Most people think seeing a chiropractor in Singapore is expensive because you have to keep coming back.
What if I told you that that is a lie?
I stopped offering chiropractic adjustments at my practice because patients were simply taking too long to get better.
My patients would feel better for a couple of days but their pain always comes back.
Does this sound like your story?
“Chiropractor Singapore” is one of the most searched phrases on Google. It comes as no surprise as chiropractic treatments work wonders not only for lower back pain, neck and shoulder aches pains, but also for conditions such as “wear and tear” knee pain. This is why chiropractors are gaining popularity among Singaporeans!
Trust me, I know how frustrating looking for a chiropractor can be for you. When I was looking for a chiropractor for my father back in 2015, I remembered calling over ten chiropractic clinics in Singapore to ask for their fees. All the phone conversations ended badly. Not only did their websites not have a clear fee structure of any kind, the receptionists were not able to advise on the costs involved as well. “It depends on the doctor’s findings during your first visit”, was all they could tell me.
As a chiropractor who has worked with the everyday officer worker to the C-suite executives (and international sports athletes), I realised there are many misconceptions about what chiropractic care is about. For example:
In addressing these issues, I hope to share some of the industry insights, both as a chiropractor and as a patient, so that you can find your own freedom from pain.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I am the only chiropractor in Singapore who takes a true whole-person approach to helping my clients find long-term pain solutions.
Then I rebranded to Square One Active Recovery and focused mainly on exercise because I realised chiropractic adjustments were too slow at giving people results. With what I know from the latest research and my clinical experience with high performance athletes in Australia, I decided exercise was the better option.
This is why I now take a whole-person approach to pain management. I look at who you are, what are things like at home or work, what are your beliefs or values, what sort of motivational/behaviourial change strategies do you already have, and of course where you want to get to!
With all of that in mind, I co-construct your individualised pain solution with you to help you achieve freedom from pain.
A chiropractor, or doctor of chiropractic, is a health care provider who is trained to diagnose and treat joint and muscles disorders. Contrary to popular belief, chiropractors do not work with bones.
While chiropractic patients often address their chiropractors as “doctor”, this is strictly a professional courtesy.
It is true that chiropractors trained in the United States are conferred with a doctor of chiropractic degree. This refers to the nature of the doctorate program. Likewise veterinarians would be conferred with a doctor of veterinary medicine degree and physiotherapists with a doctor of physical therapy.
The Ministry of Health previously stated that chiropractors “cannot practise medicine as doctors”.
Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, had brought up the issues surrounding the practice of chiropractic in Singapore. It was revealed that misleading use of titles (e.g. the doctor salutation) is one of the common complaints received by MOH.
The confusion around the usage of the doctor title is not limited to Singapore or the chiropractic profession. Read more at Who is entitled to the title of “doctor”?
Are chiropractors recognised in Singapore?
Chiropractic is not recognised in Singapore as an allied health profession and is considered a complementary and alternative medicine.
Some chiropractors want you to believe chiropractic is all about the adjustments. Why? Because they are not willing to spend the time to help you help yourself. This is a photo of the BJ Palmer’s, one of the founding fathers of chiropractic, rehabilitation gym. Exercise is part of chiropractic care since its founding days!
Not all chiropractors are trained the same.
Traditional chiropractors – known also as “straight” chiropractors – believe they can correct “subluxations” or misalignment in the spine with chiropractic adjustments. According to them, spinal misalignment disrupts the nervous system and correction of the “subluxations” will give better health.
“I’ve tried multiple sports injury management methods ranging from sports massage to physiotherapy but to no avail. These methods provided me with short-term relief to my injury and failed to solve the root cause of the problem. Hence, the pain keeps coming back whenever I push my body to its limit.
Today marks my 3rd session with Jesse. I’m pleased to say that after merely 3 sessions with him, I am already able to do weighted squats with NO knee pain.”
Kingsley Tay National Volleyball Athlete 29 April 2019, Instagram
Needless to say, I think I am the best chiropractor in Singapore. Of course asking you to believe that will be a hard sell. So I have put together a list of what to look for to determine who is the best chiropractor.
