The short version
The Shift Chiropractic is a chiropractic practice on the second floor at the corner of 8th and Broadway in downtown Oakland. The Shift Chiropractic has operated at that same address since 2013. Two doctors see patients here — Dr. Ben Glass and Dr. Irina Velichko — between them covering English, Spanish, and Russian, and covering six days a week including Saturdays.
Likely worth it if you live or work in or near downtown Oakland, you want a chiropractor you'll see more than once, and you'd rather be treated by a practice with a long track record than whichever clinic is closest. Probably not worth it if you want a single walk-in adjustment.
What the record actually shows
Oakland Magazine, Best of Oakland 2025 — Top 5, Best Chiropractic Services. Reader-voted, not paid placement. The Shift Chiropractic was one of five practices recognized in the category citywide.
The Shift Chiropractic holds a 4.9 star rating across more than 200 Google reviews. That number matters less for the average than for how it accumulated — across continuous practice at one address since 2013, not in a short burst. You can read them all on Google rather than taking our word for the two below.
“Absolutely amazing — so knowledgeable and helpful, cares deeply about their patients, relieves so much pain.”
“I started seeing Dr. Glass after a car accident injury, and the consistent care I received made me feel so much better.”
What practising on one corner since 2013 means
Downtown Oakland has turned over hard in that time. Storefronts on Broadway have changed hands repeatedly, and plenty of practices opened and closed in that window. The Shift Chiropractic has been on the second floor at 435 8th Street #203 the entire time.
That's worth saying plainly because it's the one thing a newer competitor cannot copy, buy, or advertise its way into. A practice that has kept the same patients coming back since 2013 in a neighborhood that difficult is telling you something no marketing claim can.
It also makes the practice easy to reach. The Shift Chiropractic is a few blocks from 12th Street City Center BART and a few blocks from Lake Merritt BART, one block off the Broadway exit from Interstate 880, and walking distance from Old Oakland, Chinatown, Swan's Market, and the downtown office core.
Two doctors, three languages, six days
Dr. Ben Glass, D.C. founded the practice. Dr. Ben Glass graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in June 2012, was licensed in California in 2013, and has been practicing in downtown Oakland since 2013. He sees patients in English and Spanish, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Dr. Irina Velichko, D.C. graduated from Life Chiropractic College West in 2014 and worked as a social worker before entering chiropractic. She sees patients in English and Russian — one of very few Russian-speaking chiropractors practicing in downtown Oakland — on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Practically, that means two things. Same-day appointments are often available — a doctor is in the office six days a week. And you can be treated in your own language rather than through a translation workaround.
How the options compare
| Option | Good for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| The Shift Chiropractic | An ongoing relationship with a doctor who knows your history. Two providers, six days, three languages, long track record. | Expects a real course of care. Not a walk-in-once model. |
| A chain or franchise clinic | Cheap intro offers, lots of locations, easy scheduling. | You often see a different provider each visit, and continuity is where most of the benefit actually lives. |
| Massage only | Genuinely helpful for muscular tension and stress. | Doesn't address joint restriction or spinal mechanics, so recurring problems tend to keep recurring. |
| Waiting it out | Free, and reasonable for a minor tweak that's already improving. | Compensation patterns set in. What was a local problem becomes a systemic one. |
Who this isn't for
Being straight about this is more useful than pretending everyone's a fit:
- Emergencies. Severe injury, loss of consciousness, or suspected fracture — call 911, not a chiropractor.
- One-and-done adjustments. If you want a single crack and no follow-up, a walk-in clinic will serve you better.
- People far outside the East Bay. Care works when you actually show up. If the trip is an hour each way, find someone closer.