Before You Call
Honest answers to the questions we hear most. Read this first — then call us.
We know that picking up the phone to call a clinic you have never visited takes something. You want to know whether it is worth your time, whether we can actually help, and what you are getting into before you commit. These are the questions people ask us most. We have answered them as honestly as we know how.
About Our Approach
How is this different from physical therapy?
Physical therapy is built around movement, exercise, and functional rehabilitation. It is valuable and has its place. What we do is different at the foundation level. MedX spinal strengthening uses medical-grade equipment to isolate and load the specific muscles that stabilize your spine — muscles that conventional exercise and PT cannot effectively target because the body always recruits stronger surrounding muscles to compensate. Trent's manual therapy work identifies and releases those compensation patterns specifically. The combination addresses the structural deficit that most other approaches work around.
How is Trent's manual therapy different from massage?
Massage works on muscle tension and relaxation. Trent's work is clinical neuromuscular therapy targeting specific compensation patterns your body has built around a structural deficit. After 35 years of clinical practice he is identifying which muscles are overactive and substituting, which are inhibited and not firing, and why — then addressing that pattern specifically so the strengthening work loads the right muscles instead of reinforcing the compensations. It is precise, targeted, and clinically directed.
What if I have already had surgery?
Post-surgical clients are some of the people we help most. Surgery addresses a structural problem but it does not rebuild the muscular support system that failed in the first place. Many clients find that pain returns after surgery for exactly this reason. If your surgical recovery has plateaued or your pain has returned, MedX strengthening and the adjunct therapies we use are specifically designed for this situation. We work with your surgical history, not against it.
We turn away clients who are not the right fit because our outcomes depend on working with people who are appropriate candidates.
— Trent Shuford LMT, Cert. MedX Tech., University of Florida
Practical Questions
Is this covered by insurance?
We are a private pay clinic. We do not bill insurance directly. Many clients use their HSA or FSA accounts, and some find that the out-of-pocket cost compares favorably once they factor in years of co-pays for treatments that did not resolve the problem. We are transparent about costs before you commit to anything — call us and we will walk you through exactly what a program would involve and what it costs.
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No referral is required to schedule a consultation. You can call us directly. If you are currently under a physician's care for a spinal condition we encourage you to let them know you are pursuing this — and we are happy to speak with your provider directly if that would be helpful. We welcome the coordination.
Can I do this alongside my current treatment?
In most cases yes. MedX strengthening and our adjunct therapies are designed to complement other care, not replace it. If you are seeing a chiropractor, acupuncturist, or other provider we can work alongside that. If you are post-surgical and cleared for progressive exercise you are likely a good candidate. The one thing we ask is that you let us know your full picture so we can coordinate appropriately.
What to Expect
How long before I feel results?
Most clients notice a meaningful shift between sessions 4 and 8. Full structural restoration typically takes 12 to 20 sessions depending on how long the deficit has existed and how much degeneration is present. We will give you an honest projection at your first consultation based on your specific history — not a generic promise.
What does a first appointment look like?
We start by listening. You will walk us through your full history — when it started, what you have tried, what has helped and what has not. We will ask specific questions about your symptoms, your diagnosis if you have one, and your goals. From there we give you an honest assessment of whether we think we can help and what a program would look like. There is no pressure and no obligation at the first visit.
What if I am not sure this is right for me?
That is exactly what the first call is for. Tell us your situation and we will tell you honestly whether we think we can help. We turn away clients who are not the right fit because our outcomes depend on working with people who are appropriate candidates. If we are not the right answer for you we will tell you that and point you in a better direction.
Not Sure Where You Stand?
Take the Strong Spine Readiness Check. Eight questions, two minutes, a clear picture of where you are and what it means.
Am I a Candidate? →The check helps you understand:
Ready to Talk?
The first conversation is honest and no-obligation. We will tell you exactly what we think.
425-758-4619Mon to Fri, 9:00 to 6:00 · Sat, 9:00 to 2:00 by appointment
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