Good values: ethical and community-first
Good tribe: testimonials, good word-of-mouth
Good content: data driven, no broscience and no marketing fluff
Good clinical process: evidence-based practice
Good business practice: no hard selling, no packages
Good results: over 80% achieve their recovery goals in 4 to 7 visits
When it comes to the top performers in chiropractic, we have one thing in common: we prioritise our clients over our profitability.
Square One Active Recovery started as a passion project to transform the Singapore chiropractic industry. I wanted to offer evidence-based chiropractic care that is focused at the wellbeing of my clients.
This means challenging your unhelpful beliefs and getting you to choose making the hard change for long-term results.
The best chiropractors don’t just look at your “misalignment”. We look at at what you are already doing and what we can do better so you can achieve your own freedom from pain.
When choosing a chiropractor, it is important to note that sessions needed to achieve your recovery goal. Some chiropractic clinics offer packages upwards of 40 sessions that can cost as much as $4,320.
These encounters usually start with a cheap chiropractic promotion and end up a often expensive and unnecessary package. Some clinics even offer 90-session packages!
*Please contact the clinics directly for updates on the latest fee or promotions
^I was unable to find the fee structure for the bigger chiropractic chains such as Chiropractic First, Natural Healings, or True Chiropractic.
Square One Active Recovery does indeed charge a higher fee compared to our competitors.
This is because we don’t compete on price. We compete on value. While some clinics charge upwards of $5,000 for a chiropractic package that will require you to keep coming back for years, most of our clients will only work with us for 4 to 7 sessions! Because I do not offer any form of dependency care, my clients don’t have to keep coming back!
This why, despite our high fees, our clients would still save money by choosing us.
Would you like an osteo-chiropractic adjustment for only $18. Alternatively, you get TWO treatments with True Chiropractic for just $10 more. Source: Fave
While other chiropractors may compete on price, I don’t. I have a firm no-discount policy because I don’t sell cheap. I sell excellent quality of care.
Chiropractor Jesse Cai works with Singapore #1 tennis player Roy Hobbs for his shoulder pain.
“I play tennis as a profession, and was having really bad lower back pain, that made me pull out of some tournaments. I bed Jesse and he not only got the lower back pains to stop, but we kept working on improving other parts to help me play better (loosened up my shoulder). Now I can play pain free and my serve has improved.”
Roy Hobbs Singapore #1 National Tennis Athlete
25 March 2018, Google Reviews
The Allure of Cheap Chiropractors
You may consider our competitors over us because they are cheaper. They do indeed have lower prices. You can find discount chiropractors on Fave (previously Groupon) for as little as $9 per session!
“Affordable” and cheap care, at the expense of a quality and meaningful therapeutic relationship, is their selling point!
You have to do your homework and your due diligence. Find out how much chiropractor Singapore cost. I am going to guess your chiropractic experience with discount chiropractors will be no less unpleasant than the ones I had back in the day.
Cheap chiropractors in Singapore offer steep promotion (up to 94% on Fave, believe it or not) for an opportunity to sell you a package that will easily cost you thousands of dollars.
Most chiropractors in Singapore are also remunerated on a sales-based commission model – not results! There is no incentive to help you get better, faster. Their relationship with you ends the moment you commit, on pen and paper, to their package. From that moment on, you become one of the many bodies that pass through their clinic each day.
You have been warned. Make sure you ask those questions before moving ahead. Based on their responses, you should be able to gauge if they are indeed the right place for you.
Believe it or not, we have a money-back guarantee at Square One. Because you come first. Always.
This means you are 100% not dependent on us and you don’t have to keep coming back!
*Dr Theo from Light Chiropractic has informed us he also offer lots of free advice and do free workshops for the public in my office. Please do reach out to his office for more details.
p.s. I am not affiliated to Dr Theo or Light Chiropractic.
“You’d have thought going to a chiropractor would mean getting every inch of your body cracked and then walking out the door with a temporarily sated body. (But Thai masseuses are not chiropractors!)
Jesse bumps that up by making sure you leave with the knowledge of where and what went wrong with your body. He doesn’t stop there because you’d be taught mini exercises until you see him next. Yes, they help tremendously in recovery if you have the discipline! Without a doubt, Jesse is obviously well informed in his craft and you’d definitely understand why he trumps the “crack-and-go’s”.”
Clare Yau Founder of Ryders Singapore 18 May 2018, Google Reviews
How often should you get a chiropractic adjustment?
