“I don’t have any back pain. Why would I see a chiropractor?”

It’s one of the most common questions we hear at The Wellness Tribe. And it makes sense—most people’s first experience with chiropractic care happens when something hurts. A thrown-out back, a stiff neck, sciatica that won’t quit. You’re in pain, you need relief, and chiropractic care can help.

But here’s what many people don’t realize: waiting until you’re in pain to address your spinal health is like waiting until your check engine light comes on to change your oil. By the time symptoms appear, dysfunction has often been present for weeks, months, or even years.

At The Wellness Tribe in Denver, Colorado, we take a different approach. Our founder, Dr. Maggie McInnes, practices vitalistic, preventative chiropractic care—supporting your body’s optimal function before problems arise, not just responding to symptoms after they develop.

This shift in perspective—from reactive sick care to proactive wellness care—can transform not just how you feel, but how you live.

The Problem with Waiting for Symptoms

Your body is remarkably good at adapting and compensating. When something isn’t working quite right, your body finds a workaround. A restricted joint in your mid-back? No problem—your lower back and neck pick up the slack. A misaligned pelvis? Your body shifts your posture to compensate. Tight hip flexors from sitting all day? Your back works overtime to keep you upright.

This is your body’s brilliance at work. It’s constantly adapting to keep you functioning. But here’s the catch: compensation has a cost.

The Adaptation-Compensation-Symptom Progression

Stage 1: Silent Dysfunction. Something in your body isn’t moving or functioning optimally. It could be that a vertebra is slightly misaligned from that fender bender three months ago. Maybe your pelvis shifted after sleeping on your stomach wrong. Or, maybe years of sitting at a desk have created restrictions in your thoracic spine. You feel fine. No pain, no obvious problems. But the dysfunction is there.

Stage 2: Compensation. Your body adapts. Other joints, muscles, and structures take on extra load to work around the area that isn’t functioning well. Your nervous system adjusts. Movement patterns change subtly. You still feel fine. Maybe you notice some stiffness in the morning that goes away once you move around, or occasional tension in your shoulders by the end of the workday. Nothing that seems like a big deal.

Stage 3: Chronic Compensation. The structures that have been compensating for months or years start to wear down. Muscles stay chronically tight. Joints develop wear patterns. Your posture shifts. You might notice you’re not as flexible as you used to be, or certain movements feel harder. Maybe you can’t turn your head as far to back up your car. Maybe you have to warm up longer before exercise. You chalk it up to getting older.

Stage 4: Symptoms Emerge. Finally, something gives. Maybe it’s a sudden injury from a simple movement—bending over to pick up a shoe and your back goes out. Or, maybe it’s chronic pain that gradually worsens—tension headaches, persistent lower back discomfort, hip pain that won’t go away. Maybe it’s decreased performance, frequent injuries, or just feeling “off” in your body. Now you’re in pain, and now you seek care.

Here’s the thing: by the time you reach Stage 4, you’re not dealing with a simple, acute problem. You’re dealing with a chronic pattern of dysfunction that has been building for months or years. And while we can absolutely help you at this stage, it takes more time, more effort, and more intervention to reverse patterns that have been established over a long period.

The Hidden Cost of Waiting

When you wait for symptoms to appear before addressing your health, you miss the opportunity to:

Prevent injuries before they happen. Many injuries aren’t really “acute” at all—they’re the final expression of chronic dysfunction. The back that “goes out” from picking up a laundry basket wasn’t injured by the laundry basket. It was already compromised from months or years of poor function.

Maintain optimal function as you age. The stiffness, aches, and limitations that many people accept as “just part of getting older” are often the result of accumulated dysfunction over time, not aging itself.

Perform at your best. Whether you’re an athlete or just want to keep up with your kids, your body performs best when it’s functioning optimally. Subtle dysfunctions that don’t cause pain can still limit your strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.

Support your overall health. Your nervous system controls every function in your body. When your spine isn’t moving well and your nervous system isn’t functioning optimally, it can affect everything from your immune function to your digestion to your stress response.

What Is Preventative Chiropractic Care?

Preventative chiropractic care is about supporting your body’s optimal function before symptoms arise. It’s proactive, not reactive. It’s about wellness, not just the absence of disease.

