Chiropractic FAQs for Lithia and FishHawk Families
Choosing a chiropractor should begin with clear information. Below, the doctors at At Last Chiropractic in Lithia, Florida answer common questions about first visits, low-force and upper-cervical techniques, x-rays, safety, headaches, pregnancy, pediatric care, Medicare, costs and scheduling. Our office serves patients from Lithia, FishHawk, Riverview, Brandon and Valrico. These answers are general education, not a diagnosis or a promise of results. Your doctor will review your history, examination findings, preferences and goals before recommending care.
Clinically reviewed by: Dr. Anthony Taylor, D.C. (Florida license CH12419), and Dr. Carissa Taylor, D.C. (Florida license CH12397).
Learn about the doctors’ degrees, licenses and additional training.
Last reviewed: August 2026
Chiropractic Care and Your First Visit
Chiropractic care is a conservative form of health care focused primarily on the musculoskeletal system, including the spine, joints, muscles and movement. Chiropractors may use manual or instrument-assisted techniques after taking a health history and performing an examination. People commonly seek chiropractic care for back or neck discomfort, stiffness, mobility concerns and some types of headache. Chiropractic care is not appropriate for every condition and does not replace primary, emergency or specialty medical care when those services are needed.
Your first visit begins with a conversation about your health history, current concerns, previous care and goals. Your doctor then performs an examination that may include posture and movement assessment, range-of-motion testing, and orthopedic or neurological screening when appropriate. Imaging is recommended only when it is clinically indicated and is likely to affect your care.
Please plan for approximately 45–60 minutes. At a follow-up visit, your doctor will explain the findings in plain language, discuss whether chiropractic care is appropriate and review the recommended next steps. You will have an opportunity to ask questions before deciding whether to begin care.
Patients commonly ask us about:
- Back or neck discomfort
- Stiffness, mobility and posture concerns
- Neck-related or cervicogenic headaches
- Work, exercise or sports-related strain
- Pregnancy-related back or pelvic discomfort
- Age-appropriate musculoskeletal evaluation for infants and children
- Neck or back complaints after a motor-vehicle accident, after appropriate medical evaluation
- Gentle instrument-assisted and upper-cervical approaches
An examination is needed to determine whether chiropractic care fits your situation. Dizziness, new neurological symptoms, concussion symptoms, infection concerns, or an infant’s feeding or developmental concerns may require evaluation by a medical doctor, pediatrician or another qualified clinician. We refer and coordinate when care falls outside our scope.
Techniques, Adjustments and X-Rays
Not necessarily. At Last Chiropractic frequently uses low-force, instrument-assisted and upper-cervical approaches that do not require forceful twisting. Depending on your findings, preferences and clinical needs, a doctor may recommend a manual technique instead.
A joint sound can occur during some manual adjustments, but it is not required and does not determine whether an adjustment was effective. Your doctor will explain the proposed technique, expected sensations, reasonable alternatives and relevant risks before care.
Torque Release Technique, often called TRT, is an instrument-assisted chiropractic method. It uses a handheld device called the Integrator to deliver a brief, targeted impulse to a selected area without rotational twisting.
TRT is one option among several chiropractic techniques. Your doctor chooses or modifies a technique based on your history, examination, age, bone health, previous procedures and comfort. No single technique is appropriate for every patient.
Read about Torque Release Technique at our office.
Learn more about the techniques used at At Last Chiropractic.
Upper-cervical care focuses on the joints, muscles and movement at the top of the neck, especially the atlas (C1) and axis (C2). This region contributes to neck motion and head position. At Last Chiropractic uses measurement-based upper-cervical approaches, including Orthospinology and training related to the Grostic Procedure.
When clinically indicated, examination findings and specific imaging may be used to plan a low-force adjustment. Upper-cervical care may be considered for certain musculoskeletal or neck-related concerns, but it is not a treatment for every neurological or systemic condition. Recommendations and responses vary by patient.
No. X-rays are recommended only when they are clinically indicated and are expected to change diagnosis, technique selection or management. Certain measurement-based upper-cervical protocols may require specific images before an adjustment is planned.
When imaging is recommended, your doctor will explain why, discuss relevant considerations and review suitable recent images or reports you already have when possible. Pregnancy, age, health history and previous imaging are considered before any x-ray is ordered.
Safety, Response and Length of Care
Chiropractic care is generally well tolerated after appropriate screening, but no health-care procedure is risk-free. Temporary soreness, stiffness, discomfort, tiredness or headache can occur after spinal adjustment. Serious spinal, neurological or vascular complications have been reported and are considered rare, although their precise frequency is uncertain.
Tell your doctor about your full health history, medications, bone health, recent injuries and previous procedures. Your doctor should discuss the proposed technique, its potential benefits and risks, reasonable alternatives and the option of no treatment. If findings suggest that chiropractic care is not appropriate, we will explain that and recommend another level of care.
Responses vary. Some people notice no immediate change. Others experience temporary soreness, stiffness, discomfort, tiredness or headache, often resolving within a day or two. A specific result cannot be predicted or guaranteed.