Do you know over 80% of our clients leave our care within 4 to 7 visits? Doesn’t matter if it’s neck pain, shoulder pain, or knee pain. I am about helping you achieve pain-free living and with full function.
Why do I get such results?
It’s because research says exercise works and that’s exactly what I offer.
If you are asking me how many treatments you should have, I’d say you should see a chiropractor for four to seven sessions across a two to three-month period. It is true and fair for complex cases to need extra sessions. However, you shouldn’t be getting adjusted thrice a week for 12 weeks.
How to find a value-for-money chiropractor in Singapore?
Our client DY opens up to talk about her lower back symptoms and how she managed to get her low back knot to go away. A big part of what I aim for at Square One Active Recovery is to make our own services redundant to you.
The truth is you will likely pay more per visit at Square One. (The most expensive by far charges $120 for two minutes). I understand our approach to care is different (long treatment sessions, prescribed home exercises, and more expensive fees) and does not suit everyone.
I charge more per session because I spend more time with our clients to make sure I correctly understand your needs. The end result? My patients get better faster.
Each and every one of our patients is unique and I want to ensure I customise their care to their specific needs. I believe in giving you more value for your dollar. Because that’s what builds a stronger, healthier community.
I consistently deliver results our competitors cannot match! Square One Active Recovery one of the most successful clinics in Singapore with a stellar track record of 100% 5-star reviews on Google (as of publication time). Don’t forget – I am still the only clinic with a 100% money-back policy in place!
Chiropractors are effective musculoskeletal health experts trained to diagnose and treat your daily aches and pain.
There are many good reasons to see a chiropractor but only you can decide who is best for you. Finding an affordable chiropractor Singapore is hard work and I welcome you to talk to us should you need more help in determining who is best for you. I promise you will be in good hands!
Square One vs. Our Competitors
Results in 4 to 7 visits
Over 80% of our clients leave our care in 4 to 7 visits. I don’t offer packages or maintenance care because I deliver truly outstanding results. I empower my clients.
Results in > 8 visits?
Our competitors are often unable to share how long their clients take to get better. In fact, treatment packages are common among chiropractors and physiotherapists.
Performance Progression
Once you get better, I drive the intensity of the program up so you are always getting the best results possible.
“Our aim is for you to squat 20kg without pain next week.”
No Clear Progression (Time-based Progression)
Our competitors often see their clients twice weekly for the first fortnight or month without clear criteria progression.
“See how you feel in a few days.”
High Value Care
We are 100% evidence-based and 100% guidelines compliant. We do not offer modalities that are not supported by the latest research. Our treatments deliver results.
Low Value Care
Our competitors offer treatments that are the most popular (i.e. manual adjustments, dry needling, IASTM) even though research does not support their use as first-choice treatment. They do what is best for sales and don’t always deliver results.
Honest Selling
We support all our work with references and hard data so you can fact check. To keep ourselves accountable, we share daily updates on the latest research in our Facebook group: Singapore Pain & Injury Network.
Emotional Selling
Our competitors do not support their claims with references or hard data making it impossible for you to fact check. They take your trust for granted. We don’t. They count on you buy with emotion and later justify with logic.
Relationship-based
Your care with us doesn’t end when you leave for the day. We follow up with our clients via WhatsApp and emails to see how they are progressing with the exercises. We monitor our clients closely to make sure they are always performing at 100%
Transaction-based
Our competitors in Singapore do not follow up with their clients’ recovery progress between visits. In most cases, your access to the clinician ends when you leave the clinic for the day. You don't have professional support in between visits.
“I am still so dumbfounded how 20 years of chronic problems from one injury have been nullified in just a few weeks. My body is feeling truly awesome. Very thankful I’m in some good hands at the moment.”
Paul Foster
Host, Actor, Model
18 April 2018, Instagram
Are you ready to start your recovery journey? Please proceed if:
You are ready to live pain-free
You trust Square One to be the right chiropractor for you
You are open to trying exercise as a core treatment for your pain
You will try to get better to the best of your ability
You will be self-compassionate through this challenging but fulfilling recovery
(We may not be perfect. But we can give it our best shot.)
I stopped offering chiropractic adjustments at my practice because patients were simply taking too long to get better.
