Stanford Chiropractic Center

About Stanford Chiropractic Center

Stanford Chiropractic Center is a chiropractic office at 489 Middlefield Road in Palo Alto, near downtown. The name refers to the area rather than the university. The office is not part of Stanford University or Stanford Health Care. Dr. Gavin W. Carr, D.C., opened the practice in 1990 as owner and principal chiropractor. The website advertises 37 or more years in Palo Alto and carries a 2026 copyright.

The practice says it builds individual treatment plans that combine chiropractic care with other non-invasive therapies. It also encourages patients to make lifestyle changes. A Spanish-language site, paloaltoquiropractico.com, lists the same address with a separate phone line, 650-469-8686.

Services

The treatments section of the website lists:

• Chiropractic care and adjustments
• Spinal decompression
• Spinal and postural screenings
• Auto accident injury care
• Sports injury care
• Work injury care
• Corrective exercise
• Nutrition and fitness counseling
• Lifestyle advice

The site also has symptom pages for back pain, neck pain, disc injuries, headaches and migraines, hip pain and shoulder pain. This listing gives no medical advice and makes no claims about results. Talk to your own doctor about whether chiropractic care fits your situation. For severe or sudden symptoms, such as chest pain, weakness or numbness, call 911.

Dr. Gavin Carr

The practice's biography says Dr. Carr was born in Redwood City in 1961 and grew up in the area he now serves. He earned a BS in Biological Sciences at UC Davis in 1985. He then graduated in 1988 from Palmer College of Chiropractic West in San Jose. The page describes a whole-body approach aimed at restoring and maintaining health rather than only relieving pain.

Your first visit

The first-visit page lays out the steps. A chiropractor asks about your current condition and health history and does a physical exam. If needed, the practice orders imaging or lab tests such as an MRI, CT scan or x-ray. The doctor then explains the findings, recommends a treatment plan and reviews its risks and benefits. Depending on your goals, ongoing care might be weekly or monthly. The practice says that once initial treatment is done, continuing is up to you.

You can save time by downloading the new patient forms from the website and filling them out at home. Bring all your insurance information to the first visit. The website also has a consultation request page, a new patient specials page, a wellness blog and educational videos.

Insurance and payment

The payments page lists Medicare among accepted insurance. For other plans, the office says it bills as an out-of-network provider. Staff will verify benefits and file claims as a courtesy. Payment options include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, checks and cash. The practice also offers payment plans and CareCredit, a health care credit card. If you are uninsured, call 650-326-7000 to discuss options. The site also has a Good Faith Estimate page.

Who it suits

The long weekday hours suit people who want a visit before or after work. The service list covers adults recovering from car, sports or work injuries, as well as people looking for ongoing chiropractic care. Medicare patients will note that the practice lists Medicare. People with other insurance should expect out-of-network billing and may want to check their plan's chiropractic benefit before the first visit. The office's location near downtown also makes it practical for people who work around University Avenue.

Tips for visiting

• Weekday hours run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., which allows early or after-work visits. Saturday is by appointment only.
• The website notes same-day appointments are available. Call ahead to check.
• Middlefield Road is a busy north-south route. Read the posted signs for street parking nearby. See our parking guide.
• The office is close to downtown Palo Alto, so it is easy to combine with errands or lunch on University Avenue.
• If you are new to the area, our getting around Palo Alto page covers buses and bikes.

Location and getting there

Stanford Chiropractic Center is at 489 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.7 miles away. That is roughly a 17 minute walk.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 30, 2026.

What is nearby

• Tamarine, restaurant, 0.2 mi
• Stanford Federal Credit Union, service business, 0.2 mi
• Blue Bottle Coffee University Avenue, cafe, 0.2 mi
• Bank of America Lytton Avenue, service business, 0.2 mi
• Joe & The Juice University Avenue, cafe, 0.2 mi
• Johnson Park, 0.4 mi
• Hopkins Creekside Park, 0.4 mi
• Cogswell Plaza, 0.5 mi

Other health and medical nearby: Palo Alto Eyes Optometry (0.2 mi); One Medical (0.2 mi); Site for Sore Eyes (0.3 mi); Acupuncture of Palo Alto (0.3 mi). Browse the full health and medical list.

Before you go

• Call ahead to confirm the practice accepts your insurance and is taking new patients.
• Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and a list of current medications to a first visit.
• For emergencies call 911. Stanford Hospital's emergency department is the closest major emergency room for most of Palo Alto.

About this listing

Checked October 30, 2026 against Stanford Chiropractic Center home page; Dr. Gavin Carr; First visit; Payments and insurance; Spanish-language site. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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