More than an adjustment.
Every visit combines soft tissue therapy, spinal traction, Active Release Technique, and a full-spine adjustment — in sequence, in one appointment, every time.
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What happens
every time you come in
Most chiropractors do one thing per visit. Dr. Loewenstein does four — because that's what actually moves the needle. Here's the exact sequence followed at every appointment.
Heat Therapy & Electrical Stimulation
Before hands-on treatment begins, electrical stimulation pads are placed directly on the skin at the target area to begin modulating pain signals and reducing muscle guarding. Moist heat is then laid over the top — the warmth drives circulation deeper into the tissue while the e-stim works underneath. The combination is more effective than either alone: e-stim calms the nervous system's protective response while heat increases tissue extensibility so everything that follows actually has room to work. Your muscles arrive at the table ready to release, not bracing against it.
Spinal Traction — Hill Autoflex Table
The Hill Autoflex is a motorized flexion-distraction table that allows Dr. Loewenstein to apply precise, controlled traction to specific spinal segments while simultaneously working the soft tissue. If you've had disc issues, sciatica, or tight paraspinals that just won't let go, this is where a lot of the relief comes from. The table allows distraction of the disc space — gently creating negative pressure that takes the load off compressed nerves — while Dr. Loewenstein applies manual pressure along the spine. It's an active treatment, not passive traction on a machine.
Therapeutic Massage & ART
While on the traction table and afterward, Dr. Loewenstein works through the surrounding musculature by hand — targeting the paraspinals, glutes, hip flexors, or wherever the pattern of restriction is holding. Then comes Active Release Technique. ART is a patented, provider-certified soft tissue method that combines precise tension with active patient movement to break up scar tissue and adhesions that no amount of stretching alone will release. If you've had the same area worked on for months without progress, it's usually because the adhesion hasn't been addressed. ART addresses it directly.
Full-Spine Chiropractic Adjustment
With soft tissue loosened, restrictions identified, and the nervous system calmer, the adjustment lands differently — and more completely. Dr. Loewenstein performs a full-spine assessment and delivers precise, high-velocity low-amplitude adjustments to the segments that need it. This isn't a rote "crack the same spots" routine. The joints that need to move, get moved. Joints that are already mobile are left alone. The sequencing of the full visit is intentional: soft tissue before adjustment means the adjustment holds longer, sets deeper, and doesn't immediately get pulled back out by tight surrounding musculature.
The methods
behind the results
Every technique here is chosen because it works together as a system. Heat prepares. Traction decompresses. ART breaks up the restriction. Adjustment restores motion. The order matters.
Moist Heat Therapy
Applied to soft tissue before treatment to increase local circulation, reduce muscle tension, and improve tissue extensibility. Makes every subsequent therapy more effective by getting the tissue ready to respond.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrode pads are applied directly to the skin first, then moist heat is placed over the top. The e-stim targets pain gate pathways to reduce the sensation of pain and decrease protective muscle guarding — so your body stops bracing and lets the subsequent work actually happen. Especially effective for acute flare-ups and chronic pain patterns.
Flexion-Distraction Traction
The Hill Autoflex table creates a controlled, rhythmic distraction force through the lumbar and thoracic spine. Particularly effective for disc herniations, spinal stenosis, facet syndrome, and sciatica. Dr. Loewenstein guides the motion actively — it's not a machine doing it to you.
Therapeutic Massage
Deep tissue massage focused on the paraspinals, glutes, hip flexors, and the specific musculature involved in your complaint pattern. Not a general relaxation massage — targeted manual therapy aligned with what the adjustment and ART are addressing.
Active Release Technique (ART)
Dr. Loewenstein is ART Certified — a rigorous hands-on credential that requires annual renewal. ART uses precise tension combined with specific patient movement to shorten and lengthen the tissue through its range of motion, breaking up the adhesion at the exact location it's anchored. It's specific, it can feel intense, and it works when nothing else has.
Chiropractic Adjustment
High-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust applied to specific vertebral segments identified as restricted during examination. When soft tissue work comes first, the adjustment moves into a joint that's ready — not one surrounded by guarded, tight muscle. That's what makes it hold.
