Frequently Asked Questions in Chattanooga TN

Integrative medicine is a whole-person approach to healthcare that combines the best of conventional medical care with evidence-based natural and lifestyle therapies. Rather than focusing only on symptoms, integrative medicine looks at the full picture — your physical health, nutrition, movement, stress levels, nervous system function, and more. Our mission is to address the root cause of your symptoms, and customize a treatment plan that focuses on healing.

Traditional medicine is excellent at acute care — managing emergencies, diagnosing disease, and suppressing symptoms. Integrative medicine builds on that foundation by asking deeper questions about why symptoms are occurring in the first place. Where conventional medicine often prescribes medication to manage a condition long-term, integrative medicine works to restore proper function so the body can do more of the healing itself. Dr. Chinn brings dual training in chiropractic care and functional medicine, which means he evaluates both the structural and metabolic factors that most conventional providers don't assess together.

At Elevate, our treatment toolkit includes advanced therapies such as low-level laser and light therapy, Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy (PEMF/PMST), shockwave therapy, nerve plate vibration, chiropractic adjustments, targeted nutritional coaching and supplementation, and custom rehabilitation protocols. We combine these modalities into personalized care plans based on each patient's specific diagnosis, goals, and health history.

Our practice focuses on conditions involving the nervous system, musculoskeletal function, and chronic inflammation — including peripheral neuropathy (whether diabetic, chemo or medication-induced, autoimmune, etc.), chronic pain in the shoulders, knees, and feet, plantar fasciitis, balance issues, chronic fatigue, and inflammatory or autoimmune conditions. If you've been living with a condition and you've been told ‘nothing can be done’, we encourage you to come in for a consultation. We regularly help patients who were told their options had run out.

Integrative medicine practitioners hold a range of professional credentials depending on their area of specialization. Dr. Brian Chinn is a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and holds advanced training in Functional Medicine, giving him deep expertise in both the structural and metabolic dimensions of health. While his credentials differ from a traditional MD, his training is rigorous, evidence-based, and specifically focused on identifying root causes of chronic and neurological conditions. We also work collaboratively with our patients' primary care and specialist physicians to ensure coordinated, comprehensive care.

Every patient at Elevate begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes a thorough health history, a review of prior testing and imaging, a neurological assessment, and a structural examination. Dr. Chinn uses these findings to identify the specific contributing factors driving your condition — whether that's nerve damage, spinal compression, nutritional deficiency, circulatory impairment, or a combination. From there, he builds a personalized treatment protocol using the therapies most likely to produce meaningful improvement for your specific case. We then track your progress and adjust as your body responds.

Yes. The therapies used at Elevate are non-invasive, drug-free, and have well-established safety profiles. Laser therapy, PEMF, shockwave, chiropractic care, nutritional guidance, and rehabilitation protocols are all supported by clinical research and used safely with patients of a wide range of ages and health backgrounds. Dr. Chinn conducts a thorough intake evaluation before recommending any treatment to ensure each therapy is appropriate for your individual health situation. We will always be transparent with you about what we're recommending and why.

Patients who work with integrative practitioners often experience improvements that go well beyond symptom reduction. At Elevate, we regularly see patients report better sleep, reduced pain and medication dependence, improved balance and coordination, more energy, and the ability to return to activities they'd given up. Because we treat root causes rather than just symptoms, the results tend to be more durable. Perhaps most importantly, patients often tell us they finally feel heard — that someone is actually trying to understand and solve the problem, not just manage it indefinitely.

Coverage varies depending on your insurance plan and the specific therapies included in your care plan. Some chiropractic services may be covered; many of our advanced therapies such as laser, PEMF, and shockwave are not typically covered by standard insurance plans. We encourage patients to call our office at 423-702-8374 before their first visit and we'll help you understand your options. We also offer flexible payment arrangements and will always be upfront about costs so there are no surprises.

Because we actually try to get to the bottom of what's wrong — and we don't give up when the answer isn't obvious. Dr. Chinn brings 13 years of clinical experience, dual training in chiropractic and functional medicine, and a genuine commitment to finding solutions for patients who've been told their options are limited. We also invest in the most advanced therapeutic technology available — not because it's impressive, but because it works. If you've tried other approaches without success, we'd be honored to take a fresh look.

