Are all members adjusted the same way?
No. The doctor evaluates each practice member's unique spine and develops an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations are based on years of training and experience. Each practice member's care is uniquely different from every other member's care.
Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor?
Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that more than 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 used initially, back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself safely, correctly and accurately. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a "popping" sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!
Can I tell if I have a subluxation?
No. Your body may have subluxations with or without symptoms. Chiropractors are the only health care providers that are trained in locating, analyzing and correcting these areas of your spine. The only way to know if you are subluxated is a spinal check by a chiropractor.
Do children need chiropractic care?
Yes. Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have thier 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. Many parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers.
Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems?
No, chiropractic does not diagnose or treat specific health conditions. However chiropractic does improve nerve system function. With a normal nerve supply, the body's natural healing capacity can improve a variety of health problems.
How does chiropractic work?
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 any interference (misaligned vertebrae, aka subluxations) to your nervous system. With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health through specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body to heal itself. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health!
Is a good workout the same as getting adjusted?
No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet without normal spinal function, a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints.
Is chiropractic care addictive?
No. If only it were, there would be more healthy people around and chiropractors would not get members 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 of regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive, however, good health is.
Is chiropractic safe?
Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative and natural approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. As proof, one merely has to compare malpractice rates between chiropractors and other healthcare professionals. Chiropractors' malpractice premiums are a small fraction of those for medical doctors.
What causes the sound during an adjustment?
Actually, adjustments do not always produce a sound. Often, however, adjustments do create the sound of a spinal "release," or "popping" sound. The sound is caused by gas rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. This sound is painless and totally harmless.
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.
What is chiropractic care?
There's nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It's a natural method of healthcare that focuses on correcting the cause rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise. With a normally functioning spine and healthy nerve 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.
What is the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath?
Chiropractors base their care on the detection correction, and prevention of vertebral subluxations (spinal misalignments). We use specific spinal adjustments to correct the spine, to improve nerve system functions and reduce nerve interference. Osteopaths use drugs, surgery and other traditional medical therapies and only occasionally use manipulative procedures.
What type of education do chiropractic doctors 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. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and must pass a more difficult test before being granted the privilege to practice. 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.
Why do chiropractors take x-rays?
Chiropractors take X-rays to reveal the internal structure and alignment of the spine. We are also concerned about underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine such as spinal deterioration, arthritis of the spine, abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors and spinal curvature.
Why don't you take insurance?
The only focus at our office is wellness or what insurance carriers call "Maintenance Care". Our primary goal is to keep the bones of the spine in alignment allowing optimal function of the body. Since this is our focus and we do not diagnose or treat any medical condition insurance companies will not pay for wellness care. A receipt can be given and you may submit for request of payment, just please know payment is not promised or expected. With this being said, those with Health Savings Accounts (HSA Cards) can use the funds toward wellness chiropractic care at our office.
What are your fee options?
Due to our office seeing large families as well as individuals we have an array of payment options which allows you the opportunity to pick and choose what works best for your individual needs. We offer the ability to pay each visit (similar to a copay), Pre-Pay for a number of visits (purchase 4 or 8 visit packages), or work with a monthly plan which allows the entire family to come in and stay healthy under an affordable monthly fee. All of these options offer small discounts depending on which you choose. Please contact the office for specific pricing needs.
Do you offer a military discount?
Yes, ALL military (active or retired) as well as first responders (Police, Fire, Rescue) receive a 15% discount on services in our office. This discount applies to the entire immediate family. We thank you all for what you do.
Do you offer massage, physical therapy or nutritional support?
The quick answer is No, we focus on your nervous system function and its relationship to the bones of your spine. We may discuss or answer questions in regards to other health options. However, we do not offer any additional services other than subluxation focused chiropractic evaluations and adjustments. We have wonderful referral relationships with Massage Therapists, Physical Therapists, Nutritionists as well as other healthcare providers which allows us to focus on what we are BEST at and refer out for that which we are not. A team of healthcare providers is always beneficial.