Austin Chiropractor Distinguishes Three Care Models, Emphasizing Nervous System Focus for Lasting Results

For years, people searching for a chiropractor in Austin have assumed the experience—and results—would be roughly the same from one office to the next. According to Dr. Matt Delgado, D.C., founder of Lifespring Chiropractic, that assumption is at the root of widespread confusion and inconsistent outcomes in chiropractic care. Dr. Matt stated, "Chiropractic has a branding problem. Patients don’t realize there are very different models of care operating under the same name." Lifespring Chiropractic, recently recognized as Best Chiropractor in Austin for 2025 by Austin Fit Magazine, is using that momentum to help clarify what most patients are never told: there are three fundamentally different types of chiropractors, and the results depend on which model you choose.

Through years of clinical experience and patient feedback, Lifespring now openly teaches an industry-wide framework that helps patients understand what to expect from care. The first model is pain-focused chiropractic, which centers on one core question: Where does it hurt, and how do we reduce it? This model offers fast symptom relief, but pain often returns because the system that created it isn’t addressed. The second model is structural or postural chiropractic, which asks: What’s out of alignment or not moving well? It improves movement and mechanics but is still largely local, with limited system-wide impact. The third model is nervous system–focused chiropractic, which still addresses pain and posture but organizes care around a different question: What conditions allow the nervous system to regulate the entire body effectively? This systems-based, adaptive approach explains non-local, whole-body changes including pain, posture, and long-term health optimization, though it requires time, consistency, and supportive conditions. Dr. Matt explained, "Each model has value, but they don’t all produce the same depth of change."

Lifespring Chiropractic didn’t always practice nervous system–focused care. Like many Austin chiropractors, the clinic began with a primarily structural and postural approach. The shift began gradually in 2024, when the team noticed a recurring pattern: patients felt better, stopped care, then returned months later with the same challenges. Dr. Matt said, "We realized we were helping people feel ‘fine,’ but not function optimally. After seeing the ceiling of short-term pain relief, and reversing my own autoimmune condition, I knew the nervous system had to be the focus." Advanced INSiGHT Scans for chiropractic revealed a consistent gap between how patients felt and how their nervous systems were actually functioning. Many were highly stressed and dysregulated—yet unaware of it due to the body’s remarkable ability to adapt. By late 2025, Lifespring fully transitioned to a nervous system–focused, systems-based model, using precise, low-force adjustments guided by neurological data and supported by lifestyle shifts such as sleep optimization and stress regulation.

Patients at Lifespring are now reporting changes that extend far beyond pain relief, including faster recovery with fewer flare-ups, improved sleep, energy, and focus, greater stress tolerance and emotional resilience, and more presence and enjoyment in daily life. These transformations are reflected in patient stories shared publicly at https://lifespringchiro.com/testimonials/. Dr. Matt noted, "When you focus on the system that controls every other system, change stops being isolated. It becomes global." Austin Fit Magazine’s Best Chiropractor in Austin recognition is based on reader and community votes, reflecting trust from a health-literate city that values long-term outcomes. Dr. Matt said, "People here ask better questions. They want to know why something works—not just whether it works." That curiosity mirrors Lifespring’s own evolution and has shaped the clinic’s culture, attracting patients and team members who want more than short-term relief. To celebrate the recognition, Lifespring is hosting a community pickleball event in Austin—bringing patients and families together in movement outside the clinic walls. Event details can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1981952816226?aff=oddtdtcreator.