patient education

Myths About Chiropractic

Chiropractic care is safe, comfortable, and benefits everyone - including infants, the elderly, and pregnant women. 
 

Question: I was told I should see a chiropractor, but I'm nervous about it. I mean, what exactly are chiropractors? 
Answer: Chiropractors are doctors who practice the art of healing by adjusting, or manipulating, the spinal column. A healthy, well aligned spinal column moving with full range of motion allows the nervous system to perform properly, which is vital because it controls every function of your body. To be licensed, chiropractors must have completed at least three years of university followed by four years at a chiropractic college. 
 

Question: Does it hurt to get your spine adjusted? 
Answer: Not at all. Chiropractic adjustments are comfortable and safe for the whole family, from infants to pregnant women and the elderly.   

Question: Do physicians recommend chiropractic care? 
Answer: Most do, and many physicians are being treated by chiropractors themselves. 
 

Question: If I go to see a chiropractor, will I be expected to keep going? 
Answer: That's entirely up to you. Some people only want to be treated for a specific pain or illness, and when the symptoms disappear they stop going. Others use chiropractic care to fully correct the underlying cause of the symptoms and to remain feeling really well. Like a car, your body has constant stress and wear, and it benefits from a 'tune-up'. However, which treatment approach you want is always your choice. 
 

Question: Doesn't it cost a lot? 
Answer: No. Many of the pain-killers and drugs you buy to treat pain and illness cost more than chiropractic care. Yet chiropractic care treats more than the symptoms of poor health, it treats the underlying cause. It also helps to restore and maintain good health - without using any drugs. 

Adjustments  

What is an adjustment?  

A Chiropractic adjustment is the use of a specific force in a precise direction that helps normalize spinal function. The adjustment is applied to a joint that is fixated, "locked up", or not moving properly. Adjustments help return the bones to a more normal position or motion, restoring body's natural healing.

What does it do?

Adjustments help normalize spinal function and avoid bone and soft tissue degeneration. When nervous system function improves in this way, the body can begin the natural healing process.

What do adjustments feel like?

After the adjustment, many patients report a sense of well-being or a feeling of calmness. Others feel improved mobility. Inflammation or muscle spasms may delay these positive effects. Chiropractors excel at making adjustments comfortable and effective.

Is it safe? 

YES! Chiropractic adjustments are so safe, even newborns and children receive adjustments to repair the damage caused from the birth process, learning to walk, or other childhood trauma. Each adjustment is tailored to each patient's age, size, and unique spinal problem. After years of training, each Chiropractor has selected a variety of methods and become skilled in their delivery. 

Why an adjustment? 

A Chiropractic adjustment corrects Vertebral Subluxations. An adjustment helps your body to restore itself to optimum health! When the 24 bones that protect the spinal cord lose their normal position or motion, delicate nerve tissue can become choked or irritated. If a thorough examination reveals malfunctioning areas of the spine, Chiropractic adjustments are recommended to help correct this malfunction.

Each day millions of delighted people choose Chiropractic over drugs or surgery, as a common sense approach to better health.

Subluxations  

"A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health."

Instead of treating your symptoms, your chiropractor is primarily interested in detecting, reducing, and preventing the Vertebral Subluxation Complex...because a person without subluxations is better off than someone with subluxations.

A subluxation, or more precisely, the Vertebral Subluxation Complex, describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal position and motion from stress, trauma, or chemical imbalances.

The vertebral subluxation complex is the underlying cause of many healthcare problems.

When one or more vertebrae lose their normal position and/or motion, they can interfere with the normal function of the nervous system that the vertebral bones were meant to house and protect. This interference can occur as pressure or irritation on the spinal cord, or on the nerve roots as they pass out of the spinal column. This nerve injury, or interference, is what doctors of chiropractic call the Vertebral Subluxation Complex - "vertebral" meaning relating to bones of the spine; “subluxation" meaning the improper motion or position of the vertebra; and "complex" meaning that the condition consists of many elements.

Chiropractic is not the only health care discipline that recognizes the effect of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. The effects of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex are generally relied upon and accepted among different healing disciplines, and are being studied in many parts of the world.

The Vertebral Subluxation Complex describes what happens when spinal bones lose their normal position and motion.

Automobile accidents, improper lifting, alcohol, emotional stress, chemical imbalances, and long periods of sitting can cause the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.

The primary job of the doctor of chiropractic is to detect, reduce, and help prevent the Vertebral Subluxation Complex using chiropractic manipulation as the primary form of treatment. Applying a carefully and precisely directed pressure to the spine in a quick manner by hand or special instrument, the doctor of chiropractic is able to restore normal motion and function to the spine, thereby reducing or eliminating the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.

Suggestions to follow during Spinal Correction

1. DO ice down the adjusted area, per doctor’s recommendation.
2. DO be sure to get plenty of sleep to allow your body to recuperate and repair.
3. DO sleep on your back or side with your legs flexed slightly, not drawn up tightly. Avoid sleeping on your stomach.
4. DO sleep on a firm mattress, preferably one that is neither too soft nor too hard-but just firm enough to hold your body level while at the same time, soft enough so that your shoulders, buttocks, etc., will depress into the mattress.
5. DO rise from your bed by turning on your side and swinging your legs off the bed, then push yourself into a sitting position with your arms, thus minimizing the amount of strain on your back.
6. DO participate in simple exercises that strengthen your body-but avoid jarring activities that place stress on your neck and spine.
7. Do give it time. As with any medical treatment, healing with chiropractic is a process, not a magic pill. It takes time and is influenced by many factors. Over time things should improve and if necessary, we will adjust your treatment plan as we proceed. Changes to your condition can happen faster than anticipated so enjoy them.
8. DO keep a positive attitude and EXPECT positive results. As we follow thru on your treatment plan look for signs of improvement and take encouragement from them. Build an attitude that expects positive results and knows that profound healing is possible. Your belief and expectation has an incredibly strong influence on your body and is a key factor in healing.
9. Do NOT use any heat. No heating pads, heated ointments, hot baths, or hot tubs unless recommended by the doctor.
10. Do NOT sleep sitting in chair or in cramped quarters. Lie down in bed when it is time to sleep.
11. AVOID extreme bending of your spine in any direction.
12. AVOID extreme stretching, reaching, or other over head work.
13. AVOID sudden twists or turns of movement beyond normal limits of motion, especially the neck.
14. When lifting, keep your back straight and bend your knees to minimize the strain on your back.
15. When sitting, choose a chair that has adequate firmness to hold your weight comfortably, and then sit straight with your hips being higher than your knees. AVOID recliners.
16. When sleeping, your pillow should be neither too high nor too low. The ideal pillow is one that supports your head so that your neck vertebrae will be level with the rest of your spine.

The more you understand your body and how it functions, the better equipped you'll be at taking care of yourself to achieve optimal health. Our team of chiropractic professionals empower patients to take charge of your own health and future, educating you about your condition to decrease your need for future care. We've included the Patient Education section on our website to provide you with valuable, practical wellness information which you can incorporate into your lifestyle to improve the quality of your life. We hope you will turn to these pages whenever you have a question about health related issues and urge you to contact our practice at any time to make and appointment with one of our chiropractors.