I'm wary and skeptical of chiropractors, not ever having had a good experience with them, and in some cases, ended up worse, with all the cracking and popping of my bones. Not sure bones are meant to make such loud, scary sounds. WTH? I had vowed never ever to set foot in one of those quack offices. But desperation makes a woman do crazed ass things. A friend of mine, who I trust, e.g. she's been around the medical block., she said so many positive things about Dr. Donovan, and because I had been hobbling around unable to walk for a month, I had to try something. I went to him--and wow. He's patient and kind and sweet. Above all, he's very gentle. None of that awful popping and aggressive manipulation of bones. He used a variety of different techniques and listened well, was thoughtful, made careful observations. His communique and responsiveness is extraordinary. He does NOT phone it in, and goes the extra mile, e.g. checking in after my first appt. Ultimately, I ended up doing a short course of methylprednisolone, which ever there was a magic bullet, cleared up whatever demon had entered my thigh. In the future, if I had an issue which I think would respond to the chiropractic care he offers, I'd go to him in a heartbeat. read more

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**Significant** improvement in my forearm soreness (best description would be myofascitis) after only 4 sessions. Decided to give a chiropractor a call after the occupational therapy was not making any noticeable improvement for me. Feel like I'm being healed progressively one session at a time with Dr. Donovan. Superb doctor. Professional and comfortable experience. Dr. Donovan's willingness to share his extensive knowledge of the human body as a whole has helped me improve other unrelated discomforts as well. Sharing this review in the hopes that someone else can be helped the way that I have been. Very grateful! read more

Dr. Donovan is phenomenal. I have chronic neck pain and within one visit he helped the pain go away- the lack of pain lasted for months! Upon flare up and for a tune up, I have returned and once again am impressed. He is gentle yet very effective and provides physical therapy exercise recommendations that really help with the day to day. I literally tell people he changed my life. Thank you, Dr. Donovan! read more

Dr.Donovan helped my daughter with her lower back pain. He provided a lot of information and provided some exercises/stretches for her. I will definitely go back if needed. read more

Dr. Dade Donovan has been treating me for 4 years. He is the BEST D.C. and I've had chiropractic care since the 80's. He uses the Active Release Technique. He adjusts gently without twisting or cracking. He has intuitive healing skills beyond my expectations. Alignment alone is so important especially as you get older I will continue to go to him regularly. TY Dr. Dade! read more

Dade W. Donovan, DC - A rose by any other name would smell as sweet - Chiropractors Near Me - San Mateo, California

Dr Dade is just great. I've been going to him for at least 7 years and he really knows his stuff. Also, he's the type of chiropractor that after 1 visit and you're feeling better, he doesn't encourage you to come back again and again like many chiropractors do. Knowledgeable, experienced, friendly and just a great chiropractor! read more

Dr Dade Donovan was fantastic. I saw him for about five sessions for a hip joint problem and a shoulder issue. He did a lot of Active Release Therapy (ART) and also gave me stretches and a few exercises to help with balance and flexibility. I loved how he took a holistic approach to treating my body by directly working on the injured body parts and showing me how to improve my overview physical health for better living and to avoid future injury. He showed me better posture for sitting at the desk which has helped my shoulder pain tremendously. My balance has great improved. As a result I use my core more when moving about. My hip pain is gone and my hip flexibility has increased. read more

Sitting here nursing my foot after almost 4 months of plantar fasciitis I think of Dade and what a wonderful guy he is he worked on it a month ago or so and told me it was slowly get better which it is. going to a specialist in a few weeks Been with Dade for years now and every visit is a pleasant visit always walk out of the office feeling better read more

I have been seeing Dr. Donovan for years! His office has downsized considerably due to rising rents and tech businesses coming into the office space . . .but thankfully he's still in the same location!! . . . I am thankful that whoever owns his office building has found a way to make it work so that our favorite local chiropractor is still doing his thing. It would be a great loss to San Mateo if that had not been the outcome. As you can see from his reviews we all LOVE Dr. Donovan. read more

