Innovative Health and Wellness

I went to snow valley, slid down some ice and slammed my back against an ice berg. My back started aching and pitching in certain areas, and my coworker referred me to Chris. The service was great, Chris was very genuine, took his time, and was able to explain everything in layman terms. I was very comfortable, and confident that he knew his stuff. Definitely recommend him if you need a chiropractor.

Cannot say enough great things about Dr. Cris! I’ve been coming here for years whenever I need a quick adjustment. He doesn’t just fix you up and sends you off on your way, he really takes the time to understand what ails you or what u want, everytime I leave I feel wayyyyy better than when I went in, I really do feel a big difference. He also gives me streches to do depending on what was bothering me. Luanne is also amazing, Cris and her make such a good team. She is so sweet and always remembers me even if I haven’t come in in a while. If my friends ever need a chiropractor I always recommend Cris to them. I have brought my dad who has a bad back as well as my hubby (he’s an avid mountain biker so he needs adjustments once in a while). I look forward to my next visit with Dr. Cris, cant wait, he rocks!

I found this place on Unilocal,impressed by all the positive reviews. My husband suffered from a sudden and severe back pain on a Saturday afternoon. We called Dr. Cris office and learned that the Dr. is fully booked. Luanne was very helpful to try making accommodation for our urgent appt. We didn’t get to see the Dr. that day as no one cancelled their appt. But we get to see the Dr. on a Sunday morning, which they usually closed on Sunday. We are very much appreciated on the arrangement.
My husband shared that he got immediate relief after the adjustment and treatment, Most importantly, Dr. Cris h is super friendly and that makes him less nervous during the adjustment. I visited Dr. Cris two times for the back pain as well. I shared the same comments as my husband.
I referred Dr. Cris to my coworkers. They are not living in O. C but they all said they don’t mind to drive 30 miles for seeing a great chiropractor. Because they know how hard to find a good one.

I rarely post reviews unless I feel it’s a must.
I was referred to dr. Chris by my best friend. I strained a muscle in my lower back from working out and it didn’t go away after a week. It was painful to the point where it just hurt sitting, standing, walking and laying down. Even driving was uncomfortable. I saw my parents chiropractor but it didn’t help. So I decided to go see him and his wife started off amazing. She was very sweet and very helpful providing me with so many information and making sure i was comfortable.
Then time to see Chris, he evaluated my pain by having me do some movements. Then he explained some things and started to fix my back. The next day, my back felt so much better to where I can get up from any position and I don’t cringe or Unilocal in pain! Thanks Dr. Chris!

I was referred by greenleaf chiropractic after that doctor moved out of state.
I got immediate relief from my visit. I did not feel rushed. I got a personalized experience by a doctor who clearly knows his stuff. He was a friendly and professional doctor and one of the better chiropractors I have visited. I think a 5 star review is justified. I got seen very quickly after filling out some forms. Staff were professional. I chatted with the doctor a bit, he looked at my spine, did the adjustment to my spine, and put me on a traction device. I left feeling immediately better. I can actually turn my head without it hurting! I’m very happy.

«Please contact this doctor. He is the only one I trust» this quote is from my favorite chiropractor, Dr. Quy Nguyen from Green leaf active care, who moved to Arizona 6 months ago. I have serious neck and back injury 2 days ago which caused my daily life and career. I decided to call Dr. Nguyen for his referral and he immediately provided me Dr. Cris information.
The progress of making appointment was quick and you can feel how much they care about your condition which make me feel safe. I am in the right (real) hand.
The next morning at 8, I met Dr. Cris. He showed his genuine and care what I have been through and help me to get through with it. He is really knowledgeable same as Dr. Nguyen. I am blessed that I met both of them :)
Now I still in pain (Dr. Cris cracked my neck 3 times) but much better from yesterday and I am sure it will be better in real soon. Thanks Doctor Cris and Doctor Quy!

Dr. Cris treated my wife’s back pain successfully when Mds simply wanted to give her more pain meds. No hyperbole: he fixed her when they couldn’t.

Had a fantastic experience. Dr. Cris saw us last minute within the hour since we had to head to our cruise a few hours later. My sister had some back pain and he took the time to work out the muscle tightness by hand in addition to giving the adjustment.
Most importantly, Dr. Cris has such a great attitude and is super friendly. My sister lives in Arizona but will make a point to see him when she’s in town.
Happy to report her back is much better a couple days later.

As a professional and Olympic distance runner preparing for this summers Olympic Games, I’m proud to highly recommend Dr Chris Barkmeier. He’s been such a great resource for keeping me healthy and injury free as a professional athlete. I feel very fortunate to have been referred to him by another runner. He’s not only a knowledgeable chiropractor, but he’s a wonderful person who genuinely cares about every person he meets.
If you’re looking for a chiropractor who will thoroughly take care of your health needs, and work hard to find answers to any questions you may have regarding your health, Dr Barkmeier would be one of the best resources you’ll come across in Orange County not just the Garden Grove area.
Dr Barkmeier, thank you again for being my chiropractor for the past 6 months plus. I look forward to continuing to work with you as I continue my preparations for this summer’s Olympic Games and beyond! Go Be More!!!

