Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Care focuses on making sure your body is functioning as optimally as possible and supporting your nervous system.

Whether you’re experiencing joint pain, pinched nerves, sciatica, back pain, neck pain, decreased or inefficient mobility, headaches (to name a few symptoms) — we analyze and treat your body based on why the dysfunction is caused.

The spine and nervous system are the pathways through which your brain and organs communicate. When the spine is misaligned, various tissues and nerves can get pinched. This interferes with the vital communications that are going on within your body and the end result is pain, illness and ailments that sap your energy and tax your health.

What makes Thrive different? Our aim is to identify the cause of your pain and help you address the issues at their root cause — we’re not here just to treat symptoms. 

Chiropractic Care Applications

Vacuum Cupping

Soften tight muscles, release toxins and improve blood flow to tissues with vacuum cupping. This holistic form of alternative medicine applies vacuum pressure with cups to lift the connective tissues away from the skin.

Dr. Golzar (GiGi) Ghanbari

Doctor of Chiropractic

Lead Chiropractor + Chiropractic Program Director

GiGi is a Virginia Beach native and graduated from Ocean Lakes High School in the heart of Hampton Roads. After suffering from a major kickboxing injury, she discovered and fell in love with the chiropractic profession and has never looked back. She loves helping people heal from injuries like her own and watching how far they progress with chiropractic care and rehabilitation exercises. Although she did not begin her chiropractic journey until attending Virginia Tech, she was able to overcome her injuries and now emphasizes the importance of getting your spine checked from a young age.

Chantal’s Experience

GiGi has spent most of her career working with patients from all walks of life — from newborns to senior citizens trying to get around more comfortably —  she has adjusted them all. She believes that looking at the body biomechanically as a whole is more beneficial than looking at just one joint or problem area.

Education / Certifications

• Doctor of Chiropractic from Life University in Marietta, Georgia
• Bachelors in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise Sciences from Virginia Tech
• Extensive education in Thompson Drop-Table Technique as well as pediatric and perinatal adjusting techniques

On a personal note…

You can always find GiGi making a joke in our office as she loves to laugh, live life to its fullest and have a great time. She has been an avid basketball and tennis player from a young age and loves working with athletes on improving their performance. When she is not cheering on the Virginia Tech Hokies, you can find her on a boat or at the beach enjoying the beautiful weather with her other half and daughter.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Chiropractic Care at Thrive

How do I know if chiropractic care is right for me?

At Thrive, we understand that trying to find solutions to your health problems can be overwhelming at times. This is why we offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation with one of our chiropractors to discuss if we are able to help you.

Why do I need to keep going to a chiropractor?

Let’s ask you a questions… Would you only go to the gym once? Would you only eat healthy once? Would you only go to the dentist once? As we move, eat, and think throughout our day we are constantly adapting to the stressors of everyday life.

What we know is that the body physically manifests different areas of stress depending on our daily habits. We can choose to allow the stresses to build up or we can fix these stressors before they get bad. Allowing the body to work optimally by keeping it aligned ensures that we can function at a higher level. At Thrive, we only want you to use our services as long as we are an asset to your health.

Once I start, do I need to continue with chiropractic care?

One of the more common questions we receive is, “Why do I need to keep going to the chiropractor?” Would you only go to the gym once? Would you only eat healthy once? Would you do any other health habit only once? As we move, eat and think throughout our day, we are constantly adapting to various stressors.

What we know is that the body physically manifests different areas of stress depending on what our daily habits are. We can choose to allow the stresses to build up, or we can nip things in the bud before they get bad. That allows the body to work optimally so we can function at a higher level.

Our care should only continue for as long as it is serving you to become a better, healthier and more vibrant you. Typically, patients do choose to stay with us for general well-being care because they like the way they feel and function following a chiropractic adjustment. We only want to be of service for as long as we are an asset to your wellness.

Do you offer exercises and things to do at home to support my chiropractic care?

Yes, in addition to your chiropractic care in the office, your Doctor is knowledgeable in a variety of massage, stretching, functional movement and strengthening exercises for you to be doing outside of the office to ensure optimum results with care.

Is chiropractic care safe while pregnant?