I have seen Dr. Dade on two separate occasions over the years and I have to say I'm so impressed. I'd never seen a chiropractor before Dr. Dade. I wasn't entirely sure what they did. Now I know. They help with a lot of things. Everyday I drink a powdered nutritional supplement with juice called Deeper Greens. It's how I get my daily servings of fruit and vegetables. I didn't know about this product, but Dr. Dade recommended it since I want to, but don't eat enough fruits and veggies during the day. I'm now hooked on it. My latest reason for seeing Dr. Dade was a case of frozen shoulder. This is where you get intense pain around the shoulder and down through the arm. It came on without any actual trigger event and has caused me a lot of pain. Dr. Dade has helped me to stabilize the pain and slowly reverse its course to get better. He told me after the first appointment that I shouldn't worry and that it would get better. I appreciated his sincere confidence. It was well placed as I am certainly on the mend. What I really like about Dr. Dade is his deep knowledge of chiropractic and the human body, nutrition, and Active Release Technique, which he used with me for another condition. He really knows so much. He's always on time, too, which is great. I truly recommend him to others. My Growth Coach tip for business improvement: Give your chiropractic patients who've not seen Maren, your massage therapist, a complimentary short session with her so they can experience her service, too. I suspect that a percentage of them would then become her clients as well. read more

If I could give him more stars, I would. On a one-to-ten scale, I would give him an eleven! Dr. Donovan is very thorough in his assessment and treatment. I went in for back pain that I had neglected for years (I slouch and have a very full chest). Immediately after his first treatment, I started to feel so much better. He is very gentle and even knows to treat areas of pain you don't tell him about. I had surgery on my foot last year and I will just say the experience was a bit of a nightmare. I told Dr. Donovan about the pain I was still experiencing in my foot almost now a year later. Not only did he do adjustments on my foot (I didn't even know chiropractors could do this), he watched how I walked and recommended excellent inexpensive foot inserts. My own podiatrist I saw didn't do this. My foot feels so much better, the swelling went down and it's all thanks to Dr. Donovan. Dr. Donovan has a bedside manner that is hard to find in doctors these days. You can tell he genuinely cares and will go above and beyond to help you. He has fit me in on rather short notice and he indicates on his voicemail greeting he will go beyond business hours to help his patients. One last thing, his office staff is super. I don't think I have ever looked so forward to visiting a doctor's office. They are all very good to me. If you're looking for a chiropractor, look no further. Dr Donovan and his staff will take excellent care of you! read more

Excellent Chiropractic office. From the front-desk to the massage therapist to the chiropractor - every one is top notch, first rate. Dr Donovan provides a chiropractic adjustment during the 20 minute session, and also takes a look at any other part of your body that may be giving you trouble. I really appreciate the adjustment as well as the continued guidance towards overall body support and strength. I am glad that he is certified in ART therapy, because I have felt much relief in my shoulder during my visits with him this year. He also took a look at my ankle and is helping it heal in a better way for my overall structure and posture. Dr Donovan is very knowledgeable and kind, and I am so happy that I found his office on Yelp! read more

Dr. Donovan is amazing! I'm a dentist and threw out my neck and felt debilitated. Dr. Donovan made every effort to see me the same day even though it was past his normal office hours. Dr. D did a thorough examination and intake history. He addressed all of my concerns even those unrelated to the main reason I came in. After the history, he did a variety of expert adjustments with varying equipment and I could tell immediately a difference in my range of motion. It's been 2 days since I saw him and I'm 90% better. He showed me stretches and gave me advice for good aftercare. He was super honest and very personable. If you're looking for a chiropractor, I give him my highest recommendation. Thanks Dr. D! read more

Dr. Donovan has been my "acting primary care physician" couple years after I started rock climbing, which is my "midlife crisis hobby". I'm generally healthy, fit and conscientious about healthy living. Although climbing puts enormous stress on my joints, tendons, and muscles, literally from head to toe. I'm still climbing passionately all thanks to Dr. Donovan for putting and keeping my overused body back in order. read more

