It all started with a heavy metal trashcan falling on my left foot and crushing one of the joints in the big toe when I was a kid. Years later, I had to have surgery to fix the joint. There was some relief, but not completely. I had been putting more weight on my uninjured right foot, and more stress. This caused not only a funny walk, but pain and discomfort in my back, shoulders, knees, and neck. I had been in pain and discomfort for nearly two years, even AFTER months of post-surgery physiotherapy. Painkillers really mess with my stomach, so I was asking family and friends for tips and looking on the internet for alternatives. I had heard of chiropractors before but, like most people, I had some negative stereotypes about chiropractic work and was skeptical. Ironically, I found Dr. Donath by looking on Yelp! There were so many positive reviews that I decided I had to try it. Well now I'm leaving a review and saying that I am so glad that I took the leap. Whatever stereotypes you have heard about chiropractors is totally not true, at least when it comes to Dr. Donath and his team. I had a complicated set of complaints, and from the first appointment I was so well taken care of. I was treated both by Dr. Donath and his colleague Dr. Marshall who are both patient, friendly, and easy to work with. You can tell that they actually really do genuinely care. I never felt rushed, and in many ways the treatments felt like a combination of physiotherapy, stretching, and adjustment work. Both Dr. Marshall and Dr. Donath also have additional training that most chiropractors don't have! They use a variety of treatment methods to get the best results. I am feeling so much better, and it only took about two months of treatment. It really is incredible. And what is great is that both Dr. Donath and Dr. Marshall took the time to educate me on how to prevent certain injuries again (how to have better posture, getting out of bed the correct way to prevent too much pressure on the spine etc!). I also found them to be very affordable, they worked with my insurance and the co-pays were lower than I expected. They even worked with me so I could get a new custom-made pair of orthotic inserts for my shoes which have helped to improve my posture even more! I also wanted to add that their office is super clean and nice too! I don't typically leave a ton of reviews but I wanted to leave one for them because they did an amazing job! I think it's important to know that you DO NOT have to deal with chronic pain forever! There are healthy alternatives that actually work! I can't recommend Dr. Donath and Dr. Marshall highly enough! I hope this review will help you make a decision that is right for you! Good luck and feel better! I know what it feels like to suffer from chronic pain and discomfort! You are not alone! read more

Several months back I herniated two discs in my neck while exercising. While I felt terrible discomfort in my neck and upper back, that paled in comparison to the pain I felt in my left tricep and forearm. This was the result of a disc touching a nerve in my cervical spine. My neurologist told me that surgery was the most likely course of action to alleviate the pain. I made an appointment with Dr. Donath with the hope that perhaps chiropractic treatment could give me some relief. When I met Dr. Donath I was in terrible pain and scared about the prospect of having surgery on my neck. Dr. Donath took the time to explain the science behind my injury and introduced me to spinal decompression therapy. After reviewing my MRI results with me, he was confident that he would be able to heal me without surgery. Dr. Donath and his staff laid out a timeline and told me that if we stuck to that treatment plan that I would make a full recovery. After only a few sessions at Joint Effort Chiropractic & Westchester Spinal Decompression I began to notice a difference. The spinal decompression therapy gently created enough room in between my vertebrae so that the disc was able to move off of the nerve and relieve the pain I felt in my arm. After a few months I am proud to say that I am fully discharged from my treatment. My recovery wasn't linear, no one's ever is, but I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful this staff was during all of the peaks and valleys of my recovery. Dr. Donath, Dr. Marshall and everyone else at this practice anticipated all of the twists and turns that come with the healing process. They were reassuring when I had a temporary set back and encouraging when they saw the progress I was making. They were really wonderful to work with during this incredibly stressful time. Dr. Donath promised me during that first consultation that he could provide me with a non-surgical solution to heal my neck and he and his staff delivered. I highly recommend Joint Effort Chiropractic & Westchester Spinal Decompression to anyone experiencing neck or back pain. read more

