The checklist
Ask these before you book anywhere.
1. Has the doctor actually worked with athletes?
Ask who, for how long, and whether the role is current. Team titles are easy to claim and hard to verify, so look for something public: a team announcement, a professional society listing, or press coverage.
Our answer: Dr. Joe Krzemien is the current Atlanta Dream team chiropractor (10 seasons), served the Atlanta Falcons for 13 NFL seasons, and was inducted into the Professional Football Chiropractic Society Hall of Fame on February 28, 2025.
2. Will the doctor examine me, or an assistant?
In some clinics the doctor adjusts and an assistant runs everything else. Ask who does the exam, who does the soft-tissue work, and how long you will actually spend with the doctor.
Our answer: The doctor sees you, examines you, and treats you. New patient evaluations run about 60 minutes.
3. Do they diagnose before they treat?
A good sports chiropractor sorts your problem into a specific type (joint, muscle, tendon, disc, or nerve) before treating, and screens for problems that need a different provider. Be cautious of a plan that starts before an exam is finished.
Our answer: Every first visit includes a history, neurological screen, movement testing, and a safety screen, followed by a plain-language plan.
4. Do they treat more than the spine?
Athletes hurt shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and feet. Ask whether the clinic treats extremities and tendons, and with what tools.
Our answer: We treat spine and extremity injuries with adjustments, Active Release Technique, Graston, SASTM, focused shockwave, laser, decompression, and sports rehabilitation.
5. Is there a return-to-play plan?
Pain going away is not the finish line. Ask how the clinic decides you are ready to train, compete, or lift again, and what you will do at home between visits.
Our answer: Every plan ends with a return-to-activity progression built around your sport or job.
6. Will they tell you when you need someone else?
Some problems need imaging, an orthopedic surgeon, or a physician. A trustworthy clinic says so at the first visit.
Our answer: If we are not the right fit for your problem, we tell you who is.
7. How does payment work?
Ask up front whether the clinic bills insurance, what a visit costs, and whether there are long prepaid packages.
Our answer: We are a direct-pay practice with published pricing. We accept HSA, FSA, credit, and cash. Itemized superbills for out-of-network reimbursement are available through our ChiroHealth membership program.
The short answer
What makes a sports chiropractor different.
A sports chiropractor treats the joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves that athletes load hardest, and judges success by whether you get back to your sport, not only by whether the pain fades. In practice that means a full diagnostic exam, treatment that goes beyond adjustments, and a return-to-play plan.
Georgia Spine & Sports Rehab has been in Buford for 23 years and has been named Best of Gwinnett every year since 2012. Read more about Dr. Joe Krzemien, Dr. Corie Terwilliger (Webster certified, prenatal and pediatric care), our athlete care, and our pricing.