I've been seeing Dr. Donovan since 2007. He is extremely knowledgeable, skilled, caring, and has a great sense of humor. He takes the time to address the soft tissues if needed, which really benefits the patient. I've seen many chiropractors over the years. He is by far the best one and I feel fortunate to have found him. Every time I have an adjustment from him, I feel as though I have had a full body tune-up. read more

Let me just start by saying, I finished the stormy and miserable California International Marathon on Sunday. It may have been the slowest marathon of my life, but I was amazed that I actually was able to finish it, and that is all thanks to Dr. Donovan. I have always had a lot of running injuries, due to pushing myself way too hard and going way too fast. Not to mention I have one leg shorter than the other and mild scoliosis which I'm sure doesn't help. It was no surprise that I ended up feeling some injuries coming on after completing two half marathons back to back. I went to see Dr. Donovan because I had CIM coming up in about two months and I knew I'd need help if I were to complete it. I was behind in the schedule and was forced to do an aggressive training schedule. 13 miles to 15, to 18, to 20 and down. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I saw Dr. Donovan weekly, and he was always quick to throw my body back into alignment, all the while keeping me entertained by friendly chats and helpful body maintenance advice. He's a very approachable Dr, and I feel very comfortable with him and we share the same slightly sarcastic humor. The ART he did was gentle but effective. I wasn't screaming in pain and there were no tears running down my cheeks. I did improve my flexibility, motion and balance though. I plan on visiting Dr. Donovan regularly even without any injuries because I think he will keep things in line and help me become a better athlete. I think the fact that I finished the race with borderline injuries and an aggressive training schedule shows that Dr. Donovan knows what he's doing! read more

Dr. Donovan is an exemplary chiropractor. He has a great knowledge of physiology and addresses needs well. I've been to him with various back and neck issues over the years. My husband has seen him many times primarily for neck issues. Two additional things mark Dr. Donovan as a great health care provider. First, he does not play the "you need to come in for regular maintenance" game. If the series of treatments has led to relief from pain and better function, he is perfectly happy to tell you to call him if you need him. I have dealt with chiropractors who seem more interested in guaranteeing my repeat business than in actually curing my problem than I care to discuss. Dr. Donovan is absolutely not like that. Second, he knows when you need care from other providers. My husband's neck thing was not getting better, and at one point Dr. Donovan said he was concerned about continuing treatment without further diagnostic information. He encouraged my husband to seek care from a DO or MD, and/or to get an MRI. My husband got an MRI which showed serious degeneration in his cervical discs. Dr. Donovan was smart to hold off on further chiropractic treatment until getting this information, because the wrong approach could have led to serious injury. Dr. Donovan understands the link between chiropractic and other treatment approaches and is not a zealot about chiropractic medicine. Dr. Donovan is an excellent addition to any care team, and a nice guy on top of that. We highly recommend him. read more

Dr Dade Donovan has a profound understanding of the human body physiology, anatomy and biochemistry. Dr Donovan provides his clients with a holistic approach to pain management and help you improve your movement and performance. He helped me to overcome and manage a very severe pain episode due to a very serious hip joint problem. I highly recommend his professional services since besides being a great Chiropractor he is very personable and he actually takes the time to give you the deserved attention and personalized treatment to you as an individual and not just as a number x patient. Thanks Dr Donovan for all your help! read more

I am feeling and functioning worlds better now form visiting Dr. Dade. My injuries where from years of athletic abuse on my body, the likes of numerous ankle injuries as well as hip and knee problems. My friend turned me on to Dr. Dade and I could not thank him more. It is wonderful to be able to move again. Thanks Doc. Very Happy Body, Anthony Terlizzi read more

I have been seeing Dr Donovan on and off for over 10 years and he is just amazing. He can tell you what's hurting just by looking at you. Just recently went to him because I was told I have arthritis in my hip and he worked on it a few visits and wow very little pain and gave me some exercises to do.. Feeling so much better. I highly recommend him. 5 stars for sure read more

Dr. Donovan fixed my long-standing shoulder problem. I had a torn rotator cuff about 10 years ago that never totally healed after surgery. After 1 session with Dr. Donovan I was able to throw a football 10 yards further. Today I can throw any ball like I did before the surgery. I highly recommend Dr. Donovan read more

