Why Sioux Falls Patients Choose Back Specialists

There are a lot of chiropractors in Sioux Falls. So when we say that many of our patients have been coming to us for decades, and that their children and grandchildren now come in too, we don't take that lightly. That kind of loyalty isn't built with advertising. It's built one visit at a time, over nearly 50 years of consistent, honest, patient-centered care.

If you're trying to figure out whether Back Specialists is the right fit for you, here's what our patients tell us makes the difference.

1. We Practice Exclusively With the Activator Method

At Back Specialists, we don't offer the Activator Method as one option among many. It is the only technique we use — for every patient, at every visit, without exception.

The Activator Method is a gentle, instrument-assisted chiropractic technique that delivers precise, low-force impulses to specific joints in the spine. There is no twisting, no cracking, and no high-velocity manipulation. The instrument fires faster than your muscles can react, which means the targeted joint moves into proper alignment without any resistance or guarding. The result is a controlled, comfortable adjustment every time.

For patients who have been hesitant about chiropractic because of what they've heard or experienced elsewhere, this approach changes everything. For patients who have tried traditional chiropractic and found it uncomfortable or ineffective, the difference is often immediate.

The Activator Method is backed by clinical research and approved by Medicare. It is appropriate for virtually every age group and health background, from children to seniors, from athletes to patients recovering from spinal surgery.

2. Our Credentials Are Among the Strongest in the Region

Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen holds Advanced Proficiency Rated status in the Activator Method, the highest credential available through Activator Methods International. He is one of only 5 chiropractors in the entire Sioux Empire to achieve that distinction.

That credential isn't just a title. It reflects a level of training, clinical testing, and demonstrated expertise in the Activator assessment and adjustment protocol that goes well beyond basic certification. When you come to Back Specialists, you're seeing one of the most credentialed Activator practitioners in South Dakota, for whom this method is a lifelong specialty.

Dr. Bruce Jon's son, Dr. Sean C. Hagen, joined the practice after earning his doctorate from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 2022. He also holds Advanced Proficiency Rated status, making Back Specialists the only father-son Advanced Proficiency Rated Activator team in the region.

3. Nearly 50 Years of Experience in Sioux Falls

Dr. Bruce Jon Hagen has been practicing chiropractic in the Sioux Falls area since 1977. Nearly five decades. That's not a credential you can manufacture or buy. It comes from showing up every day, treating complex cases, staying current on continuing education, and building relationships with patients who trust you enough to send their families in after them.

In that time, Dr. Hagen has completed over 1,700 hours of post-graduate X-ray interpretation and spinal diagnosis, earned advanced certification in cervical trauma and whiplash, graduated from the Whiplash Masters' Program through the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, and achieved AMA Impairment Rating certification in the 4th, 5th, and 6th Editions.

He served as President of the South Dakota Chiropractor's Association and was named South Dakota Chiropractor of the Year by his peers in 2009. He was also selected as one of 25 doctors nationally to participate in the Best Practices in Chiropractic pilot program through NetCare Administrators.

This is not a generalist. This is a provider who has spent a career developing deep expertise in spinal care and continues to build on it.

4. We Are Exceptionally Good at Complex and Traumatic Cases

Some chiropractors are well-suited for routine maintenance and general wellness care. Back Specialists does that, too, but where Dr. Hagen genuinely excels is in the complicated cases: patients who have been through the system, tried multiple providers, and still haven't found lasting relief.

His post-graduate training in auto accident injuries, personal injury documentation, accident reconstruction, and Failed Back Surgery Syndrome means he's prepared for the cases that require more than a routine adjustment. The patients who come to us after being told their situation is difficult or ambiguous are often the ones who respond best to his approach.

We also handle the insurance and claims side of auto accident cases with the same precision as our clinical care. We know how to document injuries accurately, work with personal injury attorneys, and navigate the claims process in a way that protects our patients from start to finish.

5. We Treat the Whole Family

One of the things that distinguishes Back Specialists from many chiropractic practices in Sioux Falls is the breadth of patients we see. The Activator Method is safe and appropriate for virtually every age, which means we genuinely see the whole family, from young children to patients well into their 80s and 90s.

Many of our long-term patients started coming in for a specific problem years ago and eventually brought their children in. Those children are adults now, and some of them are bringing their own kids. That's not something you can engineer. It's what happens when care is consistently good over a very long time.

We treat low back pain, neck pain, headaches and migraines, sciatica, herniated discs, work injuries, auto accident injuries, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome, and more.

6. We Accept Most Major Insurance Plans

We accept most major insurance plans and are in-network providers for many of the largest carriers in South Dakota, including Avera, Sanford, Blue Cross Blue Shield, DakotaCare, Wellmark, and Medicare Part B. For patients who are uninsured or underinsured, we participate in ChiroHealth USA, which provides access to discounted chiropractic care at predictable, affordable rates.

For patients dealing with auto accident injuries or work injuries, we work directly with auto liability insurance, Personal Injury Protection coverage, and Workers' Compensation. We know this process well and will help you navigate it from your very first visit.

7. We Tell You the Truth

We're not going to tell you that we're the right chiropractor for everyone in Sioux Falls. That's not honest and it's not how we operate.

What we will tell you is what we find in your examination, what we think it means, and what we recommend, honestly and without pressure. If chiropractic isn't the right solution for your situation, we'll tell you that too and point you in the right direction. That kind of honesty is rare in any healthcare setting, and it's one of the reasons patients keep coming back and keep sending people they care about to us.

Dr. Hagen has said it himself: "I wanted to be the guy who provided relief, one person at a time. I wake up every day thankful that I have been blessed with my health and am still thrilled to drive to work and care for my patient family."

Nearly 50 years in, that's still exactly what he does.

Ready to Find Out if We're the Right Fit?

Your first visit starts with a conversation. We'll listen to your history, examine your spine carefully, and explain exactly what we find before recommending anything. No pressure and no obligation — just an honest assessment of whether we can help you.

Call or text 605-361-1700 or schedule online to get started.

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