I had been a chiropractic patient for years, since the 1980's. Being adjusted on a fairly regular basis kept my cervical and mid back issues at bay. Though, before I knew it, life got in the way as it tends to for us all. Failing to keep up with chiropractic treatment allowed my subluxations and subsequent muscle spasms to return and become progressively worse. This went on for years until I simply could no longer bear the stiffness, decreased range of motion, weakness in my shoulder and numbness and tingling in my right arm. One day, while perusing YouTube for chiropractors in my area who include Y-strap adjustments as part of their treatment options, I discovered Dr. Donath. During my first meeting/treatment, Dr. Donath listened intently to my story. He explained, in detail, the cause of my condition. We discussed treatment options. Dr. Donath's presentation of his treatment plan for me was direct, detailed and confident without smoke and mirrors. His demeanor allowed me to trust him and to feel good about my choice to visit his office. We proceeded to one of multiple treatment rooms. The doctor utilized active stretching, trigger point therapy and traditional chiropractic techniques. The last aspect of that day's adjustment was the use of the Y-strap. When I say that the experience was more than I had hoped for, I am not doing justice to its effect. After one visit, I felt relaxation in muscular tissue, increased range of motion in my spine and enhanced circulation and nerve conduction. It was incredible! Now, after a few months since my first visit, I feel better than I have in many years. I have described only a fraction of the treatment options offered by Dr. Donath. He and his associate doctor are fantastic. The entire staff is wonderful. They are friendly, attentive and truly professional. In addition, the office is very clean and bright. If you are in the market for a chiropractor, I highly suggest calling Dr. Donath's office. Sincerely, Joe Gamba read more

Having visited other chiropractors, in the past, I can say that Dr. Donath's professionalism, compassion and efficacy is remarkable. From the moment I walked into his office and was greeted by his lovely office staff, it was clear that Dr. Donath and the professionals at Joint Effort Chiropractic focus on one thing only and that is making their patients feel better. Suffering from acute neck pain brought on by a yoga headstand, I sought out Dr. Donath's services on the recommendation of my ENT- appreciating that an MD refered to a chiropractor. Having suffered from chronic neck pain, shoulder pain and lower back pain for sometime and having tried a number of approaches to both fixing and managing the pain, I was eager for a better solution. Dr. Donath's ability to quickly diagnose and address my pain was not only impressive but also a welcome departure from the norm. Previous attempts at physical therapy, acupuncture, massage, medication, immobilization and other chiropractic techniques were comparatively ineffective and left me frustrated and in on-going pain. Thanks to Dr. Donath, I have a solid understanding of the root of my pain, and am now empowered to make effective changes in my daily life to minimize existing pain and prevent future reoccurring episodes. Although he is widely known for providing patients with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Therapy, this was not an approach we felt was necessary for me at this time. His patient plan for me was comprehensive and realistic- as it took into consideration both my active lifestyle as an athlete and mother to 3 young children. As an added bonus, he worked with my insurance plan to ensure that I was able to maximize coverage of his services. I am currently pain free but extremely relieved to know that if my pain reoccurs, i know where to go for immediate help. read more

I'm a busy gastroenterologist in the Bronx doing numerous endoscopic procedures each week. I love my job and have been doing it for over 30 yrs. I also thrive on moderate exercise...rowing, bicycling, swimming, walking, and my "shake weight." I have a high tolerance for pain, but no tolerance for incapacitation!! Call me Type A. So, when I suddenly herniated a C6-C7 disc, I needed a fix and I needed it fast. "Uncle!" This pain was indeed intolerable!!! Maximum doses of nonsteroidals and neurontin didn't make a dent, and Percocet appeared to be a placebo...didn't even give me a high!! A colleague's husband recommended Dr Donath and his Nonsurgical Decompression Therapy. Said he sent his mother-in-law to Dr. Donath. Claims he likes his mother-in-law, but fears her daughter even more. I know the daughter, his wife, so I trusted the recommendation was a good one. Although Dr. Donath warned me it could take a couple of months to get back to baseline, within a few sessions I was able to work at reduced volume and now after 2 months I'm off all meds and back to meeting all the demands of my busy practice. Now that the snow is gone, I'm back on my bicycle, will soon take my gym membership off suspension, and can't wait to swim in our condo's newly renovated pool. Though difficult for a Type A, I did promise Dr. Donath I'd take it slow. I hope that testimonials from patients will eventually convince insurance companies to cover such valuable treatment. One more thing: the machine works, but the TLC from Dr Donath and his staff, including the flexibility for scheduling treatments, added to the speedy recovery. I'm so grateful to them for helping me get my life back. With serious gratitude, Dr. M. read more