I have been a patient of Dr Donovan DC for over 10 years and I couldn't be happier. As he's both a Chiropractor and Myofascial Therapist I'm able to get so much care each visit with his vast expertise, knowledge and skills. Everyone in the office is personable and friendly, it's a wonderful team. And there is now a recent addition of a massage therapist which I'm excited to learn about and will hopefully get an appointment with soon. Bottom line is I highly recommend Dr Donovan! read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Donovan's for five or six years now. I have worked for chiropractors in the past and have a lot of experience with different doctors. Dr. Donovan is by far the best. I see him for just general stiffness, etc. when ever I need a visit. However, he has been invaluable to me with my sports injuries. Dr. Donovan has treated me for a severely sprained ankle (or two) as well as helped me rehab a broken tibia. What I love about his style of care is that he takes the time to listen to what I am feeling, before even doing any physical evaluation. Then he gets to work. The combination of Active Release Technique (ART), Graston Technique, and adjustments have gotten me back up and running quickly. Regardless of my condition, whether it's an injury or just general stiffness and soreness, Dr. Donovan is a wealth of knowledge. He always has some kind of exercise, stretches, or yoga positions that I can do at home to speed my recovery along. I highly recommend Dr. Donovan. He is very caring, highly knowledgeable, and is a great doctor. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Donovan since he open his practice and am very happy, with his care that he gives. I have seen him for almost every part of my body that I have injured, I use to be a truck driver and my body took a beating but he never gives up always wants to help me. I thank him for that. read more

Dr Donovan is very thorough in his assessment, asks the right questions and really listens to my needs. I went to him when I first moved to the area because I had plantar - his treatment helped me get rid of it quickly. Due to some back pain last week, I was able to get in the same day. Even though I hadn't been in in over a year, everyone treated me with respect and kindness. His office staff, Dee and Linda are helpful and equally kind. Highly recommend Dr. Donovan as he really cares about his patients. read more

Dr. Donovan is a gem! He is a healer not a hurter. I've seen 2 other chiros b4 I found Dr. Dade & I never found the relief I have since I started seeing him. I have a rare neurological disorder & Dr. Donovan was honest in his approach & assessment of me. I am the first patient he's had w/this condition. He uses soft tissue manipulations & supports me btwn my infusions I receive every 3 wks 2 treat my disorder. He is very knowledgeable, skilled & compassionate as well as his entire office staff. I would give him 10 stars if I could! read more

Pleasant professional office. I came here because I have suffered dibilitating shoulder pain for over a year and half. Frozen shoulder pain took over my life. I discovered this office by accident and became interested in the active release technique practiced here. I had positive results after just one treatment. Highly recommend it. read more

Dr. Dade practices a hands-on form of chiropractic care that's both rare and powerful. I've seen other chiropractors - and now that I've discovered this approach, and experienced Dr. Dade's insightful and effective care, I would never go anywhere else. I am so grateful to have found this office. Thanks Dr. Dade! read more

I have been treated by chiropractors for years. We moved to San Mateo and needed to find a chiropractor we could trust. We have tried several in the San Mateo area without finding a truly top-flight doctor, until we met Dr. Dade Donovan. He spent almost an hour checking my history, testing my body and its limits, verifying information I had given him. He has "sensitive hands". He is caring, and very competent using a combination of modalities for treatment. His office manager, Dee is very competent, delightfully pleasant and called to remind me of my upcoming appointment. Here is a doctor I trust, I am delighted to have found Dr. Donovan! read more

2nd chiropracter I've been to in my life. Probably the only one that I will go back to for any future back problems. Had a sport's injury and he was knowledgeable about my sport and recommended exercises that I could do at home to prevent injury and strengthen my back - not a typical chiropracter that only does adjustment. I still had my adjustments done but the extra exercises really helped to keep my back strong. Highly recommend! Very attentive. read more

Family has been going to him for years. He is simply great at his craft and is a pleasant person as well.

