He is the BEST! So thorough and kind.

I threw my back out working on a tree in my yard at a weird angle without warming up. I had some old lower lumbar problems from a two hour commute over many years that seemed to snap - I could barely walk. I was laid up for a few days so my wonderful wife pushed me to see a chiropractor. I saw the great reviews for Dr Shaffer and he was located near me and squeezed me in the same day. After 1 session I felt much better but had a little lingering pain. I went in for one more adjustment and by the next day I was symptom free. He did great work and really got in there and adjusted me well. I wouldn't hesitate to go back. Good guy, no up selling or pushing for long term contracts like some others I've visited in the past. read more

Excellent attention to patient and spent time to get to know my needs. Dr. appeared to know his practice well and went above and beyond to offer suggestions and follow up care to better health. read more

I haven't seen a chiropractor in years, since I moved to Austin. I missed my chiropractor at home in Sacramento so much, I just waited for visits home and went then (if my back was bothering me). This time, I was in too much pain for too long, and fortunately got a referral to Dr. Shaffer from a trusted friend. The first thing he did, after letting me fill out paperwork, was ask what it was about my former chiropractor that I liked so much. When I told him, he said "good, that's just how I work," and he wasn't kidding. This is no-nonsense chiropractic - he just fixes it where it hurts. This morning I couldn't dress myself. Now I am still achey, but I am functional and about 1000% better than I was. Even as bad as I was he didn't set a second appointment, but said to just call if it was still hurting badly, and we could do a more aggressive adjustment. He also showed me some exercises to do at home, and gave some advice about sitting and performing other activities. He is a proud chiropractor from a family full of chiropractors with a small one-man office, but a very fancy table (I didn't have to lay down and turn over, just step into the table and be lowered down, for which I was very grateful). He says he normally doesn't let anyone leave unless they are 100%, but I was pretty bad off, with a rotated pelvis and vertebra leaning the other way to compensate. Already my mobility is vastly improved. I can't express enough what a relief it is to finally have a chiropractor in town I can trust (and who takes my insurance even!). I really trust Dr. Shaffer, and recommend him without hesitation. I can't wait to sleep without agonizing pain tonight! read more

Dr. Shaffer is an experienced, caring and knowledgeable chiropractor who takes his time with all of his patients. He was able to get me back to the normal state with just two adjustments after suffering from piriformis muscle issues. His practice is a gem and a rarity in Austin. I would highly recommend Dr. Shaffer to anyone who needs chiropractic services. read more

I've been to at least a half dozen chiropractors in the past 30 years and Dr. Schaffer is hands down the best. He doesn't have a staff and sees one patient at a time for a full hour. So you never feel rushed and it is clear he really genuinely cares about his patients. I have intermittent low back issues and when it flares up as it does a couple of times a year I call Dr. Schaffer and he is always able to see me within a day or two. he has always been able to fix the problem. He never tries to convince me I need to come back which I appreciate it. I cant recommend him highly enough! read more

After being bed-ridden for a week after a particularly nasty Sciatica attack (including a visit to an emergency room as I was unable to move), and unable to get any help from the doctor I saw, I gave Dr. Shaffer a call. He made time for me within an hour of my call. Within one visit I was able to sit up without excruciating pain in my hip and pelvis area and move around much more freely! He is incredibly aware of the many layers of a body's response to trauma and pain and was able to effectively treat my symptoms with incredible intuition and knowledge. I am in awe of his knowledge of how the body responds and how to combat serious issues. Don't waste your time and money elsewhere, start here! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

I am so thankful we found Dr.Shaffer. He is awesome. He loves his patients. He has helped my daughter so much. I have been to other chiropractic doctors and unfortunately they didn't fix my pain and I felt like it was just a money scheme. Richard listens he has integrity, he is honest, and a gift for helping others. We now drive over a hour to see him because my daughter will not go to anyone else. read more