My husband and I relocated to the Westchester area in early November. Though we gave a local chiropractor a try, we didn't feel that the adjustments were comprehensive enough and were dealing with the same back and neck pain over and over. While in quarantine, we were talking about things we couldn't wait to do. Both of us said get a good adjustment at a Chiropractor, so I started to research. I came across Dr. Donath on Yelp and really liked his reviews. One thing that caught my eye in a review was that he uses a Y-strap for adjustments. If you have ever seen a "ring dinger" video, you'll have an idea of what its like, except he uses a dedicated strap. Years ago I had a chiropractor use one and have never felt such relief in my neck and shoulders. I haven't found anyone that uses one in their practice since then and have yearned for the relief it gave me. I called and made an appointment for my husband and I for the following week. When we arrived Dr. Donath's office was very clean, friendly, and taking every precaution necessary in the times of COVID-19. We went to his office to discuss what was bothering us and learn a bit more about him and his practice. Though they do not accept traditional health insurance, they have options available to make the visits affordable which we appreciated. One thing that stands out is Dr. Donath's investment in each patient. You can tell he truly cares about your well-being, he even called after our first adjustment to check in and see how we were doing. I can't recommend him and his practice highly enough. We both have felt tremendous relief in the weeks that we have been under Dr. Donath's care. If you're looking for a caring, kind, and skilled chiropractor, this is the place! read more

Hi, my name is Bob. Approximately five months ago I went online and found Dr. Donath's website for chiropractic with decompression work. The website was very interesting to me because I already visited two chiropractors with no success. I have had two MRI"s done that showed I had spinal stenosis in my neck and lower back, pinched nerves and a few bulging discs. This gave me numbness in both feet and pressure in the back of my head for approximately 3 years. I called Dr. Donath's office and was greeted very nicely by his receptionist and Dr. Donath took the time from what he was doing to talk to me on the phone. The following day he opened up an appointment for me. From the very beginning I was impressed by his bright, cheery, clean, neat and up to date office. I was greeted at the front desk by Suzanne who was very polite and courteous as well as April who is one of his excellent assistants. I was promptly brought into Dr. Donath's office. He discussed my MRI's in detail and explained to me that he would be able to help me as long as I had the patience and followed his direction. Over the months I did exactly what he asked of me and found him to be professional, kind, informative and down to earth. Not only is he a great doctor but also a great human being. I can tell you that five months ago I would walk 20 feet and have to sit because my feet would be completely numb, couldn't stand for more than ten minutes and the back of my head always had pressure. Today I can walk with no numbness in my feet and I have no pressure in the back of my head. Thank you Dr. Donath for giving me back my active life! read more

I went from being an over energetic and over enthusiastic Physician to a patient in Pain Pain Pain. Had pain in my elbow, arm, and forearm and it was slowly restricting my shoulder and neck too. Woke up in pain which only got worse with daily routine. This went on for about 4 months which is when my colleague told me about Dr. Donath. Inspite of being Skeptical... I went to him as he came highly recommended. And I had already tried an physical therapy. This was a turning point in my life!!!! At my first visit, he should have really been with his son , who had been diagnosed with a fracture and was put in a cast the very same afternoon, but instead of canceling my appointment, he stood there patiently listening to my saga. He spent over 2 hrs listening and coming up with a game plan and answering all my questions. I felt very positive and reassured . He started treatment the very first time and even called me at home that night to check on my pain scale and answer any other questions I had. During the course of treatment, he was always very pleasant, thoughtful, and thorough. He even helped me with my knee and sacroiliac joint pain . He took care of more than 2 extra pain complaints in the same appointment which made him spend almost triple the time each session. I am very thankful to Dr. Donath and will highly recommend him for treatment of elbow, shoulder, knee, and back issues. I am pain free now and have resumed my daily activities with full force and more. read more

I developed lockjaw after a prolonged crown lengthening procedure 6 weeks ago. Four days after the procedure I could not open my mouth except to put in baby size particles of food. I could drink a smoothie but nothing else. I subsequently went to ENT who recommended seeing someone who specializes in TMJ to get rid of this problem right away. I was told that it would get worse if it would not be taken care of right away. I sought out Dr. Donato for his expertise with TMJ and his good reviews. He spent the last six weeks twice a week opening my jaw slowlythrough his techniques. It was a painful process but I am happy to report that with his care and treatment of my TMJ I am now able to eat a pickle, a whole egg and most of a sandwich . We still have a little ways to go but it is 80% better I am a Doctor who appreciates Dr Donato's expertise. I admit I panicked when I couldn't open my jaw and I would wake up at night in a cold sweat. The doctor assured me that that was all a normal response to the inability to open my jaw. I am happy to report that I am living life normally now and enjoying my meals with my family and I don't have to finger my food anymore What a celebration. Thank you Dr. Donato I appreciate your care and your concern for my condition thank you again I recommend you without Reservation. I thank God that you worked through my problem with me so that my life is more joyful now. Dr. Darline Kulhan read more