Why most adjustments
don't hold
When a joint is adjusted before the surrounding soft tissue is released, the tight musculature simply pulls the joint right back into its restricted position within hours. The "crack" felt great — but nothing changed structurally. This is why some patients have been getting adjusted for years without lasting improvement.
By working soft tissue and breaking up adhesions before the adjustment, the joint moves more freely and the adjustment is able to set in a body that isn't fighting it. The results aren't just felt in the room — they're still there the next morning.
Other offices split heat, massage, traction, and adjustment across different appointments — sometimes with different providers — meaning more co-pays, more scheduling, more coordination. Here, it's one visit, one doctor, one cohesive plan.
Treatment frequency is based on how you're responding, not a pre-sold package of visits. As you improve, the interval between visits increases. The goal is always to need Dr. Loewenstein less — not more.
What patients say
after their first visit
"One of the best adjustments I've ever had. Dr. Loewenstein was attentive, insightful about my pain and getting to the source of the problem. He massaged the problem areas thoroughly and I left feeling rejuvenated."
"Dr. Jordan Loewenstein provides excellent chiropractic care, combining heat, stim, and adjustments for effective pain relief and recovery. He truly listens and tailors treatments to each patient. Highly recommend!"
"Dr. Jordan is friendly and kind. He's very knowledgeable and helped me with my low back pain through E-Stim therapy, muscle work, and adjustments."
"I've been a patient of Dr. Loewenstein for several years, and he consistently provides exceptional care. He has an incredible ability to pinpoint the root cause of my issues and always gets things moving effectively. His knowledge and expertise make every visit worthwhile."
"He takes the time to understand your daily habits and how they might be affecting your health, which made me feel like he was truly focused on addressing my specific needs. His treatments made a noticeable difference, and I walked out of his office feeling much better."
"Dr. Loewenstein provided a highly professional and thorough examination and treatment. His communication style was excellent, making me feel comfortable and heard. He actively listened to my concerns and directly addressed them, explaining his approach clearly."
What patients
ask us most
Every visit follows the same proven sequence: e-stim pads are applied to the skin first, then moist heat is placed on top — together they relax the tissue and calm muscle guarding before any hands-on work begins. Then spinal traction on the Hill Autoflex table with hands-on massage, Active Release Technique to address specific adhesions, then a full-spine chiropractic adjustment. First visits run 45–60 minutes. Follow-ups are 20–30 minutes.
ART is a certified soft tissue method that identifies and breaks up adhesions — areas where tissue has become restricted and bound to surrounding structures. Dr. Loewenstein applies tension to the exact spot and asks you to move through a specific range of motion, which stretches the adhesion apart. It can feel intense — most patients describe a "good pain" sensation similar to a deep massage. It's not comfortable in the moment but the result is usually immediate and noticeable.
Flexion-distraction traction is one of the most researched and well-supported approaches for disc-related conditions including herniations, bulges, and stenosis. The table allows gentle, controlled unloading of the disc space with Dr. Loewenstein guiding the direction and amplitude — not a machine applying blanket force. A thorough exam is always performed first to confirm it's appropriate for your specific case.
For most PPO insurance plans — Aetna, Blue Shield, Anthem, UHC — no referral is needed. You can book directly. VA patients require a CCN referral through your VA provider or TriWest. UC SHIP students require a referral from UCSD Student Health Services. If you're unsure, call the office at (858) 558-3111 to confirm before your visit.
Acute issues — a recent strain, first-time back episode — often resolve meaningfully in 6–12 visits. Longer-standing or degenerative conditions may take 12–24 visits to reach stable improvement. A realistic estimate is always discussed at your first appointment based on what's found in the exam. The goal is always to need fewer visits over time as you respond to care.
Yes. Common presentations include neck pain and stiffness, cervicogenic headaches, sciatica and radiculopathy, shoulder and hip tightness, IT band and runner's injuries, postural pain from desk work, and sports injuries across a range of activity levels. ART in particular is effective for extremity complaints — shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles — not just the spine.
Ready to feel
the difference?
Most patients notice a difference after their first visit. New patients are seen quickly — book online in under two minutes or call the office directly.
5151 Shoreham Place, Suite 175 · UTC San Diego, CA 92122 · Near UCSD