As a patient of Dr. Shaffer's for the past three & a half years, what I can tell you is that he's made my body stronger and elevated my wellness to the best it's ever been. He's also completely eliminated my pain. How many doctors can you say that about? Dr. Shaffer is my most important healthcare provider. His body of knowledge has helped me in so many ways, from how I hold the phone while at work, to how I stretch in my pre-workout routine. I highly recommend Dr. Shaffer & encourage you to make an appointment with him. He's a top-notch Doc & human! read more

I have been to many Chiros in NY and Texas, and Dr Shaffer is the best chiropractor I have ever been to, and its not even close. A session with Dr Shaffer is unlike any other I have ever had with any other chiropractor. He spends a lot of time with you and makes sure his treatment has helped before you walk out. He doesn't just crack your back and send you on your way. He is very smart and in tune with the body. As long as I live in Austin, I will not be going to any other chiropractors. Dr Shaffer is the best! read more

Dr. Shaffer really is one of the best chiropractor I've ever been to. He genuinely cares about his patients and ensures that you're receiving the best care possible. He's really knowledgeable about the chiropractic realm and after going to him, I see why people fly into Austin for his care. If you're looking for an amazing chiropractor, Dr. Shaffer if your guy. I feel 100% better after just going to him once, but will definitely go back in the future! read more

Richard Shaffer is simply the best. He has helped me thru multiple injuries. He always makes sure I am comfortable. He does not rush. He is very accommodating schedule wise to make sure I have the best treatment when it is needed. He has wonderful patients as well. They all seem to get when he needs to juggle us all around to see everyone who is in the need for treatment when they need it. read more

I had never used a chiropractor before, but I had friends and co-workers who would go to see their chiropractor every day or every other day. They were paying a lot of money and even with insurance were feeling cheated. I have also heard of chiropractors using unproven methods. One time I saw a report on a local news station about a chiropractor who did something with ions and feet in water, but at the end of the report they said that none of that type of therapy has been scientifically proven. Dr. Shaffer, on the other hand, is very honest, does a remarkable job, doesn't do a sales pitch, and runs his office without any other staff. He knows what he is doing. He doesn't do anything I would find questionable. He isn't a "snake-oil" salesman. I have recommended Dr. Shaffer to some of the same friends and co-workers who had used other chiropractors and they all like him better than their former chiropractors. When I see Dr. Shaffer, he asks what is going on with my back, puts me on the table and places some electric devices which I guess relax my back muscles. (That is the weirdest part of the session, but it doesn't hurt and isn't the main part of the work he does.) Then Dr. Shaffer puts me in various positions and using just his hands to feel misalignments, he pops vertebrae back in place. After he does his work, he has me walk down the hall and back and asks if it feels OK. If there are still problems, he uses some panels in the table that flip out to fix the bigger problems. He also showed me some stretches I do at home to keep things aligned. The sessions are very straightforward and although the noises from parts of my spine moving into place are sometimes loud, I feel so much better afterwards. And I am the one who decides when I want to come back for another appointment. I have never made my next appointment from his office. Rather, I wait until my back feels bad again, and then I call him up. The only problem I ever had was that I found it is better to reach Dr. Shaffer via phone instead of email. But even if he is treating someone when I call him, when I have left a voicemail he has called back right away. I highly recommend Dr. Shaffer as a chiropractor. read more

Have only been to Dr. Shaffer once, but wow! He was terrific! I liked his no-nonsense, straightforward approach. He did several adjustments and I felt no pressure to return multiple times. Instead I feel free to decide to go back as needed, which I will. read more

Absolutely fabulous! Dr. Shaffer came highly recommended to me, and my first visit was last week. I not only went for an adjustment, but I took my 2 year old daughter too. The atmosphere was no frills, yet very welcoming and warm. He was personable from the moment we walked in, and we felt like we had known him for awhile. He discussed thoroughly about how he would adjust my daughter. His easy going attitude and positive regard for children made her experience and excellent one. He was very thorough and careful with her adjustments. She was having fun and laughing most of the time. This was clearly a positive experience for her! He talked with her directly and treated her like a human being. I was adjusted right after her and it was the best chiropractor experience I've ever had. He does not rush you at all, and he gets you well-prepared so the process is comfortable. I felt so much better after he was done. It was a very relaxed atmosphere! He is also extremely thorough about explaining how chiropractic came to be and how it has evolved. He discusses a lot of useful information that I have not experienced before. One of the many things that I liked about Dr. Shaffer is the fact that he does not push people to come back. He is very much about one coming back if/when they need it. He does not dictate a schedule for you. He's a one man show in a small office, and I loved it! Dr. Shaffer is by far the best chiropractor out there! read more

