What happens at my first visit?
You register online, Dr. LeGault evaluates the problem that brings you in, and he explains what he found and your options. Read more about your first visit.
Frequently asked questions
Short, plain answers to the questions patients ask before booking, grouped by topic. Each answer links to the page that covers it in full; for anything else, call 412-364-4100.
Topics
Showing all 66 questions.
First visit
What should I bring to my first visit?
Bring a photo ID, your insurance card if you’re using insurance, a list of your current medications, and any imaging reports or records about the problem.
Will I need X-rays?
Only when they are clinically appropriate, and then they are taken off-site. National guidance advises against routine imaging for most low back pain; see what to expect at your first visit.
Will I need an X-ray or MRI for back pain?
Usually not. Guidelines advise against routine imaging for low back pain. Here, X-rays are taken only when clinically appropriate, at an off-site facility.
Will I need an MRI for sciatica?
Not routinely. NICE advises against routine imaging such as X-ray or MRI outside specialist settings, and says imaging should be considered only when the result is likely to change management. Here, X-rays are taken only when clinically appropriate, off-site.
Booking and policies
Do I need a referral?
No. You don’t need a referral to see a chiropractor here, though some insurance plans may require one for coverage, so check your plan.
Can I book online?
Yes. You can book online with Dr. LeGault, or call 412-364-4100.
Can I text the office?
No. Our number takes calls only, so please call 412-364-4100 rather than send a text.
How do I cancel or reschedule an appointment?
Call 412-364-4100 at least 24 hours before your appointment. A $50 fee applies to a missed appointment without notice, or to a cancellation made less than 24 hours ahead.
Do I have to sign a long-term contract?
No. There are no long-term contracts: Dr. LeGault explains his findings and your options, and you decide how to go ahead. Read about our approach.
How do you protect my health information?
Our Notice of Privacy Practices explains how we may use and share your health information and your rights over it. You acknowledge it electronically when you register, and you can ask for a paper copy at any time.
Can I get a paper copy of the paperwork?
Yes. A paper copy of our patient agreements and privacy notice is available at any time: call 412-364-4100 or ask at the front desk.
Hours and location
Are you open on Saturdays?
Yes. Dr. LeGault sees patients on Saturday mornings; see Dr. LeGault’s hours.
Is there parking?
Yes, there is on-site parking. The office is just off McKnight Road, in the building shared with Dollar General; see directions and parking.
Insurance and billing
Do you take my insurance?
We accept UPMC, Highmark, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, other Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and Medicare, and coverage depends on your plan. See the insurance plans we accept; we can verify and check your benefits before your first visit or you can check with your insurer directly.
Do you accept Medicare?
Yes. The practice participates in Medicare, and what is covered depends on your plan. We can verify and check your benefits before your first visit, or you can check with your insurer directly.
Do you treat work injuries?
Yes. Dr. LeGault sees work injuries, and we bill workers’ compensation; see workers’ compensation and the other plans we bill.
What if I don’t have insurance?
Self-pay options are available; call 412-364-4100 to ask about fees. If you pay for yourself, you have the right to a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges.
How can I pay my bill?
Online with Square or Venmo, by phone, in the office, or by mailed check; HSA and FSA cards are accepted. See pay my bill.
Does insurance cover Graston treatment?
Coverage depends on your plan. Call 412-364-4100 and we can check your benefits before your first visit.
Is therapeutic exercise covered by insurance?
Coverage depends on your plan. Call 412-364-4100 and we can check your benefits before your first visit.
If you’re in network with my insurer, is my care covered?
Not automatically. Being in network means we work with your insurer and send claims to it; what your plan pays depends on your plan, including any copay, deductible or visit limit.
My plan is a special product from one of your insurers. Do you take it?
We list insurers rather than every product they sell, so call 412-364-4100 and we can check your benefits for your exact plan before your first visit.
Car accidents
Will Pennsylvania auto insurance pay for my care after a crash?
It can, depending on your policy. We bill your auto insurance directly, and when we do, you pay nothing up front; read about car accident care and auto insurance billing.
Should I see a chiropractor after a car accident?
If you were badly hurt, hit your head, or have numbness, weakness or severe pain, get emergency medical care first. For neck or back pain after a crash, Dr. LeGault can evaluate you and explain your options; see the Pennsylvania car accident insurance guide for how auto insurance pays.
Can I come in for headaches after a car accident?
Yes, once a medical check has ruled out a head injury: a head injury in the last three months is one of the warning signs above. Car-accident care is billed to auto insurance.
Should I wear a neck collar after whiplash?
