allow you to never get sick because your nerves are what controls everything, etc. etc. We then had to watch a powerpoint saying the same things given by Chris. Only after all of this did I get to see my x-​rays and then I was told immediately that if I wanted an alignment, it would be $ 150 for 2 sessions (or something ridiculous like that). I said ‘no thanks, I’d like to do more research but I would like a copy of my x-​rays’ and I was told I’d have to pay $ 15 to pick them up myself or fill out a form for my doctor to request them.
The whole thing felt like a huge scam. I am positive that seeing a chiropractor has benefits and I will more than likely visit another practice, but I did not like the atmosphere or the way I felt like they were trying to sell me something and just get my money. Also, for having a practice on Charles St, I was surprised at how old, worn, and dingy the office was.
Definitely wouldn’t recommend going here.

I scheduled an appointment with Charles Family Chiropractic for a consult, xray, and review.
I ended up cancelling my appointment. One of the red flags was that they had me pay for my services before I even attended my appointment. When I inquired on getting refunded the money I paid upfront, they informed me that «if they are able to fill the appointment, they will refund my money. If they don’t find anyone to take my spot they will not refund me.»
Unilocalers beware: Many places that charge upfront without providing a cancellation refund (especially in medical offices) are scams.
I would not trust any medical professionals’ health advice if they are willing to scam their clients.
***Yelp hid the review written by the user below, but her review details the experience she had. Everyone should read it before they make their appointment:

I’ve been visiting chiropractors since I was a kid and have seen some quacks and some great doctors. I’d have to say quackery is afoot at this business.
As Amanda stated, they pull you into 3-​a-​week visits and have little to no regard for your financial situation. I paid out of pocket for the first two months because it took them so long to make the claims with my health insurance; this totaled approx. $ 500. As it happens, my health insurance covers chiropractic 100%. Rather than letting me know that I had a SIGNIFICANT credit on my account, they simply kept the credit on my account. It wasn’t until two to three months later that I found out that they had been charging me for things they had «given» me and taking the money from my credit.
Several months later, when I told them that I did not want to continue seeing them, they were very reticent to let me go. They REALLY wanted the credit that was in my account. When I asked if they would please give me my money back, they asked if perhaps I’d like to wait until the end of the year, just to see if I end up using all of my covered visits and need to pay out of pocket for any. I insisted that I have my money back.
The girls at the front desk — whom I adore — refused to take care of this reimbursement and sent the request on to Dr. Chris who told me that I would «receive the reimbursement [of over $ 300] within a week.» Here I am, three weeks later, still short my over $ 300 credit.
I’ve never been particularly impressed with this practice, but now that I’m having these reimbursement troubles, I’m seeing that this is not a holistic practice, but rather a money mongering.
I honestly wouldn’t recommend it to anybody. Ever.

I totally agree with Manuel B.‘s comment above. I was experiencing increased lower back/​left leg pain and made an appointment at this location without doing my research. Note I had not been to a chiropractor prior to this «consultation».
Two appointments was all it took. I’m looking elsewhere. I’d say more, but just read Manuel B.‘s comments. Basically took the words right out of my mouth.
On a good note, considering the light bulb display, power point from a 9^th grade history project and 10 minute group video, could be great for a child in need of help.

Ive heard good things about this place, but I just don’t agree. I have piriformis pain, scoliosis but do yoga regularly to keep the pain at bay, but do go to the chiropractor to get «cracked» every now and then.
I’m familiar with the chiropractic process… This review isnt about their technique or treatment because I never experienced that, but how I FELT in the atmosphere there.
First off, you come in for a consultation, which is kind of cool — they do x-​rays and have equipment that can digitally show your spine alignment and how its out of whack. But you dont get adjusted — yet. You have to come back for a second visit to get another consultation where you are shown a powerpoint presentation about chiropratic care (and your need for a level of commitment for your treatment, which I read as spending whatever on equipment, etc., which may or may not be covered by your health insurance)
Oh, and you are told that you need to pay for your next three visits up front. This is the point when I wanted to get out of there.
Maybe this was exacerbated by the fact that while I was waiting for my second visit, I had to wait over half an hour before having to sit through this grueling, cheesy powerpoint. While I was waiting, let me describe to you where the they perform adjustments. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OFFICE. Lines of people are just a few feet away from 2 chiropractic benches and people waiting have nothing else to look at besides the people getting adjusted. I felt like I was in an assembly line of a factory.
Now, getting adjusted isnt that intimate a process, but I ceratinly dont want a crowd of people watching me on a bench getting my back cracked. They also require you to sit on a «wobble chair» before you get adjusted. You basically sit on this chair and grind and gyrate around while everyone is looking at you. Other people might be fine with this, but not me. I never did this (because I NEVER got an adjustment, but felt uncomfortable for the people who were doing this)
After waiting for over 30 minutes, thinking I would get an adjustment, but instead being subjected to sitting through the powerpoint where I became basically irritated to no end, I requested to leave. They didnt charge me for the visit and seemed genuinely sorry that I was made to wait so long.
So, in short, lots of people apparently like this place, but its not my thing at all.
I will go back to my old chiropractor, which seems so much better than this place.

I hadn’t been to my regular chiropractor in some time and I really needed an adjustment. When I came here, granted everyone was super nice, but they dragged me into coming like 3 times a week. They did take x-​rays and everything and basically told me I’m royally screwed up. I knew that in the first place… So they told me I had to come 3 times a week for like a month and then 2 times, then once. As a stupid person at the time, I was like… OK?! So my insurance covered it for a while, then I had to shell out some major cash. Yes my back felt better, but I’m a poor college student and I just couldn’t afford it any longer. I went back to my old chiropractor, and I don’t know why I left him.
I don’t think this place is bad by any stretch, it seems perfect for families, since they do take care of children. I don’t really like how the room you get adjusted in is just an extension of the waiting room. The guys were really nice, I did feel a little uncomfortable at first, but maybe that’s just me. I did like it was a 10 minute walk from my old apartment.
Maybe IF I had extra cash to burn I’d consider coming back here. But for now, it’s staying at 3 stars (maybe even 3.5)

Charles St Family Chiropractic is awesome. It took a little getting used to because you are getting adjusted in the same room as those who are waiting but after a while it is like a family. Everyone banters with each other and you don’t know which Chiropractor you will get each day (it is first come first serve). If you become a regular like me then they typically know if you have a preference (like I do) and will adjust the schedule so you can get who you want.
The main man Dr. Chris is always upbeat and cracking jokes.
Dr Ann is new and is the bionic woman.
Dr Rick is really nice and typically does my Progress tests
Dr Tim is my favorite and if I’m there don’t make me wait, lol.
Nicole at the front desk is super sweet and love her glasses.