Now before you loyal Doc. Cris fans berate me for not giving him a 5 star review. Let me explain…
Being that reviews are for those who have never visited the place you’re looking up… Let me start by saying, Cris’ office is in a glass front building that has «Physical Therapy» written on it. It’s almost directly across from the Garden Grove Hospital and sandwiched between Thai Nakorn and a Mexican Restaurant. Upon walking in, you’ll see a waiting area with chairs, a coffee table, and if course… Magazines. It’s a dr’s office, what dr’s office doesn’t have magazines? He shares his office with two other people whom I’ve never seen before, I think they use the offices at different times? After signing in you’ll walk into the treatment area which is a big room with lots of exercise/​physical therapy equipment. You’ll most likely be treated toward the back where there is a row of beds with hospital style curtains that can be drawn for your privacy if you wish. This is where the 4 stars come into play. The facility is not what you would expect of a Dr’s office. For some that may be a good thing and for others it may turn you off. I’ve never seen it as a problem, but for those who haven’t been here… Don’t come thinking you’re going to a typical office with rooms and doors for privacy. You’re usually treated in the room by yourself, but the last time David (my hubby) and I were there (we make our appts back to back to save us time) Cris went back and forth between treating my hubby and another lady who I assume was there for physical therapy. I’ve been a few dozen times and this has never happened before. I’m sure if this kind of stuff bothers you, you can just tell Cris and he won’t schedule you with anyone else. We didn’t mind, it was just a little awkward because we didn’t know beforehand that someone would be coming in.
For those that have never been to a chiropractor and are skeptical about seeing one, see Cris! He’s not going to just adjust you and send you on your way. He’s going to take the time to explain to you what is going on with your body and how to make it better. Plus he makes you feel at ease the moment he starts speaking. Seriously, you’ll leave your first session thinking you’ve made a friend. I’ve been seeing Cris for a couple of years, ever since my first pregnancy. I developed sciatic pain during my fifth month of pregnancy and the only thing that temporarily helped was seeing Cris. Being that I was pregnant, I knew whatever pain relief I got from being adjusted wasn’t going to last long. I’ve also gone in after having my little girl because the sciatica never went away. The treatments lasted longer when I was no longer pregnant. He also showed me some exercises I could do to stretch and help with the pain at home. Now that I’m pregnant again I’ve been seeing him almost weekly (sciatica is much worse this time around) He tries his best to help ease the pain and always asks if I’ve done my stretches. I’m afraid to say that I’ve lied once or twice and said I have when really I haven’t. Lol.
My husband has started seeing Cris mainly because I make him. Haha. He’s always complained about back and shoulder pain, but refused to do anything about it. What is it about guys not wanting to go to any sort of Dr? Anyway… Some days he is on the computer all day. Being hunched over doing paperwork and typing all day will eventually take its tole on the shoulders and Cris is always able to relieve the tension. He also has back pain from a couple injuries he’s had almost a decade ago. This is a chronic pain that can only be temporarily relieved, but it’s still relief, at least for a little while. After being seen by Cris a couple of times he’s even asked me to make an appt for him, that’s HUGE! Thank Cris for «fixing» us… At least for a little while: D

Definitely agree with all the reviews on here. If you have a ailing body part, Cris will fix you right up. He helped me greatly with my knee tendonitis from Volleyball. I’m finally pain free, most of it was me aggravating my injury playing more than I should.

Dr. Chris is a great chiropractor. while in my fighting days he would always adjust me and nurse my nagging injuries back to health. Dr. Chris really explains to you the problems and how to avoid the future injuries. Dr. Chris is also great with people and kids. Overall great guy that honestly cares about the patients and making them feel better.

I have been to see Dr. Cris twice now. He is kind, knowledgeable, spends a long time with each patient, and is cost effective. He and his office assistant and both super kind and truly care about you as a person — not only your health but your finances. So far I have had a truly refreshing experience. Dr Cris is helping to troubleshoot my pains after many many doctors have left me broke financially and broken physically. I have hope again and I don’t have to go broke to find treatment. Thank you and thank you for caring!

The great thing about coming to see Dr. Cris is you’re not only going to see a great chiropractor, you’re going to get a bit of his muscular therapy and overall health & wellness knowledge in there too. Unlike most Chiropractors I’ve seen who just make a few pops and send you on your way, Dr. Cris really gets into *what is the problem* and takes short step goals to get your body on the rite path. He pops and cracks what he needs to, but he also knows so much about the muscles in our body that he knows exactly where to get into and loosen it up, or exactly how to have you do a light exercise to make sure your muscles are firing properly. I’m never let down when I go see him.
Also, he’s a prior U.S. Marine as well, so he’s always there for us veterans he helped me out getting my insurance situation worked out. Definitely would recommend him to anyone and everyone male or female young or old, in shape or out of shape he’ll get you to where you want to be.