Instead of waiting for your body to break down and then trying to fix it, preventative care focuses on:

Identifying and addressing dysfunction early. Through regular assessments, we can identify areas of restriction, misalignment, or dysfunction before they cause symptoms or lead to injury.

Supporting your nervous system’s optimal function. Your nervous system coordinates every function in your body. When your spine is aligned and moving well, your nervous system can function without interference, supporting your body’s innate ability to heal, adapt, and thrive.

Maintaining mobility and flexibility. Regular adjustments help keep your joints mobile and your spine flexible, which supports healthy movement patterns and reduces wear and tear on your body.

Promoting balance and adaptation. Life is stressful—physically, chemically, and emotionally. Preventative chiropractic care helps your body adapt to these stresses more effectively, maintaining balance and resilience.

Optimizing your body’s performance. Whether you’re training for a marathon or just want to feel good in your daily life, your body performs best when it’s functioning optimally.

Think of It Like Dental Care

Every day, yo brush your teeth and you go to the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. You don’t wait until you have a cavity or need a root canal to see your dentist. Practicing preventative dental care make it easier to maintain healthy teeth—and less painful and expensive—than dealing with dental problems after they develop.

Your spine and nervous system deserve the same proactive care.

Or consider your car. You change the oil regularly, rotate the tires, and get routine maintenance—not because something is broken, but because you want to keep it running well and prevent problems. You don’t wait for your engine to seize before you check the oil.

Your body is infinitely more complex and valuable than your car. It makes sense to give it at least the same level of preventative maintenance.

Who Benefits from Preventative Chiropractic Care?

The short answer? Everyone. But let’s look at some specific examples.

Desk Workers and People with Sedentary Jobs

If you sit at a desk all day, you’re putting your body in a position it wasn’t designed for. Prolonged sitting creates:

Forward head posture and neck strain
Rounded shoulders and mid-back stiffness
Tight hip flexors and weak glutes
Poor spinal alignment and reduced mobility

Even if you feel fine now, these patterns are accumulating stress in your body. Regular chiropractic care can help counteract the effects of prolonged sitting, maintain mobility, and prevent the chronic pain that often develops over time.

Active People and Athletes

If you’re training regularly—running, lifting, cycling, playing sports—you’re placing demands on your body. Even without injury, training creates stress and adaptation. Regular chiropractic care helps:

Maintain optimal alignment for efficient movement
Support recovery between training sessions
Prevent overuse injuries from developing
Identify and address imbalances before they cause problems
Optimize performance by ensuring your body is functioning at its best

Many professional and elite athletes receive regular chiropractic care not because they’re injured, but because they understand that optimal function equals optimal performance.

Parents of Young Children

Parenting is physically demanding. You’re lifting, carrying, bending, and often contorting your body into awkward positions—nursing in the middle of the night, bending over cribs, carrying car seats, wearing babies in carriers. These repetitive stresses can create patterns of dysfunction over time.

Preventative chiropractic care helps you stay healthy and pain-free so you can keep up with the physical demands of parenting.

People with Stressful Jobs or Lives

Stress isn’t just mental—it’s physical. When you’re stressed, your nervous system shifts into “fight or flight” mode. Your muscles tense, your breathing becomes shallow, your posture changes. Chronic stress keeps your body in this heightened state, which takes a toll.

Chiropractic care supports nervous system balance, helping your body shift out of “fight or flight” and into “rest and digest” mode, where healing and recovery can happen.

People Who Want to Age Well

Aging doesn’t have to mean declining function, chronic pain, and loss of independence. Many of the limitations people associate with aging are actually the result of accumulated dysfunction, decreased mobility, and nervous system decline—all of which can be addressed proactively.

Regular chiropractic care throughout your life helps you maintain the mobility, strength, balance, and function you need to stay active and independent as you age.

People with a History of Injuries

If you’ve had previous injuries—car accidents, sports injuries, falls—even if they healed and you feel fine now, those injuries can create lasting effects on how your body moves and functions. Scar tissue, compensatory patterns, and subtle restrictions can persist for years.