Since the birth of my last child 6 years ago, I began to experience urinary urgency. I consulted with at least a dozen physicians/specialists from physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, urologists etc. The list goes on and on. Not one was able to diagnose a cause of my symptoms. Without a diagnosis an effective treatment plan was unlikely. Nevertheless, I tried every possible recommendation offered to me including physical therapy and several different prescription medications. Nothing seemed to be working to relieve my symptoms. I thought this was something I would just have to learn to live with. As a last resort, I scheduled a consultation with Dr Donath. Dr Donath immediately sent me for am MRI which revealed several herniated/bulging discs. Dr. Donath suggested that this could be the underlying cause of my symptoms and devised a treatment plan which included spinal decompression. It took some time, but after a few months of treatment, I am doing great! I can't thank Dr. Donath enough.. He is an amazing doctor, who is passionate about his work and will go the extra mile to strive for perfection. I was equally impressed with Dr. Donath's staff. I found them to be professional, caring and patient. I wholeheartedly recommend anyone suffering with similar issues to seek out Dr. Donath. You will not be disappointed! read more

I began seeing Dr. Donath during my 35th week of pregnancy. The week prior, I experienced an onset of pelvic and groin pain so severe that I was unable to walk without the assistance of a walker. After examining me, my OB-GYN diagnosed the condition as symphysis pubis dysfunction ("SPD") - an extreme case. The pain with even the slightest movement was excruciating, and naturally I was unable to take any pain relievers. She recommended physical therapy, but I needed immediate relief. After clearing it with her, I called Dr. Donath's office. I was able to get an appointment with Dr. Donath very quickly, and during our first meeting, he listened to me and was very sensitive to my concerns. He was upfront regarding his expectations with respect to treating my condition. After just the first treatment I felt relief, and told him so when he called that evening to see how I was feeling. After a total of six visits, over the course of about a week and a half, I was walking again. It was amazing. I was no longer in terrible pain, and I was able to comfortably finish my pregnancy. Now, 8 weeks post partum, I feel fine. Knowing that the pains of SPD can last for up to a year post-partum, I think I owe my quick recovery to the treatment I received from Dr. Donath. read more

Nothing was helping me with the constant pain in my neck; I wasn't sleeping well, and pain bugged me throughout the day. My orthopedic doctor diagnosed me with spinal stenosis, probably from injuries sustained in my youthful days wrestling and skiing. I tried all types of physical therapy and tried to stay away from ingesting too many pain killers. Nothing worked too well; I was at a loss as to what to do. A friend referred me to Dr. Donath and I arranged a preliminary visit. He carefully explained to me what he suspected was going on and used some neat models of the spine to point out details that had always eluded me. I got an XRay to confirm my condition was likely the type that could be relieved by Dr. Donath's techniques. So, I dutifully came to the office 2 or 3 times/wk. for about a 30-minute session where a machine carefully stretched my neck and spine to correct the mis-alignment of the vertebrae. It was like magic; after each session, there was a little bit of improvement in my pain. And after several months, I was almost pain free. I will say too that Dr. Donath's office staff, from the receptionist to the actual therapists that worked with me were wonderful and supportive. I can't say enough about how pleased I am with the results. read more

My husband is a physician, and refers patients for chiropractic treatment only to Dr. Donath. So, when I woke up one morning with severe lower back pain, he sent me there. Now I understand why Dr. Donath has always had his confidence and respect. When I walked into Dr. Donath's office, I could not walk or sit without terrible pain; I could barely bend a few degrees; I could not get dressed without help. (Dr. Donath immediately diagnosed a bulging disc, which was later confirmed by an MRI). After two sessions of Dr. Donath's decompression treatment, I could go back to work. A few more treatments and my family went through with our long-made plans to go on vacation (I was fine on a ten-hour plane ride!). Dr. Donath is expert, caring, explains the treatment well, listens well, and responds immediately to feedback on symptoms. As my treatment progressed, I also saw Dr. Marshall, who is terrific -- friendly, attentive, and expert. And their entire staff is amazing too: lovely people who get to know their patients, are responsive and quietly efficient. The whole office is beautiful, and has a wonderful ambiance. I could not be more happy with my experience, or recommend this practice more highly! They have my complete trust, and eternal gratitude. read more

