Mark A Heltemes, DC

I want to thank Dr. Mark for teaching me the value of Juicing fruits and vegetables and then helping me get a very good juicer for my household. He is knows a great deal about nutrition and ways to stay healthy and he is very generous with his knowledge.

I’ve now been seeing the doc since November of 2014 and nearly twice weekly visits for 4 months have helped me tremendously. My atlas and corresponding cervical vertebrae are holding now and have adapted to how they are supposed to be. One has to stick with it in order to get the body to «take» the new adjustments. I had lived with my neck problems for years so it can be awhile before the body adjusts to the proper alignment. I still need an occasional adjustment but my headaches are gone and I feel so much healthier.

I threw my back out and whether I was laying down or standing up I was in excruciating pain. I have kaiser insurance. All they did was give me a prescription and send me home. The prescriptions didn’t help me. Someone told me to find a chiropractor. I searched for a chiropractor on Unilocal and picked Mark because of his great reviews. I called and got a same day appointment, and 2 more sessions booked. I left the first day feeling soooo much better! Went back for the 2^nd session the next day, he adjusted my back again and gave me tons of info on health and wellness and tips
on how to prevent throwing my back out again. My back is near to 100% normal again and I am beyond satisfied with my visits. You can tell Mark genuinely cares about his clients and is passionate about his work, and I highly recommend him!

I’ve been a patient at Pride Chiropractic for fourteen years now and Dr. Heltemes has taken me from a state of constant, severe and crippling siatica, to a pain free, high functioning state. I was originally told by another doctor that I’d just have to live with the pain as nothing could be done except to give me pain pills! Well, I don’t take any pain pills and have no pain either, thanks to Mark. I see him weekly as a rule, to maintain my alignment. By doing this my body has learned to hold the lower back adjustment and function once again as it did pre-​siatica. The structural problem can’t be cured but it can be managed quite well. In fact, these regular adjustments have kept all of my entire body aligned and highly functioning. Now at 66, I can do just about everything I did in my twenties and thirties with pretty much the same energy and ease. I credit Dr. Heltemes with this for I had been in such a state back in the late 90’s that once I got into bed at night, it would take me at least ten minutes to ease my way out again, I was unable to sit or stand for any length of time due to pain. He has taught me how to listen to my body as well as exercises and general health tips to enjoy life, work and just plain «being» a whole lot more. I will always be grateful for his care, interest and gentle adjustments. He listens thoroughly and responds with compassion. Who could ask for anything more!

A friend referred me to Dr. Mark Heltemes a few months ago when I was in a minor car accident. My «regular» chiropractor (who I love) wasn’t in his office that evening; Mark was. I entered there in pain and scared; I left feeling MUCH better… so much so that I was able to leave for my international trip the next day. I’ve decided to continue to work with Mark for the foreseeable future, despite my feelings that I’m cheating on my «regular» chiropractor! You know the saying, «When the student is ready, the teacher appears»? What I love about Mark is that he is very interested in teaching about the body and health… and gives me things I can do at home to take care of myself. I’ve decided to commit at a very high level to healing my back and related health issues in 2013 with Mark as my guide. He is very nice, his fees are reasonable, and I love the massage chair that I sit in before my adjustments. I highly recommend him.

I have been going to Dr. Mark for many years now and consider the care I get there my primary wellness activity. He listens carefully and recommends specific stretches and strengthening activities to prevent back and muscle injuries. The adjustments I receive do not make me feel as though I have been wrenched into place, but are gentle corrections to bring me into alignment. I am a parent and the whole family comes to Pride. My daughter can tell now when she needs an adjustment and it has been an important part of her ability to enjoy demanding physical activity like gymnastics and aerial routines in her circus work. We have even found that our adjustments help us ward off colds during the winter. If you are looking for a safe, thoughtful chiropractic experience, you will find it here.

I was new to the Oakland area and desperately needed a chiropractor. I relied on Unilocal,as I often do, and came across Dr. Mark’s reviews. I feel fortunate to have found exactly what I was looking for. His office hours are from 4−7pm…which is perfect for those of us who work 9−5…and I can walk in with or without an appt and be seen. How cool is that? For those of us with hectic lives, this makes getting in to see him a breeze. If you are looking for a guy who will crack your back and send you on your way, look elsewhere. If you want someone who genuinely cares about you as a person and has your health and well-​being in mind, call Dr. Mark for an appt. Whatever ails you, he will check you out from head to toe and put you back together again. I never realize how out of whack I am until he’s done with me. He will also show you exercises that can help with breathing and mobility. Truly unique. Enjoy the AWESOME massage chair in the waiting room & he’ll be right with you… although you may never want to get up! I seldom have to wait, but if i do, its never long. One more side note… Dr. Mark will sometimes give me a call if he hasn’t seen me in a while… just to check up on me and see how I’m feeling. Does your doctor do that?

My neck and back were a mess when I started going to Mark, and in no time all the pain and stiffness were totally gone. He has a wonderful, nurturing demeanor and is very skilled at zeroing in on the root of the problem. His adjustments always felt «just right.» I’ve been to many chiropractors in my life, and none have been as good as Mark. Regrettably, I had to stop going to Mark when I moved to Santa Cruz 8 years ago, and I still haven’t found someone here who compares.

I have known Dr. Mark Heltemes for most of the twenty years he has been in practice on College Avenue on the Berkeley-​Oakland border. Over the years he has helped me with various neck, shoulder, and back issues that were fully resolved. One thing I really appreciate about his work is that he also adjusts hands, wrists, ankles, elbows; and most recently a toe that had been bothering me. Initially I was attracted by his evening hours, reasonable fees, relaxed office atmosphere, and out Pride. I quickly found him to be a fine and effective chiropractor and a warm, genuine person.
Dr. Mark– as I call him– uses some techniques that are new to many: especially the power tools which have been modified for doing deep massage or making difficult adjustments. He also has other props to use at home or in the office, and he will give you ice, or time to rest, as needed. He always recommends exercises for spine health, and will give specific exercises to strengthen the muscle groups in whatever area you are suffering. He follows up and asks if you have done your exercise, but does not judge if you have not. (Well, maybe a little gentle chiding!) He will also give nutritional advice if you want it.
For any women who may be reluctant to see a man, I have always seen as many women in his office as men. Perhaps because he grew up with many sisters, Mark is comfortable with women, and it has always been easy for me to be comfortable with him. He worked on my daughter when she was little too, and was very good with her. Mark is also a weekend farmer and has just started having yoga retreats at his farm. I hope to get to one of them because I am sure the atmosphere will be accepting and supportive.

Dr. Mark is my go-​to guy for what ails me. He may be first and foremost a chiropractor, but what I appreciate the most about his care is the fact that he knows what’s happening with my body. In this day and age of the 5 minute or less appointment, it’s nice to know that Dr. Mark will listen to what’s going on, figure it out, make any necessary adjustments, give me a pep talk, and carefully note it on my chart for future reference. He knows.