About Active Health KC

What Sets Us Apart...

If you are looking for a chiropractor in the Prairie Village/Overland Park area, you’re in the right place. Active Health KC uses the most current evidence-based protocols and techniques. As a result they can functionally assess and treat patients with disorders of the nerves, joints, and muscles. With extensive hours in post-graduate education and coursework, the doctors at Active Health KC have a variety of treatment methods. Therefore, they have the ability to individually customize the treatment for each patient in the Kansas City area. This unique approach and extensive post-graduate work sets Active Health KC apart from other clinics.

Community Involvement

Dr. Cotter is heavily involved in the community and with local gyms in the Kansas City area, working closely with:

2020 CrossFit in Prairie Village: 3710 W. 73rd Terrace, Prairie Village, KS 66208 https://www.2020.fitness/
Cleveland University-Kansas City in Overland Park: 10850 Lowell Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66210 https://www.cleveland.edu/
Mid America LGBT Chamber of Commerce in Kansas City, MO 64171, https://www.midamericalgbt.org/
Crossfit on 18th in KCMO, http://www.crossroadsbootcamp.com/
Nexusfit in Belton, MO, https://nexusfit.co/
City of Fairway, https://www.fairwaykansas.org/

Meet The Doctor

Dr. Cotter is excited to provide the Prairie Village, Overland Park, Leawood and surrounding Kansas City area with the latest in cutting edge chiropractic care and rehabilitation therapy to help patients improve their lives! Read below for more information on each chiropractor.

Dr. Thomas Cotter, DC, DACRB: Growing up a very active kid in Goodland, KS, I played every sport I could. After high school, I went to Kansas State University for engineering but quickly realized that wasn’t the career for me. I spent half a semester wondering what I was going to do. Eventually, I thought about my chiropractor back home. He helped people, he seemed to enjoy his job, he worked with athletes, etc. This thought excited me enough that I changed my major to kinesiology and started down the chiropractic path. The next semester I immediately fell in love with my classes, all the questions I ever wondered about the body were being answered. I then started getting into endurance activities. I was biking and running 15-20 miles per week. As a result, I started experiencing subtle leg pain. I thought no problem, I'll go to my local chiropractor. His response to my complaint was to tell me I needed to stop exercising so much and that he didn't really work on legs and arms. I was blown away. Why was someone in the health field telling me not to be as physically active? And why would he only work on my back? At that moment, I told myself I was never going to tell someone they couldn't do something they loved (unless there was imminent danger of severe injury). After that, I attended Palmer College of Chiropractic. I sought to find the best way to treat people without limiting their loved activities or only treating their spine. I became the president of the Motion Palpation Club, was hired as an intern in the much sought-after rehab department, and attended seminars on the weekends. After I graduated I moved back to Kansas City to set up Active Health KC in Prairie Village.

Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Kansas State University
Doctor of Chiropractic - Graduating Cum Laude, Palmer College of Chiropractic
Diplomate for the American Chiropractic Rehabilitation Board
650+ hrs in continuing education outside of schoolwork including: chiropractic medicine, physiotherapy, neurology, developmental kinesiology, soft tissue techniques, sports performance, and nutrition.
Has been trained by the following:
- McKenzie Method (A, B, C, D)
- Active Release Techniques (ART)
- Graston Level 1
- Kinetacore and Synergy Therapy Solutions Advanced Dry Needling (Level 1, 2, Pelvic Floor and Advanced Therapeutics)
- Motion Palpation Institute - Full-Body Treatments
- TMJ/TMD Treatment - Central Institute for Human Performance
- Building the Ultimate Back - Central Institute for Human Performance
- Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization - (A, B)
- Titleist Performance Institute (TPI)
- Acupuncture
Adjunct Professor at Cleveland Chiropractic.
- Motion Palpation Technique instruction

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you do?

While Active Health KC's doctor is classically trained as a chiropractor, he also has extensive training in other areas. For example, functional rehabilitation, soft tissue methods, nutrition, physiotherapy, are areas our doctor is well versed. As a result, this training allows the doctor to effectively and efficiently treat almost any neuromusculoskeletal condition in the head, neck, back, arms or legs. We are happy to help our patients in the Prairie Village, Overland Park, and greater Kansas City metro area. For more information on services provided at Active Health KC, click here.

How are you different from most chiropractors?

All chiropractors are not the same. Most chiropractors only adjust, which limits what they can effectively treat as well as their results. Dr. Cotter has extensive post graduate training which allows him to treat almost all neuromuscular conditions and obtain results faster.

Why should I go to you instead of my medical doctor for my joint or muscle pain?

While medical doctors help with many problems/diagnoses, most do not have much training in the conservative treatment of joint or muscle pain. If the doctor at Active Health KC thinks you can be more effectively treated by a medical doctor, he will refer you to the appropriate one.

What if I don't want to be adjusted?

Adjusting is not essential for every patient. In fact, several of our patients are never adjusted. If poor joint movement is a contributor to your pain, there are other options besides adjusting, such as gentle mobilizations. Discuss your concerns with the doctor and he will discuss options and come up with a treatment plan that works for you. .

Once you go to a chiropractor, do you have to go all the time or forever?

Not at Active Health KC. Our focus is to empower you, the patient. We want you to be able to understand and be able to self-treat your pain. This minimizes you needing to relying on physician care. While several visits may be needed to correct the underlying problem, our end goal is to work ourselves out of a job,

What can I expect on my first visit?

Your doctor will watch you perform various activities such as walking, stepping off a step, standing on one leg, reaching overhead and other functional movements. You may be asked to perform some simple exercises to see how your body responds. The doctor will also extensively assess the joints and muscles to find which ones may need to be treated. After discussing what was found during the examination, treatment options will be discussed. If we do not think we can help you or that you will benefit from another specialist, we will refer you to the appropriate specialty. Due to the type of activities during the first visit, please bring athletic attire (shorts or sweatpants, t-shirt or tank top).

Are X-rays required?

No, the vast majority of our patients are not x-rayed. We only send patients for imaging (x-ray, MRI, CT) when we suspect a fracture, severe degeneration or possible pathology.

Is it safe for me to get treated if I'm pregnant?

Absolutely. In fact, pregnancy is one of the top predictors of back pain. Historically it has just been accepted as a part of pregnancy, but back pain doesn't have to be. Pregnancy is full of other changes, struggles, and excitement, don't let pain add to that. Have our doctors develop a treatment plan to effectively and safely treat your pain.

Can children be helped with chiropractic treatment?

Often, chiropractic treatment is beneficial for children as well as adults. Children usually require fewer treatments.

Do you take insurance?

We work with all insurance providers. Once we obtain your information, we will discuss what is covered by your insurance.

How much education is required to become a doctor of Chiropractic?

Four years of chiropractic college is required after completing specific undergraduate requirements. The chiropractic college classes are very similar to medical school, however, the chiropractic student will spend more time on anatomy, nutrition and chiropractic technique whereas the medical student will spend more time on pathology and pharmacology.

Do chiropractors work with medical doctors or other specialists?

Yes, the doctors at Active Health KC work with many health specialists in order to provide the best possible care for each patient. Furthermore, we pride ourselves on receiving various referrals from MDs and will refer the patient back once treatment is completed.