Care Designed Around You
the care we provide
Chiropractic care at The Heights is designed around modern life in San Francisco. Dr. McCarty provides personalized care for back and neck pain related to desk work, commuting and screen time, as well as the physical changes of pregnancy and postpartum recovery. She also works with active adults, wellness-focused patients, children and families.
Every care plan is shaped around your symptoms, examination findings, lifestyle, comfort and goals. It’s your health and your choice.
Chiropractic Adjustments
our approachThe adjustment is the art and science behind every chiropractor.
Chiropractic adjustments are controlled, precise movements applied to joints that are restricted or not moving as well as they should. Restricted spinal motion can contribute to stiffness, muscle tension, and irritation of nearby tissues. This is the origin of compensations and pain patterns. Chiropractic adjustments help correct misalignments in the spine.
Dr. McCarty uses gentle adjusting techniques tailored to how your body responds. Each chiropractic adjustment is designed to improve spinal alignment and mobility, helping you move, function, and feel your best. Your comfort and safety are always at the center of our care.
our techniques
Hands-on Adjustments
Traditional chiropractic adjustments tailored to your needs and comfort
Instruments
A lighter force approach using an activator instrument when appropriate
Drop Table
A table-assisted adjustment used to address specific areas of the spine
X Ray
In-office X-rays help evaluate spinal structure at the start of care and assess changes over time
Find Your FocusExplore Care by Need
areas of focusBack + Neck Pain
Back and neck pain, sciatica, and pinched-nerve symptoms are some of the most common reasons patients come in for chiropractic care. Rather than focusing only on where it hurts, Dr. McCarty looks at how restricted movement, previous injuries, posture, repetition, and compensation may be contributing.
Chiropractic care may help with:
Acute or chronic low-back pain and stiffness
Neck pain, tension, and limited movement
Sciatica or pain traveling into the hip or leg
Pinched-nerve symptoms, including numbness and tingling
Headaches associated with neck tension
Pain related to a bulging or herniated disc
Discomfort from sitting, travel, exercise, or repetitive movement
Your examination evaluates how your body is moving and where it may need support. X-rays may be used when clinically indicated. Care can include hands-on or instrument-assisted adjustments, drop-table techniques, movement guidance, and home exercises to help you return to the activities that matter to you.
Posture +
Tech Neck
Tech neck, along with the shoulder and neck tension that builds up from long hours at a desk, is something Dr. McCarty treats often in Hayes Valley and across San Francisco, especially in patients who spend their days at a laptop or commuting around the city. These symptoms tend to build gradually, from the body staying in one position too long, rather than from any single moment or injury.
Research suggests that targeted neck and upper-back exercises can improve posture, neck pain, and function. Adjustments may also provide short-term improvements in discomfort and mobility.
Posture-focused care may help address:
Forward-head posture
Neck stiffness and limited movement
Upper-back and shoulder tension
Headaches associated with neck tension
Numbness or tingling into the arms or hands
Discomfort related to desk work and prolonged screen use
Care may combine chiropractic adjustments, targeted exercises and stretches, movement guidance, and a review of your desk or workstation setup. The goal is to help your body handle the positions and demands of your day more comfortably.
Pregnancy + Postpartum Care
Many patients turn to chiropractic care during pregnancy for back, hip, and pelvic pain, and again postpartum to support recovery. Pregnancy changes posture, balance, joint mobility, and the demands placed on the body. After delivery, feeding, carrying, lifting, and interrupted rest can create an entirely new set of physical strains.
Prenatal and postpartum chiropractic care may help with:
Pregnancy-related low-back pain
Sciatica and pain extending into the hip or leg
Sacroiliac, pelvic-girdle, or pubic-symphysis discomfort
Hip, upper-back, and neck tension
Discomfort related to feeding, carrying, or lifting a baby
Returning comfortably to everyday movement after delivery
Pregnancy pillows are available for comfort, and techniques are adapted throughout pregnancy and recovery. Care may include side-lying positioning, SOT blocks, instrument-assisted adjustments, drop-table techniques, and other gentle approaches.
Lifestyle + Athletes
Active San Francisco patients, from hikers and walkers to runners, cyclists, and surfers, regularly turn to chiropractic care to work through movement imbalances and stay consistent with the activities they love. These activities can reveal restrictions in how the body moves and place repeated stress on certain joints and muscles over time.
Care for athletes and active adults may help address:
Sports-related back or neck pain
One-sided tightness or movement imbalances
Limited joint mobility or flexibility
Repetitive strain and overuse
Compensation following an earlier injury
Soreness that interferes with training or recovery
Dr. McCarty evaluates how your body moves and where restrictions or compensations appear. Care may combine adjustments, mobility exercises, and practical recovery guidance to help you move comfortably, train consistently, and stay active.
Prevention +
Wellness
Many patients continue with chiropractic care after their original concern resolves, using regular visits to maintain mobility and catch minor issues early. For many, chiropractic isn't just about treating pain. It's part of an ongoing approach to staying active, moving well, and feeling good in the body long-term.
Wellness care may help you:
Address recurring back or neck tension
Maintain flexibility and joint mobility
Manage stiffness related to sitting or travel
Support exercise recovery and an active lifestyle
Respond to minor discomfort before it becomes more disruptive
There is no preset maintenance schedule. Visit frequency is based on your lifestyle, goals, symptoms, and response to care.
Pediatrics + Family
Posture strain, growth-related discomfort, and backpack or sports-related tension are common reasons families bring children and teens in for chiropractic care. Because young bodies are still developing, their care looks different from an adult's and is adapted to each child's age, size, and comfort.
Dr. McCarty works with children and teens experiencing:
Back, neck, or joint discomfort
Posture concerns related to technology use
Backpack or sports-related strain
Headaches associated with neck tension
Restricted movement or mobility
Parents sometimes also ask about colic, latching difficulties, ear infections, bedwetting, or constipation. These concerns can have causes outside the musculoskeletal system, so chiropractic care is intended to complement, not replace, care from a pediatrician or specialist.
Pediatric adjustments are gentle, age-appropriate, and adapted to each child’s size and comfort. Dr. McCarty explains what she is doing and makes sure both children and parents feel comfortable throughout the visit.
personalized plansYour care adapts. Preset programs don't.
Your plan adapts based on:
Your current complaint and goals
Your examination findings
Your health history
Your lifestyle and physical demands
How your body responds to care over time
not sure where to start?We’re here to help
During your first visit, we’ll take time to understand and evaluate what your goals are and determine how chiropractic will best help you.