Preventative care helps ensure that old injuries don’t continue to affect your body and increase your risk for future problems.

What Does Preventative Care Look Like?

Preventative chiropractic care at The Wellness Tribe is personalized based on your body, your lifestyle, and your goals. But here’s what you can generally expect:

Regular Assessments

Even if you feel great, we regularly assess your spinal alignment, joint mobility, posture, and nervous system function. This allows us to identify and address small issues before they become big problems.

Adjustments to Maintain Optimal Function

Regular adjustments keep your spine aligned and moving well, which supports optimal nervous system function. The frequency of adjustments varies based on your individual needs—some people come weekly, others bi-weekly or monthly.

Education and Empowerment

We teach you about your body, how it works, and what you can do to support your health. This might include exercises to strengthen weak areas, stretches to maintain mobility, ergonomic guidance for your workspace, or lifestyle recommendations.

Lifestyle Support

We look at the whole picture—not just your spine, but your nutrition, sleep, stress management, movement patterns, and overall wellness. We help you identify factors that might be undermining your health and support you in making sustainable changes.

Partnership in Your Wellness Journey

Preventative care is a partnership. We’re not just “fixing” you—we’re working with you to support your body’s optimal function over the long term. You’re an active participant in your health and wellness.

The Science Behind Prevention

Preventative chiropractic care isn’t just a nice idea—it’s supported by research and an understanding of how the body works.

Spinal Health and Nervous System Function

Your spine houses and protects your spinal cord, which is the major communication pathway between your brain and your body. When vertebrae are misaligned or not moving properly (what chiropractors call subluxations), it can interfere with nervous system function.

Research published in Neural Plasticity shows that spinal manipulation affects nervous system function, altering sensory processing, motor control, and even brain function.

The Degenerative Cascade

Spinal dysfunction doesn’t stay static—it progresses. Research has documented the degenerative cascade that occurs when spinal joints aren’t moving properly:

Loss of normal joint motion and alignment
Adhesion formation and muscle spasm
Disc thinning and degeneration
Bone spur formation
Progressive degeneration and loss of function

This process takes years or decades, and it’s often well underway before symptoms appear. Regular chiropractic care can help maintain proper joint motion and alignment, potentially slowing or preventing this degenerative process.

Prevention Is More Effective Than Treatment

A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that maintenance chiropractic care was more effective than short-term treatment in preventing recurrence of lower back pain.

Other research has shown that:

Regular chiropractic care may reduce healthcare costs by preventing the development of chronic conditions
Athletes receiving regular chiropractic care have lower injury rates
Maintenance care improves quality of life measures and functional outcomes

Use It or Lose It

Joints need movement to stay healthy. Movement pumps nutrients into joints and waste products out. When joints don’t move through their full range of motion regularly, they lose mobility, develop adhesions, and degenerate more quickly.

Regular chiropractic adjustments help maintain joint mobility throughout your spine, which supports long-term spinal health.

Common Questions About Preventative Care

“If I start chiropractic care, will I have to keep going forever?”

You don’t “have to” do anything. Chiropractic care is a choice. But here’s the question: do you want to maintain the benefits you’ve gained, or do you want to go back to how things were before?

Think about exercise. If you start working out and get stronger, more flexible, and healthier, do you “have to” keep exercising? No, but if you stop, you’ll gradually lose those gains.

Chiropractic care works the same way. Regular care maintains the benefits—optimal function, better mobility, nervous system balance—that you’ve achieved.

“How often do I need to come in for maintenance care?”

This varies based on your individual needs, lifestyle, stress levels, and goals. Some people benefit from weekly adjustments. Others do well with bi-weekly or monthly visits. We’ll work with you to determine the frequency that best supports your health and wellness.

“Isn’t this just a way to get people to keep paying for care they don’t need?”

We understand this concern, and we’re transparent about our recommendations. Preventative care is always your choice. We provide information about the benefits of regular care and make recommendations based on our assessment of your body and your goals, but you’re always in control of your care plan.

Consider this: most people don’t question the value of regular dental cleanings, annual physical exams, or routine car maintenance. These are accepted forms of preventative care.

Chiropractic maintenance care operates on the same principle—supporting optimal function and preventing problems before they develop.