I've had serious back issues since I was in a car accident in the 90's. Other doctors only spoke about pain management or surgery. Spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease and herniated discs left me with years of persistent, daily, intense pain. I couldn't sit through a movie, dinner or meetings at the Kingdom Hall. My quality of life was terrible. Then, after years of searching, I learned about a promising treatment. I had tried other alternative therapies so I was very skeptical. This guy's knowledge, explanations, attention to details, honesty and compassion won me over. I tried non-surgical spinal decompression and followed Dr. Donath's recommendations. Within 3 months I felt major improvement. Has my back been forever cured? No. I'm waiting for the new system when God will do that. Meantime, I enjoy plays and concerts again. Long movies and flights are still an issue, but a manageable one. Fortunately (at 57) sports, walking, working, caring for my family and being spiritually active are no longer worries. I'm so much better and very thankful for Dr. Donath, April and the rest of the team. They are there whenever I need them and treat the whole me with tender, loving care. read more

A couple of weeks after giving birth to my daughter I began to experience lower back pain. At first it was just slight discomfort and then gradually got worse. It finally reached the point where I was waking up in the middle of the night and could not even turn over from the pain. My boss recommended I see a chiropractor as he had success with his back issues in the past. I was a little nervous and apprehensive at first but I was to the point where I would try anything to feel better. After just my first visit with Dr. Donath, I knew that I was in good hands! Dr. Donath and his friendly staff were so welcoming. Dr. Donath took his time to listen to my issues and walked through exactly how the spine works and explained to me in detail and easy to understand terms the reason I was experiencing pain and discomfort. He showed me at home exercises to do and about the importance of icing my back and between his advice and his chiropractic talents, I began feeling like me again in just a few short visits! I am happy to report that I am back to my normal daily activities and owe it all to Dr. Donath. Thank you for all that you do and all that you help! read more

I moved to the Westchester area and was looking for a chiropractor to help me with moderate / severe lower and mid back pain. Being extremely preoccupied as a student, I ignored my back pain for about 6 months as it became worse. While I could function, my back pain made working at various desk jobs far more difficult than they should have been. I had seen a chiropractor in my previous city once a month and that was all I needed to remain in peak spinal health. I visited Dr. Donath's office and had a great experience. I visited once with very good results, my back pain almost completely gone. I let another 4 months go by and experienced the same rise in spinal discomfort. I saw Dr. Donath 2 weeks in a row, and was sure to mention my right lower back as the worst area. He did a treatment method I haven't seen before, that helped my right lower back far better than my previous chiropractor. I'm very impressed by the effectiveness of Dr. Donath's techniques. Two visits were all that was needed to completely turn around very considerable back pain. I highly recommend Joint Effort Chiropractic. read more

Best decision I've ever made ! I had sever back pain due to my herniated disks to a point where I couldn't walk , sit or do the most basic tasks , I went to numerous physical therapies and chiropractors but nothing helped . Went to 3 different doctors , they all recommended that I get surgery but I didn't want to do it without trying all my options . I heard about Dr.Donath , went to him in June 2021. When I went in for a consultation I could barely walk , pain was intolerable! After 2 weeks of spinal decompression I finally started to not feel pain anymore after months of suffering , I felt like I got my life back . I've forgotten how nice it felt to live without pain . I can't recommend it enough , I wish I found Dr.Donath way earlier and I wish I could tell everyone to try spinal decompression before they decide to get surgery. Thank you Dr.Donath , you brought my smile back. I also want to thank your staff, everyone is extremely nice and professional. read more

One day I started to have a pain in the upper left portion of my back. It started off late in the morning and became progressively worse throughout the day. It hurt just to breathe. Having been through a similar episode in 2008, I knew going to a general practitioner would most likely lead to pain killers, probably an MRI, and ultimately physical therapy for a number of weeks. It would all be very costly and time consuming. I had never been to a chiropractor before and decided to see Dr. Donath based on a number of personal references. After taking a very through medical history, he performed a treatment and I started to feel much better soon after. I then went to his office only two more times and was totally back to normal. Due to Dr. Donath's thoroughness, patience, inviting offices, helpful and pleasant staff, and great bedside manner, I will not hesitate in the future to go back for any sort of discomfort. read more

Dr. Donath is extremely knowledgeable and takes the time to explain things to you in an easy to comprehend way without talking down to you. He will answer any questions or concerns that you have without hesitation. As far as treatment , I can honestly say that this was my first Chiropractic experience and was a bit leery. when I first went to see Dr. Donath I was in a lot of pain and barely able to stand or walk . After the first treatment I was already feeling better and able to stand upright. With continued treatment I improved greatly and am feeling fantastic. Dr. Donath knows his business. He doesn't just treat you like a number , he makes you feel like a friend, a rare thing these days. I would recommend him to anyone suffering with back or neck pain. There is no need to suffer any longer go see the Doc. The entire staff is extremely professional and courteous and makes you feel comfortable. read more