Frequently Asked Questions About Care at TAI NYC

My care is guided by clinical judgment, not a preset protocol. Chiropractic and physical therapy help many people, and many of my patients come to me after trying one or both. In many offices, though, care follows a standard routine for each diagnosis — especially in insurance-based settings.

But people are not cars. You can’t simply replace a part or follow the same repair manual for everyone. Every person brings their own story — their work, their sport, past injuries, and the way they have lived in their body. Back pain or neck pain is rarely just one broken part; it is often the result of that whole life experience.

So I look at knee, shoulder, or back pain as part of a larger movement system: how your whole body works, how different regions interact, and how daily habits and activity have shaped your symptoms over time.

Hands-on manual therapy is central to my work, and I address pain directly. But pain relief is a starting point, not the endpoint. A 10-year-old athlete, a working professional, and a 90-year-old may have similar symptoms, but their care should not look the same. I treat the person, not the diagnosis.

More about my approach →

Yes. I see every patient myself — from the first conversation to examination, treatment, and exercise.

I’m a sports chiropractor and Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians (DACBSP), and I have served as Team USA medical staff, including at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. You won’t be handed off to an assistant or a different provider each visit — the person who examines you is the person who treats you and follows your progress. More about me.

Initial visit — $300 (about 90 minutes): history, examination, diagnosis and a clear explanation, hands-on treatment, exercise guidance, and a written summary emailed after your visit.

Follow-up visit — $250: re-assessment of what has changed, hands-on treatment, and exercise review and progression.

TAI NYC is an out-of-network, self-pay practice. I provide a superbill you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement, and FSA/HSA cards are accepted. There are no packages or long-term contracts — you pay per visit, and you decide whether to continue.

TAI NYC is an out-of-network practice, so I don’t bill insurance directly. I provide a superbill — an itemized receipt you can submit to your insurance for out-of-network reimbursement — and FSA and HSA cards are accepted.

Whether you are reimbursed, and how much, depends on your plan and deductible. Working outside insurance networks lets me spend real time with each patient and make decisions case by case. If you have questions about how your plan might apply, feel free to text or email before booking.

No referral is needed — you can book directly.

As a New York–licensed chiropractor, I can order X-rays, MRI, myself when they are clinically needed. Imaging isn’t ordered routinely; if I think it will change your care, I’ll explain why. If you already have images or reports, please email them before your visit. When a case calls for it, I work with orthopedic and pain management physicians.

The first visit takes about 90 minutes. We cover what is causing your symptoms, why they developed, and what to do next — and start treatment the same day.

It begins with a detailed health history and a hands-on examination to identify the structures involved — muscle, joint, nerve, or connective tissue — and to rule out anything that needs other medical attention. A movement evaluation follows, looking at how you walk, stand, sit, and move in your sport or work.

Hands-on treatment is usually included, along with simple movement strategies or exercises you can use right away. Afterward, I email you a written summary of the assessment and plan.

If you have X-rays or MRI images, please send them ahead of time. Imaging is not ordered routinely, but when it is clinically needed I can order it directly — no separate referral required. More about your first visit.

The answer depends on your diagnosis, age, symptoms, and history — so it is different for everyone. I choose treatment based on your examination, from hands-on work on muscles and other soft tissues to gentle joint mobilization. Very little of it is painful.

Joint manipulation — the kind that makes a “pop” — can work very well for the right person, but it does not help everyone every time, so choosing the right method matters. I don’t use it if you are uncomfortable with it, and as a rule I don’t use it at ages when bones tend to become fragile. For younger, healthy patients, I may use it as one part of treatment when the expected benefit clearly outweighs the risk.

It depends on your condition, history, and goals, but many people notice a change within the first one or two visits. Problems that have built up over months or years usually need more time.

The goal of early visits is not perfection but direction: Are symptoms changing? Does movement feel easier? Is it clearer what is driving the problem? If progress is happening, even in small but meaningful ways, the approach is usually working.

After that, some people finish once the pain has resolved; others come every two weeks or once a month to keep their bodies in shape. There is no long-term contract.

Most people can tell within one to four visits, and you don’t need to commit to a long-term plan first.

“Right for you” means you are getting the results you came for. For some people that is less pain; for others it is finally understanding what is going on, moving more easily, or having a clear direction for recovery. Goals are different for everyone — so in the end, you are the one who tells me whether this is working.

I don’t use predetermined care contracts. If it fits, we continue. If it doesn’t, you are free to stop.

Yes. A large part of my work is helping people move better, build strength, and catch small problems early.

Stiffness, heaviness, reduced range of motion, or fatigue can feel “normal” after years, yet still affect how your body functions. Without pain, we can usually move into active work sooner — strength training, movement refinement, and long-term maintenance. Many patients who first came in with pain continue with less frequent visits after their symptoms resolve.

Active people of all ages — my youngest patients are 10 and my oldest is 102. I regularly treat Olympic and elite athletes, but most of my patients are not. They are people who want to stay healthy and keep doing what they enjoy.

I bring the same sports medicine thinking to everyone, because I believe that if you have a body, you are an athlete. Good sports medicine and hands-on care should work for every body, not just elite ones.

Many people come because of pain, an injury, or long-standing symptoms — often after physical therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, or other treatments didn’t bring lasting results. What matters most is not your fitness level but your willingness to take an active role in your health.

Pain relief is often where we start — and if that is your goal, it is my goal too. Reducing pain with hands-on care is a core part of my daily work.

But I usually hope for more. Once the pain settles, I’d like you to come out of it better, healthier, and stronger than before — as far as that is realistic for you.

I treat pain as important information about how your body is moving, adapting, or compensating. As symptoms improve, care can shift toward movement quality, resilience, and long-term function, so the pain is less likely to come back.