Dr. Brian Chinn holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree (DC), along with 13 years of clinical experience. He has received specialized training in advanced neurological therapies including laser and light therapy, PEMF, shockwave, and neuropathy rehabilitation. He stays current through ongoing professional development and is committed to applying only evidence-supported approaches with his patients.

Results vary based on the condition, its severity, and how long it has been present. Many patients notice meaningful improvement within the first 4 to 8 weeks of treatment. Some experience changes — improved sleep, reduced burning, better balance — within just a few sessions. Conditions that have been present for many years may take longer to respond, but we track your progress at every stage so you can see exactly how your body is changing. We will always be honest with you about what's realistic for your specific situation.

Absolutely, and we encourage it. Integrative medicine is designed to work alongside conventional care, not replace it. We regularly coordinate with patients' primary care physicians, neurologists, endocrinologists, and oncologists to ensure our care plan complements their overall treatment. If you're on medication, managing a chronic disease, or currently undergoing other treatment, please let us know during your evaluation — we'll design your plan with all of that in mind.

Nutrition is foundational. The nervous system, immune system, and musculoskeletal system all require specific nutrients to function and repair properly — and deficiencies in B vitamins, magnesium, alpha-lipoic acid, omega-3s, and other key nutrients directly contribute to conditions like neuropathy, chronic pain, and fatigue. At Elevate, Dr. Chinn assesses each patient's nutritional status as part of the intake process and builds targeted nutritional support into care plans where appropriate. We focus on food-first strategies combined with clinical-grade supplementation when needed.

The nervous system doesn't distinguish between physical and emotional stress — chronic stress creates physiological changes that contribute to inflammation, nerve dysfunction, hormonal imbalance, and impaired healing. Integrative medicine addresses this connection by looking at the whole person. While our practice focuses primarily on physical and neurological conditions, we incorporate patient education around stress management, sleep hygiene, and lifestyle factors that significantly affect outcomes. When appropriate, we refer patients to complementary mental health support as well.

Yes. The therapies we use at Elevate are supported by peer-reviewed research and clinical evidence. Low-level laser therapy, PEMF, shockwave, chiropractic care, and targeted nutrition all have substantial bodies of research supporting their use for the conditions we treat. We don't chase trends — every therapy in our protocol has earned its place through evidence. That said, we're also honest that integrative medicine is an evolving field, and we stay current with emerging research to continually improve our methods.

Functional medicine is one specialty within the broader integrative medicine framework. Functional medicine focuses specifically on identifying the root biochemical, metabolic, and lifestyle causes of disease — often using advanced laboratory testing to uncover hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, gut dysfunction, and inflammatory markers. Integrative medicine is the wider umbrella that also incorporates structural care, manual therapies, and mind-body approaches. At Elevate, Dr. Chinn's dual training in chiropractic and functional medicine allows him to bridge both worlds — which is especially valuable for conditions like neuropathy that have both structural and metabolic drivers.

Your first visit to Elevate is a conversation as much as it is an examination. You'll complete a detailed health history, discuss your symptoms, your goals, and the approaches you've already tried. Dr. Chinn will perform a neurological and structural evaluation tailored to your condition. By the end of your first visit, you will get a lot of your questions answered. And if Dr. Chinn is able to accept your case, he will put together a treatment plan for you. There's no pressure and no obligation — our goal is simply to give you a clear, honest assessment of your health.

A few things stand out. First, our focus — we are specialists in neuropathy and nervous system conditions, not a general wellness clinic trying to be everything to everyone. Second, our technology — we've invested in some of the most advanced non-invasive therapeutic equipment available, low level light therapy, PMST, shockwave, and nerve plate vibration. Third, Dr. Chinn's dual training — very few providers combine structural chiropractic expertise with functional medicine in the way he does. And fourth, our philosophy — we genuinely believe most patients have more healing potential than they've been told, and we structure everything we do around proving that to be true.