Absolutely. We have special pillows and tables to create ease for pregnant women to get adjusted throughout all stages of pregnancy. Getting adjusted can create better birth outcomes, easier labors, and optimal positioning and nerve supply for the baby as he/she grows and develops. Chiropractic care can also help prevent discomfort like sciatica and round ligament pain.

Why would I get my kids checked by a chiropractor?

We recommend children be checked from birth. All births, whether long or short, natural, assisted, or cesarean, can put extreme stress on your baby’s spinal cord and nervous system. Even the baby’s position in the womb can have an early effect on spinal alignment. A newborn adjustment is completely different from a normal adjustment — there is no popping or cracking involved.

We adopt the philosophy that “if the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” Making sure the spine is aligned from an early age is important because when these tiny infants begin to grow, learn to crawl, and eventually walk, freshly developed motor patterns often lead to numerous slips/falls, bumps, and bruises. Chiropractic adjustments are crucial to helping keep kids in alignment through their fast-changing years.

How much does the initial chiropractic care visit cost?

Our initial chiropractic functional analysis will take approximately 45-minutes to complete from start to finish. Upon completion, the chiropractors will use their clinical judgment to decide on whether or not you need to be sent for x-rays. The cost of the full exam and doctor’s report is $129. Following the exam and any necessary x-rays, we will design a custom care plan just for you.

Do you take insurance for chiropractic care?

We gladly accept most health insurances (Anthem BCBS, Aetna, UHC, Medicare, VA Optum, etc.) and have affordable rates and flexible payment plans allowing access to high-quality care for you and your family.

We are also accepting HSA, FSA, Care Credit, cash, check and all major credit cards for chiropractic care. If you are interested in seeing if your health insurance will pay for chiropractic care, please call our front desk to help you verify benefits.

Can I use my membership or package to pay for chiropractic care?

Yes! You are able to use your Thrive membership/package for chiropractic services. Our memberships cover all services (15-, 30- and 60-minute appointments) of chiropractic care. We encourage members to start a monthly membership to assist with monthly consistency in appointments and care. Ask our front desk staff for more information.

What is the cracking/popping sound during a chiropractic adjustment?

Not all adjustments create a “crack.” However, the audible sound commonly produced during traditional chiropractic adjustments is the release of gas (nitrogen and various other chemicals) from synovial joints; these chemicals release muscle tension, calm down the nervous system, decrease pain and boost adaptation of the body. This gas can be built up from poor biomechanics associated with vertebral subluxations.

What is a subluxation?

A subluxation is when one or more bones of the spine have increased tension or compression causing them to become misaligned. This causes interference to the communication of the nerve system and other structures. When the nerves are in an irritated state they can cause symptoms such as: pain, heat, swelling, tenderness, tingling, burning, and numbness. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you may be suffering from a very correctable subluxation.

Can a subluxation cause symptoms other than musculoskeletal pain?

Yes! We see patients who have experienced relief from migraines, numbness, stomach issues, even multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s. In 1895, the first chiropractic patient was a deaf man who had his hearing restored from a chiropractic adjustment. The adjustor, DD Palmer, thought he had found the cure for deafness. However, as he began to adjust more and more deaf people, he quickly realized that he did not have the cure for deafness, but that his adjustments were having a tremendous effect on the nervous system. Every organ, muscle, and tissue in your body has nerve supply, and nerves originate from your spine! A healthy spine = a healthy nervous system.

I’ve heard that once I start chiropractic care, I will have to continue forever. Is that true?

Our chiropractic care sessions should only be continued as long as they are serving you to become a better, healthier and more vibrant you. Typically, patients do choose to stay with us for wellness care because they like the way they feel and function following a chiropractic adjustment. We only want to be in service for as long as we are an asset to your quality of life. Throughout your care, you will become more aware of your body and sense when you feel like an adjustment is needed.

I’m not feeling 100%. Should I reschedule my appointment?

We encourage everyone to use their best judgment and keep distance if you are feeling sick. We also know that many people feel better and their body is better able to adapt to a weakened immune system if their nervous system has less interference , hence an adjustment! We recommend that if you are feeling sick to give us a call so we can help you determine what is right for you.

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