Frequently Asked Questions

Questions:

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly.

What conditions benefit from chiropractic care?

Although chiropractic is used most frequently to relieve low back pain, studies have found it to be effective for a variety of conditions, such as migraine headaches, neck and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and infantile colic.

Do Chiropractic adjustments hurt?

Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. The patient may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment which lasts only seconds.

Is Chiropractic safe?

Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The risk factor is estimated to be in excess of one million to one.

What kind of education and training do doctors of chiropractic have?

Chiropractors receive an education that emphasizes neuromuscular diagnosis and treatment. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas of learning; basic training in the biological and health sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, clinical and radiological diagnosis); specialized training in the chiropractic discipline (theoretical studies, practice, diagnosis and applications); and extensive clinical training.

Have any studies been published showing what chiropractic is effective for?

Several studies have documented the effectiveness of chiropractic in relieving back pain. More recent studies have shown chiropractic to be effective in treating infantile colic and migraine headaches.

What can I expect on my first visit?

The first thing a chiropractor will do is ask you about the health complaints about which you are chiefly concerned. The DC will also ask about your family history, dietary habits, other care you may have had (chiropractic, osteopathic, medical, etc.), your job, and other questions designed to help determine the nature of your illness and the best way to go about treating the problem.

A physical examination will be performed in accordance with your DC's clinical judgement, which may include x-rays, laboratory analysis and other diagnostic procedures. In addition, a careful spinal examination and analysis will be performed to detect any structural abnormalities which may be affecting or causing your condition. All of these elements are important components of your total health profile, and vital to the doctor of chiropractic in evaluating your problem. Following the examination, you will be advised if your condition can be helped by chiropractic, or if it would be more appropriately managed by another health care provider. If necessary, you may be referred out for radiological testing such as x-ray, MRI or other similar tests. Nothing will be done in our office without your consent.

What can I expect on my second visit?

You will be given a convenient appointment time for your follow-up visit. In general, follow up visits are scheduled 1-2 days after your first visit. During this time, we will review your history and examination findings and formulate a diagnosis and detailed treatment plan specific to you. At your follow-up visit, the doctor will discuss your "report of findings" which will provide you with information about your condition and what to expect during treatment including:
What is wrong?
How can it be fixed?
How long will it take?
How much will it cost?

Should I continue chiropractic care even if I have no more symptoms and feel better?

There is no easy answer to this question. Each case is different. It depends on the length of time you have had the concern, the severity of the concern and your willingness to change while following the advice of the doctors. Patients always have a choice as to whether they want symptomatic relief (short term care) or correcting and stabilizing their problem (wellness care). Getting healthy begins with an overall healthier lifestyle, which is a lifelong process. In order to achieve true health, patients must not only be educated and informed about diet, exercise, stretches, posture, and attitude, but must take the appropriate ACTION steps necessary on a regular basis to attain their goals. This, in conjunction with chiropractic spinal manipulation, trigger point therapy, and physiotherapy, will allow a patient to be healthier, and alleviate their symptoms. Many patients believe that if they do not have any symptoms that they are healthy. Unfortunately this is not true. Most patients seek help from a health care professional when they begin experiencing symptoms or are in pain. Your goal is to get relief or feel better. Now that you are feeling better, that does not mean you are healthy or well. The goals at our office are to give patients choices as to whether they wish to feel better, or achieve wellness and true health. Getting people to feel better is relatively easy. The challenging part is the commitment and focus that a patient needs to achieve wellness.

Most cases seen by a chiropractor respond relatively quickly. However, in certain instances, a long-term treatment program may be necessary. The process of initial care may be lengthy because chiropractic adjustments work by moving the vertebrae only a small distance. Immediately after treatment the joints, muscles, ligaments and other structures change their function. Each time the vertebrae are adjusted, they change a little more until eventually the function has returned to normal. This process only works with repetition over time: the more significant the dysfunction, the longer resolution will take. It is rather like getting a rusty hinge to start working again. Once the original condition that caused the pain and discomfort has been resolved, it may still be necessary to have follow-up care from time to time to "fine tune" your spine's function. Many people find they feel better on a regular program of preventive care.

What causes the sound made during a chiropractic adjustment?

That sound is not your spine "cracking" or "popping" like most people think. That sound is created by gas (in this case, nitrogen) rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. Another example of this phenomenon would be the "pop" sound you hear when the cork is taken out of a champagne bottle. Not all chiropractic adjusting techniques produce this noise. In fact, some adjusting techniques use little force and thus produce no noise at all.

Is it bad to "crack" your back or neck a lot?

This question is frequently asked because people associate the "cracking" or "popping" of one's back or neck with a chiropractic adjustment. The two are not the same thing. If a person has a desire to "crack" his/her neck or back it is often because one area of their spine is fixated or jammed causing another area to move too much and "pop", sometimes by itself. It's the fixated or jammed area that needs to be properly adjusted by a chiropractor so that the other parts of the spine will not be hypermobile and noisy. When you "crack" your back you may be relieving the tension for a little while. Do you notice how it keeps coming back? That is because you are not giving yourself a specific chiropractic adjustment. The cause of the spinal tension, the fixated or jammed (subluxated) vertebrae, has not been corrected. Any person who makes a habit out of "cracking" or "popping" their back or neck needs to go to a Doctor of Chiropractic to have their spine checked. Even a chiropractor cannot adjust him/herself.