Richard is amazing. He does what he loves & it shows in the quality of care that I receive from him. Crunch, Pop, Ahhhh, Relief. have gone to different drs. they were as I would say too gentle with me. would never leave totally aligned. almost shifted the vertebrae into place but not quite. They then try to shame me into setting up on a 12 week program, 3 x week, & then go from there... With my insurance we are talking $1260 to start. Richard's mission is to have you up & walking around as pain free as possible without the scamming. There is no long never-ending pricy therapy sessions. told me if I don't feel better to come back. Integrity and talent is golden! read more

I've been to many chiropractors in 40 years and Dr. Shaffer is one of the best I have encountered. I highly recommend him!! read more

I had been having some significant problems with upper back pain, and I had a lot of trouble managing it. I run a lot, and the back pain was becoming a serious problem in my workouts. Having gone through a range of exercise, stretching regimens, and a ton of ibuprofen, I decided to try going to a chiropractor. I had never been to any chiropractor before and I didn't have any decent recommendations that I trusted. There are so many chiropractors out there today, and so many of them seem to be selling long term treatment plans and woo-woo alternative therapies, that it's a very daunting task trying to find one. I eventually just gave up on trying to find a recommendation, and selected Dr. Shaffer because he was the closest chiropractor who took my medical insurance. Luckily, I was very pleased with my choice, and I wanted to add my review here. I can definitely affirm what other reviews here have said. Dr. Shaffer gave me a very no-nonsense, straight forward explanation of what he was doing and how it may (or may not) help my condition. After the adjustment, he gave me a lot of good advice about posture, good ergonomics, and tips for stretching and maintaining my back. After the session he welcomed me to come back if I felt it would help again, but put no pressure on me to do so. I should add that my sister is an MD, but one who is not opposed to alternative therapies, and we've talked about this extensively. I feel, as does she, that the problem with many alternative therapies is that without good open information and the ability to build a reputation, there is too much incentive for practitioners to con their patients into paying for long term therapies which have no efficacy. Therefore it's vitally important that honest, disciplined practitioners be rewarded with a good reputation. Did chiropractic magically fix all my back problems? No, but certainly helped a lot, and the advice and instruction Dr. Shaffer gave me was equally as valuable. Moreover, I feel very comfortable going back to see if a some additional work might give some incremental improvement, knowing that if I feel like chiropractic work is not for me, I can just move on to another approach. That's worth quite a lot in my book, and I hope that sharing this can attract new clients to honest, straight-forward practitioners like Dr. Shaffer. read more

Twice now I have had really debilitating health issues that Dr. Shaffer has resolved and/or made fast work of resolving in very few appointments. My first issue was my lower back and hip. I endured almost 6 months of extreme pain. I tried yoga, massage, physical therapy; nothing worked for more than a few hours. And then I was referred to Dr. Shaffer. My 6 months of pain was gone in 2 appointments with him. I've gone back periodically for general adjustments and for migraine headaches (that he can resolve in 1 or 2 appts at most as well). Unfortunately, I didn't think to see him when I was on a downward spiral suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. It took me until I was put on a month of medical leave from work and even home responsibilities that it occurred to me to see if Dr. Shaffer could help. Thank goodness I finally thought to go see him. We have just spent the past 3+ weeks doing very frequent and intensive treatments to help me recover from CFS/ME. I've gone from barely being able to drive to my appointments with him and back home before losing all energy to having more energy, no physical pain from the fatigue, and restful and actual sleep in under 2 weeks. This most recent 3rd week of frequent treatments has been an insurance policy to make sure I've got a good insurance policy as I prepare to return to work. I've read so much about how people suffer so much and for so long with so little relief from CFS/ME, and I was able to, with the support of my family doctor, Dr. Dickey and his knowledge of how to rebuild my adrenal system, and Dr. Shaffer's deep understanding of chiropractic methods to support my body in fighting off the illness, that I'm in better physical and mental health than I have been in over 2 years. Dr. Shaffer is the last one to tell a patient that s/he needs to come back for frequent visits just so he can have the repeat business. Before I came to him with the CFS/ME diagnosis, he had always been able to resolve my issues in very few visits with only the advice to come back from time to time for maintenance. If only I'd come back more frequently before the devolution of my health from the CFS/ME, I might never have gotten as ill as I did. I can't say enough positive about Dr. Shaffer. He texts me to check in on how I'm doing between visits, he always finds the time to see me as quickly and as much as I need. He spends all the time needed in our appointments to make sure he's got everything back in alignment before he sends me on my way. Oh, and if he recommends a movie or show to you, watch it! He has amazing taste in movies! "The Awakening" was one of the most amazing movies I've ever seen and he recommended it to me. :) read more