For typical whiplash, guidelines do not recommend a collar; gentle activity and movement are the better approach. If a doctor fitted a collar because of a fracture or other serious injury, follow their instructions.
How many visits will I need after a car accident?
It depends on your injury and how you respond. For recent whiplash without nerve signs, the OPTIMa guideline (2016) suggests up to six sessions of combined care over eight weeks, and you never sign a long-term contract here.
The other driver caused the crash. Whose insurance pays for my care?
In Pennsylvania, if you have your own auto policy, its first-party medical benefits pay your medical bills first, whoever caused the crash, and we bill them directly. Our guide to Pennsylvania car accident insurance, linked above, explains the order in which policies pay.
I was in a car accident. Does my first visit work differently?
We bill your auto insurance directly, and when we do, you pay nothing up front. Read about car accident care.
If I chose limited tort, can I still recover my medical bills?
Yes. Limited tort restricts only claims for pain and suffering and other nonmonetary losses; under either option you may still seek recovery of medical and other out-of-pocket expenses from an at-fault driver (75 Pa.C.S. § 1705).
What happens when my auto medical benefit runs out?
Your health insurance may then pay, depending on your plan: Pennsylvania law treats health plan benefits as paying in excess of auto first party benefits (75 Pa.C.S. § 1719). Your insurer can tell you how your own coverage works.
Care and what to expect
What can a chiropractor help with?
Dr. LeGault cares for back pain, neck pain and sciatica; neck-related and tension headaches; car-accident (whiplash) and work injuries; sports injuries and joint pain; and back and pelvic discomfort in pregnancy. See everything we help with and the other therapies we offer.
How do I know if chiropractic care is right for me?
The first visit is the place to find out: Dr. LeGault evaluates the problem, explains what he finds, and refers you to another specialist when that is what you need.
How many visits will I need?
There is no set number. Dr. LeGault suggests a plan based on what he finds and on your goals, and he reviews your progress with you as you go. We do not use long-term contracts.
Do you see upper and mid-back pain?
Yes. Dr. LeGault sees pain between the shoulder blades and in the middle of the back as well as low back pain. The studies quoted on this page looked at low back pain only, so we do not apply their findings to the mid-back.
I think I have a pinched nerve in my neck. Should I see a chiropractor or a doctor?
Arm pain with numbness or tingling needs a proper assessment, which Dr. LeGault can start. If you have weakness in an arm or hand, clumsy hands, or trouble walking or balancing, see a medical doctor first.
How soon will my neck feel better?
Everyone is different, and we do not promise a timeline. Most of the research on this page measured changes over about a month. Dr. LeGault reviews your progress with you and adjusts the plan as you go.
Is sciatica the same as a pinched nerve?
People often call it that. Sciatica happens when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed.
Should I rest in bed until it passes?
No. Guidelines suggest staying normally active rather than resting in bed. Keep moving within what you can manage and build up gradually.
How many visits are usual for headaches?
There is no fixed number and no long-term contract. For neck-related headaches lasting more than three months, the OPTIMa guideline describes manual therapy of up to 10 sessions over six weeks, and the 2026 guideline suggests a referral if headaches have not responded well enough after about four weeks.
Do you only see athletes?
No. Dr. LeGault sees anyone with joint pain, from weekend runners and lifters to people whose knees or shoulders ache from work or daily life.
Techniques and therapies
Does an adjustment have to crack?
No. Adjustments by hand often make a popping sound, but Dr. LeGault also adjusts with the Thompson drop table and with the ArthroStim instrument; read about instrument adjusting.
What is the Graston Technique?
The Graston Technique is a form of instrument-assisted soft-tissue work: Dr. LeGault glides specially designed stainless-steel instruments over the skin to work on muscles and other soft tissues. Read about the Graston Technique.
Do you offer orthotics?
Yes. Dr. LeGault offers custom foot orthotics, shoe inserts made for your feet. See everything we help with and the other therapies we offer.
Do you offer kinesiology taping?
Yes. Dr. LeGault offers kinesiology taping: a thin, stretchy tape applied to the skin over a muscle or joint. It is listed with the other therapies we offer.
Do you offer electrical stimulation?
Yes. Dr. LeGault offers electrical stimulation, in which small pads placed on the skin pass a mild electrical current to the muscles or nerves underneath. It is listed with the other therapies we offer.
Do you offer traction?
Yes. Dr. LeGault offers traction on a roller table: you lie on your back on a padded table while rollers move slowly along your spine. It is listed with the other therapies we offer.
Can I buy supplements through the practice?
Yes. Dr. LeGault recommends supplements, which you can order through our online store; see supplements through Fullscript.