Contact the office if a reaction is severe, persists or worsens. Seek urgent medical care for warning signs such as a sudden severe or unfamiliar headache, new weakness or numbness, trouble speaking, seeing or walking, fainting, chest pain, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever with severe neck or back pain, or symptoms following significant trauma.
There is no responsible one-size-fits-all number. A recommendation depends on the diagnosis, how long the concern has been present, examination findings, health history, goals and response to care.
Your doctor will explain the proposed frequency and duration, monitor progress and reassess at appropriate intervals. The plan should be changed, stopped or referred when findings or progress indicate that another approach is needed. Ongoing supportive or wellness visits are optional and should reflect your informed preferences.
Headaches, Pregnancy and Pediatric Care
Headaches have many possible causes. Some cervicogenic headaches, which arise from structures in the neck, may improve with conservative care that addresses neck movement, joint function and related muscle tension. Research on spinal adjustment for migraine suggests possible benefit for some people, but evidence is limited and results vary.
We first evaluate whether your symptoms may have a musculoskeletal or neck-related component. Chiropractic care does not replace medical evaluation for new, severe, sudden or changing headaches. Seek urgent care for a sudden “worst headache,” headache after significant injury, or headache with fever, confusion, fainting, weakness, numbness, vision loss or difficulty speaking.
Yes. Chiropractic care may be considered during pregnancy for certain musculoskeletal concerns, such as back, pelvic or joint discomfort, after appropriate screening. Positioning and technique should be adapted for comfort, pregnancy stage and individual health factors.
Learn about Dr. Carissa Taylor’s perinatal and Webster Technique credentials.
Yes. At Last Chiropractic offers age-appropriate musculoskeletal evaluation and care for infants and children with a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent. Pediatric techniques and force are adapted to the child’s size, age, examination findings and comfort.
Learn about Dr. Carissa Taylor’s 200-hour chiropractic pediatric certification.
You do not need to choose without guidance. The team considers your reason for visiting, examination needs, technique preferences and scheduling when matching you with a doctor.
Dr. Carissa Taylor has additional certifications in perinatal chiropractic, Webster Technique, chiropractic pediatrics, pediatric Sacro Occipital Technique and Torque Release Technique. Dr. Anthony Taylor holds Torque Release Technique certification and additional training in the Grostic Procedure and Orthospinology, plus continuing education through Leveled Up’s Concussion Roulette and P.I. Beast seminars. Dr. Paul Polarczyk has upper-cervical and Torque Release Technique experience; his supporting credentials will be added to the credentials page after verification.
Cost, Medicare and Scheduling
The current initial-visit fee is $150 and includes the consultation, examination and any imaging if necessary. At Last Chiropractic primarily operates as a self-pay office and will review expected charges with you before care.
We accept Medicare for covered chiropractic services. Original Medicare Part B generally covers manual manipulation of the spine to correct a vertebral subluxation when Medicare’s requirements are met. It generally does not cover a chiropractor’s initial examination, x-rays, massage or other services. Medicare Advantage coverage and patient costs vary by plan, so contact your plan and our office for current details.
At Last Chiropractic
5611 Skytop Drive Lithia, FL 33547
We are conveniently located in FishHawk. Parking is available directly at the office, and the ground-floor entrance is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
Office hours
Monday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday: Closed
Hours can change. Please call or check the office information page before visiting.
At Last Chiropractic is located in Lithia and serves patients from Lithia, FishHawk, Riverview, Brandon, Valrico and surrounding Hillsborough County communities. A person’s location alone does not determine whether the practice is the right clinical fit; call us if you would like to discuss your needs and appointment availability.
Please bring:
- A photo ID
- Your Medicare card if you plan to use Medicare coverage
- A current list of medications and supplements
- Relevant x-ray, MRI or CT images and reports, if available
- For a minor, a parent or legal guardian for the first visit
Wear comfortable clothing that allows you to move. Complete any secure new-patient forms sent by the office before your appointment when possible. Do not send private medical details through social media.
Call 813-461-6500 or use the secure online appointment request. Appointment availability varies; the office will confirm the earliest suitable opening.
For privacy, do not include detailed health information in a social-media message. A submitted online request is not an emergency service. For a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
We will tell you. The history and examination help determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate and whether another evaluation is needed first. If findings fall outside our scope or suggest a condition requiring medical, pediatric, orthopedic, neurological or emergency assessment, we will explain the concern and recommend an appropriate next step.
The goal is informed, coordinated care—not treating every person who contacts the office.
Call 813-461-6500 or request a new-patient appointment online. Our team can answer practical questions and help you decide which doctor or appointment type fits your needs.
The information on this page is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized professional care. No result is guaranteed. If you have urgent or potentially life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or seek emergency care.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Spinal Manipulation—What You Need To Know
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Headaches and Complementary Health Approaches
- Medicare.gov: Chiropractic Services
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Pediatric Integrative Medicine
Schedule a Consultation Today
Drs. Anthony and Carissa Taylor and our entire staff look forward to speaking with you about setting up a consultation, and we thank you for trusting us with your health!