Doc Cris is the best there is. I first met him after a friend referred me to him for a knee injury while I was training for my first marathon (seems to be a common theme with him). I had been in physical therapy for weeks (and several days a week) and it was not helping AT ALL. I went to Doc Cris three times and saw the benefits immediately. I have been running healthy since! If I hadn’t met Doc. Cris, I really don’t think I would have continued running.
Doc Cris is truly concerned about getting his patients out the door so they can enjoy their lives pain free.

Dr. Chris is one of those rare doctors around. All he wants is to help people get better. He certainly knows how to do his job well because he helped me get better fast. If you have financial issues he is willing to work with you. He has a wonderful personality and is extremely caring. He also called to check up on me to see if I was doing okay. He takes his time and interacts with you. He’s not like those doctors who just take you in and go. Its like hes trying to be friends with you. He is an extremely awesome doctor to go to.

Actually read Dr. Cris reviews on Unilocal a couple of months ago. Looking for a local chiropractor since we’re new to town. My son was delighted by the time, down to earth explanation and the cool conversation, putting him at ease during the elaborate and thorough treatment. Dr Cris even took the time out of his busy schedule to call us the following day to see how my son was doing and that everything was ok, how awesome.
Today it was dad’s turn ;-) Must say, I felt at ease and comfortable. Took the time to treat me and suggested stretching tips to help me forward.
Looking for an honest professional that takes his time to care for you? One Address: Innovative Health and Wellness in Garden Grove. I’d actually drive an hour for this A++ care and dedication.

I too came to Dr. Cris by way of referral from fellow runners in the middle of training for my first marathon. Had terrible knee pain about 10 weeks into an 18 week training schedule. Got MRI’s and had an appointment with the Orthopedic Surgeon and assumed I wouldn’t be able to run in the event. It turned out to be basic IT band tightening. I saw Cris three times before the marathon, but after the first treatment, I was back on track with my training. I was able to finish the marathon with no knee pain at all. He spent a lot of time with me in each session, not only working on the problems, but explaining the anatomy and physiology and causes of the problems.
Recently, my pregnant wife was having hip and back pain so I had her go see Cris. While the pain was merely a result of her changing pregnant body, Cris was able to relieve a lot of her pain. He even discounted her treatment because he felt bad that he couldnt treat the condition, but merely temporarily relieve the pain, something she was perfectly happy to pay for.
Cris is a very knowledgeable doctor who uses techniques that are amazingly effective, especially for athletes. I have an uncle who practices Chiropractic so I have had regular visits most of my life. Cris’ technique goes way beyond adjustment by combining massage, physical therapy and stretching to assure effectiveness. He is also very laid back and puts his patients at ease. I would, and regularly do, recommend Dr. Cris Barkmeier, especially to runners and other athletes.

When I trained for my first marathon, I kept having pain around my knee area. Enter Dr. Cris Barkmeier, he was manning the booth next to mine for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (plug, please support and donate!) and really helped me out in just 5 mins! I felt instantly better and was no longer doing the C-​Walk.
Anyone who has done a marathon knows how taxing it is on the body… even the halfs. It’s super important to get things checked out or you can cause permanent damage or have a bad injury and be out. I’ve done a few races since I met Dr. Cris and since then, I’ve visited him everytime I’ve had issues with subsequent trainings. The interesting thing about his technique is that it alleviates not only injuries/​pain from running, but also any other type of rigorous exercise.
Review:
*Knows EXACTLY what he’s doing and is THOROUGH about it
*Shows you pre and post exercises you should do to alleviate pain/​injury
*Professional, personable, and even though physical therapy is sometimes painful, he makes it tolerable!!!
*He EXPLAINS exactly what’s going on w/​your body. I thought it was a knee issue I was having… it was actually my glutes not firing properly.
*Reasonably priced. Seriously people, you only have ONE body, you should take care of it. He is great at what he does.
My results:
*Better performance in running
*Optimized cross training, e.g. weight lifting, yoga, and Pilates
*NO pain issues while training (and I do a LOT of different training exercises)
He’s excellent at his craft and I recommend him to everyone I know. He’s just that good.

I have a compression fracture in my lumbar region, and I experience back pain and muscle strains fairly often. After an unfortunate Xbox injury during Christmas, I had difficulty simply leaning over a sink for several days. [My back’s temperamental] After 1 visit with Dr. Cris, I was able to get through work and my commute right away.
Dr. Cris takes the time to educate me about the root causes of my pain, and customized his approach to work with my injury. He’s extremely knowledgeable, and is fun to work with.
You’ll find out he’s an athlete who practices what he preaches. I highly recommend you visit Dr. Cris!