“What if I can’t afford regular care?”

We understand that cost is a consideration. Many people find that investing in preventative care actually saves money in the long run by preventing more serious (and expensive) health problems. We offer various care packages and payment options to make preventative care more accessible. We’re happy to work with you to find an approach that fits your budget.

“I’m young and healthy. Do I really need preventative care?”

This is actually the best time to start. It’s much easier to maintain good health than to recover it once it’s lost. The patterns of dysfunction that lead to chronic pain and decreased function in middle age often begin in your twenties and thirties—or even earlier. Starting preventative care while you’re young and healthy gives you the best chance of staying that way.

“Can’t I just do exercises and stretches on my own?”

Exercise and stretching are important parts of maintaining your health, and we encourage them. But they can’t replace chiropractic adjustments. Here’s why: if a joint is restricted or misaligned, you can’t stretch or exercise your way to proper alignment. The joint needs to be adjusted to restore proper motion and position. Think of it this way—if your car’s alignment is off, driving it more carefully doesn’t fix the alignment problem. The car needs to be properly aligned.

“How do I know if the care is working if I don’t have symptoms to measure?”

Great question. While symptom relief is one way to measure progress, it’s not the only way—or even the most important way. We measure function, not just symptoms. This might include assessing your range of motion, evaluating movement patterns, checking postural alignment, assessing nervous system function, and tracking your overall sense of well-being, energy levels, sleep quality, and ability to handle stress.

Many people also notice benefits they weren’t expecting—better sleep, more energy, improved digestion, better mood, enhanced athletic performance, or simply feeling more “balanced” in their body.

Real Stories: The Long-Term Benefits of Preventative Care

“I’m a marathon runner, and I started getting adjusted regularly not because I was injured, but because I wanted to stay healthy and perform my best. I’ve been going to The Wellness Tribe for three years now, and I haven’t had a single running injury in that time. I’ve also gotten faster and set several PRs. I’m convinced that keeping my body aligned and functioning well has been a game-changer for my running.” — Lisa, Littleton

“As a software developer, I sit at a computer all day. A few years ago, I started developing neck and shoulder pain. After working with The Wellness Tribe, my pain resolved. But I continued with regular care because I noticed I felt better overall—less tension, better posture, fewer headaches. Now I come in every other week, and it’s become an essential part of how I take care of my body. I think of it like going to the gym—it’s just part of my wellness routine.” — James, Denver

“I’m 38 and have no major health issues, but I wanted to be proactive about my health. I started maintenance care at The Wellness Tribe about a year ago, coming in once a month. I’ve noticed I have more energy, I sleep better, I handle stress better, and I just feel more balanced overall. It’s hard to describe, but I feel like my body is functioning at a higher level. I wish I’d started sooner.” — Amanda, Highlands Ranch

The Philosophy Behind Preventative Care: A Vitalistic Approach

At The Wellness Tribe, our approach to preventative care is rooted in a vitalistic philosophy. This means we believe that:

Your body has an innate intelligence. Your body knows how to heal, adapt, and function optimally. It doesn’t need to be “fixed”—it needs to be supported in doing what it already knows how to do.

Health comes from the inside out. True health isn’t just the absence of symptoms. It’s a state of optimal function where your body is adapting effectively to the stresses of life and expressing its full potential.

The nervous system is the master control system. Your brain and nervous system coordinate every function in your body. When your nervous system is functioning optimally, your body can heal, adapt, and thrive.

Prevention is the highest form of healthcare. The best time to address dysfunction is before it becomes disease. The best time to support your health is before you lose it.

You are an active participant in your health. We’re not here to “fix” you—we’re here to support you in taking an active role in your health and wellness. True wellness comes from the daily choices you make about how you move, what you eat, how you manage stress, and how you care for your body.

This philosophy shapes everything we do at The Wellness Tribe. We’re not just treating symptoms or chasing pain. We’re supporting your body’s optimal function and empowering you to live your healthiest, most vibrant life.

Beyond the Spine: Whole-Body Wellness

While chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system, we recognize that optimal health involves many factors. As part of our preventative care approach, we also provide guidance and support in:

Nutrition and diet. The food you eat affects your inflammation levels, energy, mental clarity, immune function, and overall health. We can help you navigate nutritional choices that support your wellness goals.

