Below are some of the most frequently asked questions patients have about chiropractic and health issues. If you have any other questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, we would love to hear from you.
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is subluxated, “locked up,” or not moving properly. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to eliminate interference to the nervous system, improving spinal function and overall health.
Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?
During the adjustive technique occasional slight to mild pain might be felt but it should last for just a few seconds if at all. Occasionally after treatment mild soreness might be felt for 24 to 48 hours. The soreness could be compared to working out or a deep massage.
Can you cause harm with an adjustment?
It is very rare that injury or harm can occur with chiropractic treatment. But factors such as age, well being, past medical history and injury are all important in determining what type of adjustive technique is right for you.
What is the sound or audible that I hear when I have been adjusted?
It is gas, primarily nitrogen that is being released from the surrounding soft tissue or the joint that is being manipulated. It is NOT bone on bone contact.
What is chiropractic care and how does it work?
There’s nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It’s a natural method of health care that focuses on treating the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic works by restoring your body’s inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and remove interferences (subluxations, misaligned vertebrae) to your nervous system. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise. With a normally functioning spine and healthy nervous system, your body is better able to heal itself. That’s because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling, movement, and all function through your body. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health!
What is wellness care?
Wellness care is the care necessary not only to relieve or reduce a person’s pain or symptoms, but also to remove the actual cause of the problem. Our offices are dedicated to finding the cause of the problems, removing those subluxations, and stabilizing the spine to prevent the reoccurrence of that nerve interference. For example, a person might have a headache due to misaligned vertebrae in the neck (subluxation). Commonly societal tendencies are to search the medicine cabinet for a pill that will relieve the trouble. This is relief care. Once the pain goes away, is the real trouble gone? No. The body is not in a position to allow itself to heal and the same or more intense headache will return. Relief care only focuses on the pain. Wellness care seeks to determine why that nerve pressure exists, allowing that headache. Once the headache is settled from the results of the chiropractic adjustment, the patient will be guided to the next step of the healing process by stabilizing and strengthening the spine and muscles protecting the fragile nervous system. This is accomplished by posture and motion evaluation specific to each patient. Also, concentration is placed on making sure the foods that fuel that body are proper to speed the healing process. Most of all, a positive mental outlook is necessary for proper health and our office is determined to help you and your family smile and laugh as much as possible as we guide your body toward its fullest innate function.
How long does it take?
Each program of wellness is specific to the patient. Not everyone can reach complete stabilization or correction through wellness care. Sometimes a patient’s problem has deteriorated to a point that complete correction is impossible. If complete correction is not possible, then a program will be designed to help bring that patient’s health to its greatest potential.
What is a subluxation?
In simplest terms, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones in your spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves.
How does this affect you? Your nervous system controls and coordinates all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over nerves, parts of your body will not get the proper nerve messages and will not be able to function at 100% of their innate abilities. In other words, some part of your body will not be working properly.
It is the responsibility of the Doctor of Chiropractic to locate subluxations, and reduce or correct them. This is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be the experts at correcting subluxations.
How do subluxations occur?
When the body is exposed to stressors that overcome the body’s internal resistance a subluxation occurs. The body must then alter its function in a way that will best handle this situation. This creates a state of “dis-ease” in the Nervous System, thus affecting the vitality of the entire body. These stressors fall into three different categories: Thoughts, Traumas, or Toxins.
Although each of these categories can cause subluxations by themselves, most subluxations are caused by some combination of all three. For example: A slight physical trauma, which would not ordinarily cause a subluxation, does so due to muscle tension from emotional factors. The stress and strain from daily life can prompt muscles that are full of toxins from the foods we eat or the medications we take to allow subluxations to occur. With all these stresses, physical traumas, and emotional tension, as well as the poisons that the body is subjected to everyday, it is not difficult to see how the Nervous System can become subluxated causing “dis-ease” in the body that creates disease when not removed.
Can I tell if I have a subluxation?
Not always. A subluxation is like a dental cavity–you may have it for a long time before symptoms appear. That’s why periodic spinal checkups are so important. Although it may be possible to know you have a subluxation, it is rarely possible to be sure you don’t. Regular spinal checkups are always a good idea, and they promote good health from the inside out.
Why do I need to return for a follow up visit or continue therapy?
To eliminate pain and retrain our bodies, a few to several treatments might be needed. Often the problem or injury we are treating took many days, weeks or months to develop or it was a strong one time injury. Chronic and Acute injuries and every person are different in response to treatment.
Why can’t I sleep on my stomach?
Sleeping on your stomach causes a long asymmetrical contraction of your cervical (neck) muscles which can lead to pain and dysfunction. It also causes a breakdown in collagen which leads to aging!
Do you accept my insurance plan?
Our office participates with many insurance plans, but is not included in all. Call our office to verify if we participate with your particular insurance plan. We will be happy to file your insurance claim for you after your visit.
Do children need chiropractic care?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at or before birth, many parents have their newborns checked for vertebral subluxation. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are adapted for the child’s spine. Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off can be traced to the spine. Health problems that emerge in adulthood could often be prevented by having your children’s spine checked by a chiropractor early. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers.
Is chiropractic care addictive?
No. If only it were, there would be a lot LESS sick people around and chiropractors would not get patients who last saw a chiropractor “a few years ago when their back went out.” It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more energetic as a result or regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive, however, good health is.
Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor?
Yes. It’s an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is known as “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.” Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care is initially utilized, back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.
Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems?
No, however chiropractic care is successful with a very wide variety of health problems not necessarily considered “back” problems because of improved nerve system function. With a normal nerve supply the body’s natural healing capacity can improve a variety of health problems.
Is it ok to see a chiropractor if I’m pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health.
What type of education do Doctors of Chiropractic receive?
Doctors of Chiropractic are well educated. Chiropractic education and medical education are similar in many respects and different in others because chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral subluxations. After graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) Degree, each candidate passes the demanding four part National Board Examinations before being licensed to practice in the United States or any other country. A chiropractor’s education, however, never ends. Most doctors complete regular postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest research and adjustment techniques.