Can I have exercises without a neck adjustment?
Yes. Supervised or home strengthening exercise is one of the options Canada’s chiropractic guideline lists for neck pain lasting longer than three months, and you can always say no to a neck adjustment.
Will exercises be part of my headache care?
Yes. Guidelines include exercise for both types: specific low-load neck and shoulder-blade exercises for tension-type headaches, and supervised movement exercises for neck-related headaches that started in the last six weeks.
Is kinesiology tape the same as athletic tape?
No. Kinesiology tape is elastic and is used as a short-term comfort aid alongside exercise. Firm athletic tape and braces give support, which is what the ankle sprain guideline recommends while you put weight back on a freshly sprained ankle.
Is Graston the same as gua sha or “scraping”?
They are related. Both move a smooth-edged tool along the skin. Graston is a branded method with its own instruments and training; the research reviews on this page group the tools together and do not show that one works better than another.
Can I follow my exercises on my phone?
Yes. Home programs are given through the Physitrack app or as printed handouts.
Safety
Are chiropractic adjustments safe?
Research reviews find that serious complications after spinal manipulation are rare, while mild, short-lived reactions such as soreness or stiffness are common, and that a careful health history and examination before treatment is an essential part of safe care. Read about the benefits and risks of adjustments.
Will I be sore after an adjustment?
You might be. Mild, short-lived reactions are common, most often temporary soreness, stiffness or a headache, and most settle within about a day; see what to expect after your visit.
When should I get urgent medical care instead?
Call 911 for sudden stroke-type signs, such as a sudden, severe or unusual headache with neck pain, slurred speech, changes in vision, or weakness or numbness in an arm or leg. Get urgent medical care first for back pain with numbness around the genitals or bottom, trouble controlling your bladder or bowels, weakness in both legs that is getting worse, a fever, weight loss you can’t explain, or after a hard fall or a severe blow.
Is it normal to feel tired or dizzy after a neck adjustment?
Some people briefly feel tired, dizzy or light-headed after neck treatment, and it usually passes. Sudden dizziness with slurred speech, vision changes or weakness is different: call 911.
Can a chiropractor make sciatica worse?
Short-lived soreness or stiffness after an adjustment is common, and serious complications are rare. Movement may hurt at first, but it is not harmful. If leg weakness or numbness gets worse, or any emergency sign appears, get medical care right away.
I take painkillers for my headaches most days. Is that a problem?
It can be. Taking painkillers for headaches too often can itself cause headaches, so talk to your medical doctor or pharmacist about it. We do not advise starting, stopping or changing medicines.
Will I be sore afterwards?
Most patients find adjustments comfortable; you may feel pressure or movement. Mild soreness can occur, especially early in care, and typically settles within a day or so.
Pregnancy
Is chiropractic care safe in pregnancy?
In the research reviewed, the side effects reported with hands-on care in pregnancy were minor and temporary, and serious complications from spinal manipulation during pregnancy may be rare, although studies cannot measure the true risk. Care here never replaces your obstetrician’s or midwife’s care; read about our pregnancy care.
Do I need my obstetrician’s or midwife’s permission?
You don’t need a referral to see us, though some insurance plans require one for coverage. We encourage you to keep your obstetrician or midwife informed about your visits, and if your pregnancy has complications, talk with them before starting chiropractic care.
Does the Webster Technique treat my baby?
No. Chiropractic care during pregnancy is about your comfort and your own musculoskeletal health. It does not treat your baby.
Can I be adjusted while I am pregnant?
Dr. LeGault provides chiropractic care during pregnancy and is certified in the Webster Technique. Our page on pregnancy chiropractic care explains what the research says and which warning signs need your obstetrician, your midwife or 911 instead.
Children and families
Do you see infants and children?
Yes. We are a family practice and see patients of all ages, from infants and children to teens and adults; read about our family practice, and call 412-364-4100 with any question about care for your child before you book.
Sources for these answers
Serious complications are rare, mild short-lived reactions are common, and a careful history and examination come first (safety and soreness answers).
Do not routinely offer imaging for low back pain in non-specialist settings (X-ray answer).
In the trials that reported them, side effects were minor and temporary (pregnancy answer).
Serious complications may be rare, but the available studies cannot measure the true risk (pregnancy answer).
Early signs of a neck artery tear can include neck pain and a one-sided headache (urgent care answer).
Sudden stroke-like symptoms need emergency care (urgent care answer).
The back and leg signs that need emergency care at once (urgent care answer; UK numbers adapted to 911).
Back pain with a fever, after a severe blow or fall, or with unintentional weight loss means contacting a doctor right away (urgent care answer).