FAQ

Diagnoses and treats muscle, joint, tendon, ligament, and nerve problems related to sport and activity, then builds a plan around your movement and goals. At ActiveSTL that usually means an assessment, joint and soft-tissue treatment, and rehab exercises — not adjustments alone.

A general chiropractor focuses broadly on spinal and musculoskeletal care. A sports chiropractor adds sport-specific assessment: how you run, cut, lift, throw, or sit, what load your body can handle, and what needs to change to get you back to that activity safely.

No. We treat runners, lifters, youth and high-school athletes, desk workers, parents, and older adults. If your problem is tied to movement — sport, work, or daily life — the same assessment applies.

Neck and back pain, headaches and migraines, sciatica, whiplash, shoulder impingement, tennis and golfer’s elbow, hip pain, knee pain, shin splints, Achilles and plantar fasciitis, IT band syndrome, sprains and strains, and overuse injuries. If we think another provider is a better fit, we’ll say so and help with the referral.

As soon as you can move safely to the clinic. Early assessment matters because it identifies the injured structure, rules out red flags, and lets us set safe load limits early — waiting and resting it completely often prolongs recovery.

Allow up to 45 minutes. Arrive 10-15 minutes early with your insurance card and ID. We take vitals, review your history and goals, examine movement, posture, strength, and range of motion, and explain our findings. Treatment usually begins that same visit when appropriate.

It means we start with what research supports for your condition — assessment, manual therapy, progressive exercise, and load management — and we measure progress against your goal, rather than selling a fixed, open-ended plan. If a treatment isn’t helping, the plan changes.

Adjustments are a controlled, specific movement to a restricted joint. Most patients feel pressure or a brief stretch, not sharp pain. Serious complications are rare, and we screen for red flags before treating. We’ll explain what we’re doing, why, and what alternatives exist.

Usually not. Imaging is ordered only if there are red flags, a history of significant trauma, or if progress stalls and more information would change the plan. Most muscle, joint, and movement problems are diagnosed by history and examination.

In most cases, no. Chiropractors are portal-of-entry providers, so you can book directly. Some insurance plans may still ask for a referral for coverage — call us and we’ll help you check.

It depends on the condition and your goal. Acute problems are often seen more frequently for 2-4 weeks, then less often as pain settles. Many conditions at ActiveSTL are often resolved in 8-10 visits, but your timeline is set at your first visit and reviewed as you progress — not sold as a package up front.

A hands-on soft-tissue treatment that combines specific pressure with active movement to address adhesions and restricted muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Dr. Donahue is full-body ART certified, and it’s commonly used for plantar fasciitis, shin splints, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, and headaches.

Dry needling uses thin, solid filament needles in trigger points or tight muscles to release tension, reduce pain, and improve function. It’s based on Western musculoskeletal principles, not traditional Chinese medicine meridians, so it’s not acupuncture.

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in injured tissue. It’s most often considered for chronic tendon problems that haven’t responded to other conservative care — plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, tennis elbow, and similar conditions. Most patients describe it as mildly uncomfortable, not painful, and improvement is often gradual over several sessions.

A high-intensity, non-invasive light therapy used to promote pain relief, reduce inflammation, and support tissue repair for musculoskeletal and chronic pain conditions. It’s used alongside — not instead of — assessment, manual therapy, and rehab.

Often, yes — with modified load. Complete rest is rarely the plan. We’ll tell you what to keep doing, what to pause, and what to change (volume, intensity, technique, or surface) so you don’t lose fitness while the injury heals.

Not by pain alone. We look for restored movement and strength, tolerance of sport-specific load without a flare the next day, and a clear progression back to full training. That criteria is written into your plan, so “ready” isn’t a guess.

Yes. Every plan includes homework to keep progress moving between visits — usually strength, mobility, or movement drills matched to your phase: pain relief, return to activity, or performance. That’s how we aim to prevent the same problem returning.

Then we reassess. Recurring pain usually means the original cause — movement pattern, load, strength deficit, or a missed diagnosis — hasn’t been addressed, or the plan needs to change. If progress stalls, we’ll discuss imaging, a different treatment, or referral to another provider.

We’re in-network with UHC, Anthem BCBS, Aetna, and Medicare, and HSA/FSA are accepted. Dry needling, Class IV laser, and shockwave are cash services paid directly. Cost depends on treatment type, number of sessions, and coverage — the front desk will verify your benefits and give you an estimated cost of care before treatment starts. No prices are published online. Call 314-553-9785 for an estimate.

They overlap a lot. At ActiveSTL, care usually blends both sides — assessment and hands-on treatment, plus rehab exercises and load management — rather than adjustments alone. If physical therapy or another provider is a better fit for your case, we’ll say so and help with the referral.

It’s a non-surgical service for sciatica, disc bulges and herniations, and spinal stenosis. You stay fully clothed on a computer-controlled table for sessions of about 20–30 minutes, with a typical course commonly 12–24 sessions over 6–8 weeks. Your exact plan is set at your first visit after your exam.

Mild soreness or stiffness can happen, usually for a day or two, especially after a first visit. Gentle movement usually helps. Tell your clinician if soreness is sharp, lasts longer than a couple of days, or keeps getting worse — the plan should be adjusted.

It’s gas being released from the joint fluid when a restricted joint moves — not bones cracking. The sound isn’t required for the adjustment to help, and some techniques don’t produce it at all.

Yes. Symptoms like neck pain, stiffness, and headaches can take a day or two to appear after an accident. We assess and document the injury, build a plan around your exam, and you don’t need a referral to book.