Many people search for the best chiropractor because they want care they can trust. That makes sense. When you are dealing with discomfort, stress, or movement limitations, you want to feel confident that the care you choose is a good fit for you.
The idea of the “best chiropractor” is personal. What feels like the best experience for one person may not feel right for someone else. Different chiropractors take different approaches, focus on different aspects of care, and work with different types of patients.
Rather than trying to find the single best chiropractor in Grand Rapids, it can be more helpful to focus on finding the chiropractor whose approach aligns with what you are looking for.
Taking time to learn about how a chiropractor approaches care, how they communicate, and what they emphasize can help you decide whether an office feels like the right place for you.
Finding the Right Fit
At The Wellness Way Grand Rapids, our focus is on providing conservative, stress focused chiropractic and whole body wellness support for individuals and families. We understand that our approach may not be the right fit for everyone, and that is okay.
We encourage people to explore our website, read about how we approach care, and decide whether our philosophy and style align with what they are looking for. Our goal is to support patients who feel comfortable with our approach and want to take an active role in their care decisions.
When the right people find the right place, care tends to work better for everyone involved.
Meet Dr. Gates Maier
Grand Rapids Chiropractor
Dr. Gates Maier is a Doctor of Chiropractic serving individuals and families in the Grand Rapids area. His approach to care is shaped by both his education and personal experience, with a focus on reducing physical stress and supporting how the body functions over time.
After experiencing significant lower back pain from sports injuries, Dr. Gates firsthand saw how frustrating it can be to feel limited without clear answers. That experience led him to pursue chiropractic care and ultimately shaped how he works with patients today. He takes the time to listen, explain, and help patients make informed decisions about their care.
Dr. Gates earned his undergraduate education at Indiana University studying Pre Med and Kinesiology and completed his Doctor of Chiropractic degree at Palmer College of Chiropractic. His care is conservative, individualized, and focused on meeting patients where they are.
Read more about Dr. Gates
1. The best chiropractors listen:
You may already know what it’s like to make an appointment with a doctor or some other type of professional who isn’t really listening when you are speaking. It’s really frustrating. Unfortunately, some chiropractors are like that, too. This is a very bad sign.
If you make an appointment with a chiropractor and you feel like they aren’t listening to you, I would strongly suggest that you walk away. They are not the best chiropractor for you.
2. The best chiropractors work with you:
People visit chiropractors for a wide variety of reasons. Your reasons for scheduling an appointment is probably very different than my reasons. That’s why it’s important that you and your chiropractor are on the same page.
One person may go to a chiropractor because they want relief from pregnancy pain. Another person may go to the chiropractor because they want to recover from an injury and get back to playing sports. Someone else may go to the chiropractor because they suffer from chronic headaches.
Each person described has different goals for care, and they require a different approach to achieve those goals. The best chiropractors will work with their patients and tailor their treatment so that each individual patient reaches their specific goals.
3. The best chiropractors refer you out if necessary:
Some people say that chiropractors think they can cure everything. That’s simply not true. While there are many things that respond well to chiropractic care, there are also just as many things that do not.
For instance, if someone showed up to the chiropractor with a broken arm, they need to be referred out. Or if someone arrived at the chiropractor’s office showing signs of a stroke or a heart attack, that person should be referred to the hospital. The chiropractor isn’t going to be the best fit for those problems.
It’s a bad sign if a chiropractor thinks they can fix everything and everyone or is unwilling to refer to other medical professionals if necessary. Regardless of whether a patient has a major health crisis or they just aren’t responding to chiropractic care as expected, the best chiropractors are willing to refer them out to someone who may be able to help.
Here Is What Our Patients Are Saying
"Dr. Gates is Great"
Myself and husband love the wellness way and their values. Dr. Gates is great and answers all of your questions.
He’s very informative and makes me feel seen and heard. Lauren does great at her job and is very friendly.
We would definitely recommend The Wellness Way for wellness needs and chiropractic needs!
- Reanna G.
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"Delivers Amazing Results"
I can’t say enough good things about The Wellness Way! From the moment I walked in, the staff was welcoming, professional, and genuinely caring. The office is clean, comfortable, and has a calming atmosphere that immediately puts you at ease.
DR. Gates took the time to really listen to my concerns, explain what was going on with my back, and put together a personalized treatment plan. After just a few visits, I started noticing a huge difference—not just in my pain levels, but also in my posture and overall mobility.
What really sets this place apart is the attention to detail and the way they treat you like family. They never rush through appointments, and you can tell they’re truly committed to helping their patients feel better and stay healthy long-term.
If you’re looking for a chiropractor who genuinely cares and delivers amazing results, I highly recommend The Wellness Way. They’ve made a huge difference in my life, and I’m so grateful I found them!
- G.T. B.
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"Life Changing"
Wellness way had been life changing for me! Dr. Gates helped me find the causes of all of my issues that drs could not figure out for years.
I am and will continue to be a patient here! If your dealing with health issues or need an amazing chiropractor with an amazing team! This is your place!
- Reanna G.
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"Unmatched Care"
Kind, knowledgeable, professional were words that immediately came to mind after the first meeting with Dr. Gates a year and a half ago.
I came to Wellness Way as a last ditch effort after 6 years of infertility and here I am today with my 4 month old.
The health philosophy of The Wellness Way as a whole just makes sense and the way that Dr.Gates applies those practices is personalized and targeted to each patient's needs.
Now my husband, myself and baby all visit for regular chiropractic care as well. Dr. Gates, Lauren and Christina all welcome you in and make you feel like good friends every time you walk in the door - a truly unmatched care experience!
- Emily B.
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"Absolutely Magical"
They’re absolutely magical. Idk what their secret is but it’s MAGIC. Today was day 9 of a migraine stint that has ebbed and flowed. I called them up and ask if they could fit me in today. It’s an hour later after the appointment and they took it from a level 8/9 down to a 0/1 (it went from the puking, fighting to function level down to a “good to go and owning my day” level). Amazing. And this isn’t the first time they’ve cured or mitigated a migraine for me on the spot. I’m kicking myself for waiting 9 days to reach out for help.
I originally called Dr. Gates a couple months ago with severe neck pain. I had tried the ER where they laughed at me when I was in blatant tears and pain, they did nothing but stick me with a bill. I didn’t know where to go. I have a pretty high threshold for pain tolerance and the fact that I couldn’t move or breathe without pain and crying was concerning to my family. I reached out to The Wellness Way and they quickly squeezed me into their schedule. He did some x-rays, did his magic with adjustments and a muscle oil, and I walked out feeling like a new person. We set me up on a plan and over the next month or so, I saw a drastic improvement. I couldn’t believe it. I STILL have trouble believing it.
I’m beyond impressed. Lauren brings the charm when you walk in the door (gotta give her a shout out too!). Great atmosphere and energy. They’re miracle workers here. I can’t sing enough good praises.
- Tiffany G
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