Best chiropractor ever. Seriously. Dr. Shaffer is very knowledgeable, attentive and spends a great deal of time with his patients. Most chiropractors see you for a couple of minutes while he devotes an hour to your care. Highly recommended. read more

You mean, Miracle Worker? Dr. Schaeffer is absolutely incredible. He's not into scamming anyone into a months-long treatment plan. I respect honest chiropractors but there are so many out there that give the field a bad name. And some people need these long-winded treatments, I suppose. He does what he does and you only come back when you need to see him again. I've never seen anything like it. We got a trusted friend's referral and that's why we went in the first place. My very skeptic husband went because he had no other alternative since his pain was so unbearable. Never had to go again. I went a few times and even took my mom along because she could see the difference. She was sold. If not for my financial situation, I'd go more times than I do. I feel so much better afterwards. My body does these compensation shifts that put my body in awful shape. His fees are outrageously fair. It's a small office but well appointed. Dr. Schaeffer cares for his patients. I assume all his patients are by word-of-mouth. And you'll be sore afterwards, but that's totally normal and expected. Also, expect swell-informed and entertaining personality to go along with the appointment. He's awesome!!! read more

richard is passionate about what he does and seems to do a great job. he doesn't push for repeat visits, instead he wants you to come back on your own terms. does a nice job of giving stretches and "homework" to prevent you from coming back. added plus, he accepts my insurance. read more

Dr. Shaffer is so good that I drive an hour from another town to see him! I am a health care professional who had never been to a chiropractor before. Then I hurt my back, and my MD (specialist) did nothing to help. I asked if it would be OK if I went to a chiropractor and he said "Well, It won't hurt." Well, Dr. Shaffer made ALL the difference in the world. Three years of chronic pain relieved after becoming his client. He will always fit me in if I am having an issue. He is gentle but extremely efficient, and has a manner that puts me at ease. I am a regular client now, so that I can maintain my spinal balance. He has also recommended stretches and exercises for home. I highly recommend Dr. Shaffer. read more

I'm relatively new to the area and with all choices for chiropractic care, let's say I got lucky! There are so many good things about this Dr. I don't know where to start. He is the real deal, no frills, no expensive schemes to rake you of all your money, no fake-ness. He is genuine, has a good personality, ton of experience, and is not afraid of being himself, which is quite refreshing after experiencing previous chiropractors who try too hard to be liked, and I can see right through all their bs. All you have to do is go there and trust him. Just do it. Go. Now. read more

I have been seeing Dr. Shaffer for years and can tell you that he is the best!!! I never put much stock in chiropractics until I gave Dr. Shaffer a try. He's super friendly, funny, and caring. I suffer from lower back issues and I pull my back out at least once a year. If it wasn't for my visits to Richard, I couldn't even work. I have been to other chiropractors in years past and always felt that I was being pressured into continuous and ongoing treatments. Dr. Shaffer does what is necessary and I appreciate that. My wife, daughter, son, and many friends all share the same opinion - he's the best! read more

love him!