Frequently Asked Questions

About Chiropractic

What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is one of the western world’s major healing professions. It is the most popular CAM profession. Chiropractors specialize in aiding the body to heal itself by: correcting neuromusculoskeletal imbalances, nutrition, and lifestyle counseling.
The following are the three fundamental principles of chiropractic.

1. The nervous system: Chiropractic doctors emphasize the necessity of a properly functioning nervous system so the body can maintain and heal itself.
2. Spinal dysfunction (Vertebral Subluxation Complex): Chiropractic doctors recognize that irritated spinal nerves, caused by vertebral dysfunctions, impair or alter normal nervous functions. This causes pain and disease conditions not only in the back but elsewhere in the body.
3. Chiropractic adjustments: When spinal nerve irritations are corrected by chiropractic adjustments, the nervous system's is able to properly direct the body’s efforts, reducing and eliminating pain and disease.

Can I Afford It?
The cost of living with pain and suffering is much greater than the cost of chiropractic care. Often the cost of surgery, drugs and other treatments for the symptoms alone far exceed the cost of correcting the problem using chiropractic methods. Everyone should have access to Chiropractic care and our low fees to make it affordable for you. Ask the front desk for details.

What will happen on my first visit?
The goal of this visit is to determine whether or not you could benefit from chiropractic care.
In order to determine the cause of your symptoms the doctor will listen to your case history and conduct a thorough exam including: physical, orthopedic and neurological examinations.
If you qualify as a patient, a simple treatment will follow, depending on your specific needs. The doctor may choose to use ice, heat, massage, electrotherapy, and other physiotherapy modalities in preparation for your adjustment. Following your adjustment, you will receive exercises and other instructions important to your unique case.

What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A Chiropractic adjustment is the art of introducing a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a vertebra that is not moving correctly. The Chiropractor identifies the unique problem, determines the best way to correct the malpositioning, and adjusts the joint complex in the needed direction. The adjustment itself is a movement of the spine that is done by hand, occasionally to be assisted tools. The adjustment assists the vertebra back into the normal motion. Proper motion of a joint relieves nerve irritation. There are many different ways to analyze and adjust the spine, so the actual adjustment will vary from Chiropractor to Chiropractor.  Not all chiropractors are equal, some are more skilled than others.

What Causes Misalignments or Subluxations?
Everyone has or can have pain, caused by misalignments of the spine, from time to time. Some subluxations are caused by accidents and injuries, but there are many other reasons as well. Here are some of the potential causes:

Injuries Birth Injuries Childhood Injuries Home Injuries Workplace Injuries Overuse Injuries Auto Injuries Sports Injuries Falls

Other Causes Weak Ligaments Congenital Defects Spinal Imbalance Poor muscle tone Poor posture Fatigue Unequal Leg Lengths Muscle Spasms

Are Chiropractic Treatments Safe?
Chiropractic is a natural approach to true health care and has an excellent safety record. For this reason, the insurance premiums for Chiropractic malpractice are very low. Before your treatment, the Chiropractor will explain the procedures, and answer all relevant questions before proceeding with your treatment.

Can I Correct a Misalignment or Subluxation Myself?
It is almost impossible to adjust yourself and do it right. A chiropractic adjustment is a specific force applied in a specific direction to a specific spinal joint. Sometimes someone will try to correct a misalignment by “popping” their spine themselves. Twisting, turning or pushing themselves against a walls or chairs. Although this movement may cause the bones to move and often “pop”, it is not specific enough to solve the real problem, and is often counterproductive because it makes the unstable areas of the spine more mobile and therefore less stable. Adjusting the spine is not for coaches, parents, husbands, or any lay member of the public, and can cause further discomfort and unnecessary damage if done incorrectly. Many neuromusculoskeletal problems correct themselves; they are referred to as self limiting. Not every ache or pain warrants a trip to the doctor. Unfortunately, not all pains are self-correcting. Here's why:

• Weak Ligaments - Ligaments support bones, however, even mild or moderate sprains can result in lax ligaments. Ligament weakness allows for subluxation to recur and may require chiropractic treatment.
  
• Muscle Spasms - Muscles are attached to bones, and when irritated cause spasms, which frequently cause subluxations. If untreated they can develop into a chronic problem. If treated resolution occurs with few treatments.
  
• Congenital Defects - Congenital defects (i.e. extra spinal vertebrae, fusion, malformations) or weakness in the spine affect about one out of every twenty people.
  
• Unequal Leg Length - Studies have shown that more than 10% of the populations have significant differences in leg length.
  
• Spinal Imbalance - Normally the body weight is divided equally when standing, but imbalance puts strain on supporting muscles. Many people are substantially out of balance and need chiropractic treatment to become rebalanced.
  
• Emotional Tension – Stress is part of life, and people frequently hold their stress in the form of overly tight muscles.
  A good rule of thumb is: any pains lasting for more than 2-3 days should be treated in order to prevent deterioration into a chronic condition.
  

What are the Education Requirements to Become a Chiropractor?
Generally, a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree (DC) requires a minimum of eight years of study. The student is required to complete a four-year undergraduate degree which includes two years of pre-professional studies emphasizing chemistry, physics, anatomy, biology, etc.

Upon acceptance to an accredited Chiropractic College or University, the student completes studies emphasizing anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, x-ray, and other subjects related to health and disease. During the final years of Chiropractic school, the emphasis is on the differential diagnosis, treatment of neuromusculoskeletal problems, Vertebral Subluxation Complex, biomechanical disorders, and x-ray diagnosis. A one-year clinical internship must be completed prior to graduation in order to attain the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. After graduation, the Doctor must pass five demanding national board examinations, and a state examination in the state in which they choose to practice.

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