Movement and exercise. Your body is designed to move. Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining strength, mobility, cardiovascular health, mental health, and overall function. We help you find sustainable ways to keep your body moving.

Sleep quality. Sleep is when your body heals, repairs, and adapts. Poor sleep undermines every aspect of your health. We help you identify and address factors that might be interfering with your sleep quality.

Stress management. Chronic stress is one of the biggest threats to your health, affecting your nervous system, hormones, immune function, digestion, and more. We help you develop strategies for managing stress and supporting your body’s resilience.

Posture and ergonomics. How you hold your body throughout the day affects your spinal health, muscle tension, and nervous system function. We provide practical guidance on improving your posture and setting up your workspace, car, and home to support your body.

Mindset and mental health. Your mental and emotional state affects your physical health, and vice versa. We support a holistic approach to wellness that includes mental and emotional well-being.

Starting Your Preventative Care Journey

If you’re intrigued by the idea of preventative chiropractic care but aren’t sure where to start, here’s what we recommend:

Schedule Your First Adjustment

Even if you feel fine, an initial appointment can provide valuable information about how your body is functioning. We’ll assess your spinal alignment, joint mobility, posture, and nervous system function, and identify any areas of dysfunction that might not be causing symptoms yet but could lead to problems down the road.

Start with a Short Trial Period

Try regular chiropractic care for 8-12 weeks and pay attention to how you feel. Many people notice benefits they weren’t expecting—better energy, improved sleep, better mood, enhanced athletic performance, or simply feeling more “right” in their body.

Evaluate and Adjust

After your trial period, we’ll reassess and discuss what you’ve noticed. Based on your experience and your goals, we’ll work together to determine what ongoing care looks like for you.

Make It Part of Your Routine

The most successful preventative care happens when it becomes a regular part of your wellness routine, like exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep. Find a frequency that works for you and your lifestyle, and commit to making your spinal and nervous system health a priority.

Investing in Your Future Health

Preventative chiropractic care is an investment in your future health and quality of life. It’s choosing to be proactive rather than reactive. It’s prioritizing your long-term wellness over short-term convenience.

The choices you make today about your health will shape how you feel and function ten, twenty, thirty years from now. Will you wait until problems develop and then try to fix them? Or will you invest in maintaining your health so you can stay active, vital, and thriving throughout your life?

At The Wellness Tribe, we’re passionate about helping people make that shift from sick care to wellness care, from treating symptoms to supporting optimal function, from reacting to problems to preventing them in the first place.

You don’t have to wait until you’re in pain to prioritize your health. In fact, the best time to start is now—when you feel fine.

About The Wellness Tribe

The Wellness Tribe is a Denver-based chiropractic practice founded by Dr. Maggie McInnes, a vitalistic family, prenatal, and pediatric chiropractor. Located on South Pearl Street in the heart of Denver, Colorado, The Wellness Tribe offers holistic, gentle chiropractic care for the whole family.

We specialize in prenatal chiropractic care (including the Webster Technique), pediatric chiropractic, family wellness, and performance-based care. Our approach is rooted in the belief that your body has an innate intelligence and ability to heal when it’s functioning optimally. We’re passionate about empowering individuals and families to live life fully, healthfully, and wholeheartedly.

At The Wellness Tribe, we create a warm, welcoming space where you feel heard, supported, and cared for. We take the time to understand your unique needs and goals, and we partner with you to create a personalized care plan that supports your health and wellness journey.

Whether you’re seeking preventative care to maintain your health, addressing a specific concern, or looking to optimize your performance and well-being, we’re here to support you.

Ready to learn more? Visit us at the-wellness-tribe.com or contact us to schedule your first visit. We’re located on South Pearl Street in Denver and serve families throughout the Denver metro area.

Your Health, Your Choice

You deserve to feel your best—not just today, but for years to come. Preventative chiropractic care can help you maintain the health, vitality, and function you need to live your life fully.

Don’t wait for pain to be your wake-up call. Start supporting your body’s optimal function today.