Dr. Donovan is a very caring, professional, extremely knowledgeable, gifted healer. He has helped me over the past 3 years with my spinal issues as well as an ankle injury, incorporating his knowledge of Active Release Technique. Often I have felt severe pain due to my injuries and after a visit with Dade, I was running on the treadmill again! Friendly, helpful staff. Highly recommend. read more

dr dade donovan is the best doctor i know for his care, concern and for going the extra mile. he is my hero, time and again. and on top of all this, he is an all-around great guy. my husband was having lower back pain earlier this year. after ordering an x-ray and mri, dr donovan recommended my husband see his primary care physician to whom dr d sent a note suggesting pool therapy exercise. when we got to the pcp, that pcp denied receiving the note and refused to prescribe therapy, saying it wouldn't help. (we have since changed pcps.) well, when we went back to see dr donovan after the visit to the pcp, frustrated and feeling helpless, dr d called in a prescription to the mickelson pool for therapy. we're in the middle of the scheduled therapy now, and owe a debt of gratitude to dr donovan. i can't think of the right superlatives to describe how wonderful i believe dr donovan is. read more

Dr. Donovan always knows how to give me relief by fixing my neck, shoulder, and/or back when my alignment is off. He also has a good sense of humor. He is the best! His receptionist, Dee, is wonderful. read more

I've been going to Dr. Donovan for years and I cannot say enough good things about the quality of his care. He is professional, thoughtful, and insightful. Dr. Donovan is a great chiropractor but where he sets himself apart is his focus on your total well being. We've discussed diet, vitamins and supplements, what shoes to wear, and even yoga. All have been tremendously helpful in improving my total health. My husband has always been skeptical of chiropractors but he has been a devoted Donovan patient for awhile now. Before going to Dr. Donovan, he was popping ibuprofen like candy and had chronic pain in his lower back and knees. He loved playing basketball but was thinking about giving it up because of the beating his body took. Thanks to Dr. Donovan, my husband is able to play basketball without the chronic pain. He even does yoga. read more

I have be a client of Dr. Donovan for many years. He has always gone out of his way to work with my crazy life and work schedule. I find him a good listener, he has a very up personality and is a excellent Chiropractor . He is always updating his knowledge and skills. His office staff are very understanding ,friendly and they return phone calls quickly, I also love that they phone me the day before with reminders of my appointment (they also are very understanding if you have to change or cancel an appointment). If you need a Chiropractor-- please see Dr. Donovan -- you will not be sorry! read more

I have chronic back pain and Dr Donovan is the best! He has a large skill set to draw from (love A.R.T!) and I always walk out feeling better. He's compassionate, listens, and takes the time you need for treatment. He has an answering service that will page him if you have an emergency outside of office hours (I was sooo grateful when I had to use this) and he has seen me on a Saturday. Dee, the administrative person, is wonderful and chipper and I look forward to her appointment reminder phone calls. Maren, the masseuse, is amazing. She is very intuitive and uses hot rocks. I've also had several Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage sessions. I had no idea what they were, but they have really been making a difference. There are so many wonderful things to say, but I heartily recommend you visit Dr Dade's website at: http://drdade.com/ read more

I had been struggling with some physical issues with my hands and feet for a few months. After numerous visits to my doctor and acupuncturist I was just about ready to give up hope of feeling normal again when I booked a visit with Dr. Donovan. After two sessions my issues have completely gone away. I would not believe it if it didn't actually happen to me. Thank you Dr. Donovan.... read more

Dr Dade rocks! I've been going to him for about 4 years and is by far the best chiropractor Usually the pain I'm experiencing stops after 1 or 2 visits. He's just awesome. read more

I've been to many chiropractors for ongoing shoulder problems and jaw issues. Dr. Donovan's approach is completely different than any other chiropractor I've ever been to - he doesn't do the normal cracking and yanking, but works with drop tables, massage and simple pressure to put things back together. I've gone from not being able to eat foods that require a lot of chewing (pizza, salad, etc.) without significant pain to being able to eat pretty much anything I want. And my shoulder is well on its' way to being better, too. read more