Chiropractor FAQ
Questions you may have about Chiropractors and what they do
Are chiropractic adjustments safe?
Yes. A New Zealand government study found that adjustments are “remarkably safe.” By avoiding drugs and risky surgery, chiropractic care enjoys an excellent track record. A thorough exam can identify the rare person for whom chiropractic care might be unsuited. Compare the statistics. Adjustments are about 100 times safer than taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Will adjustments make my spine too loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are “locked up” receive adjustments. The occasional spinal joints that move too much, are passed over so weakened muscles and ligaments can stabilize and heal.
How many adjustments will I need?
The number of adjustments varies with each patient and their individual health goals. Many patients sense some progress within a week or two of frequent visits. Visits are less often as your spine stabilizes. In difficult cases, complete healing can take months or even years.
Why would a newborn get adjusted?
Even today’s “natural” childbirth methods can affect an infant’s spine. Some signs of spinal distress on an infant could be colic, unusual crying, poor appetite or erratic sleeping habits. Adjustments are gentle. Knowing exactly where to adjust, no more pressure than you’d use to test the ripeness of a tomato is involved.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Some people can make their joints “pop” but that’s not an adjustment! Worse, damage can occur by mobilizing a joint with weakened muscles and ligaments. Adjustments are specific and take years to master. Even your chiropractic doctor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care.
What does an adjustment feel like?
Most patients report a sense of well-being or a feeling of calmness. Since repeated adjustments are necessary, if adjustments didn’t feel good, patients wouldn’t return to finish their care. Chiropractic doctors are expert at making adjustments feel good.
Can patients with osteoporosis get chiropractic care?
Of course. When developing a care plan, your chiropractic doctor considers the unique circumstances of each patient. There are many ways to adjust the spine. The method selected will be best suited to your age, size and condition.
Isn’t some back pain normal?
Pain of any kind, at any age, is a sign that something isn’t right. Pain is the way your body signals that a limit has been reached or a problem has developed. Since we can adapt, minor aches and pains are often shrugged off. While they may go away, if the underlying problem remains unattended, the problem can slowly worsen until it becomes more difficult and expensive to resolve.
Can I have chiropractic care after back surgery?
Yes. Rest assured that we will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. This will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
What are vertebral subluxations?
A vertebral subluxation is the result of spinal bones with improper motion or position affecting nerve communications between your brain and your body.
sub = less than | luxation = dislocation
A vertebral subluxation is a stress response. Muscles go into spasm. Spinal bones lock up. And adjacent nerves are choked or chaffed. This interferes with the control and regulation of your body. This garbles communications between the brain and parts of your body.
A dropped cell phone call is irritating. But dropped communications between your brain and your body can seriously impair your health!
Distorted nerve communications can be an underlying cause of many health problems beyond just headaches and back pain. For example. Interfere with nerve impulses going to or from your stomach: stomach problems.
Your nervous system controls every cell, tissue, organ and system of your body. These nerve impulses travel through your spine. So having a spine free of vertebral subluxation is essential for optimal health.
Only a chiropractic examination can detect vertebral subluxations. And only chiropractic adjustments can reduce their effect to your nervous system, naturally.
Find out if you have vertebral subluxations before they become more serious and more difficult to correct.
How come I’ve never heard of vertebral subluxations before?
True, vertebral subluxations have not received the press that say, AIDS, cancer, cholesterol or heart disease have. However, vertebral subluxations are just as important and are often the underlying cause of a wide variety of health problems.
How do you get vertebral subluxations?
There are three basic causes of vertebral subluxations. Physical causes include slips and falls, accidents, repetitive motions, and improper lifting. Stress, anger and fear are examples of emotional causes of vertebral subluxations. Alcohol, drugs, pollution and poor diet can be chemical causes of vertebral subluxations.
How can vertebral subluxations be corrected?
The primary form of care to reduce vertebral subluxations is a schedule of chiropractic adjustments. By applying a specific and precise force, in the right direction and at the right time, over time, changes in the position and motion of spinal bones can be made.
How can I tell if I have vertebral subluxations?
You can have vertebral subluxations and not even know it. Like the early stages of tooth decay or cancer, vertebral subluxations can be present before warning signs appear. The results of a thorough examination can show the location and severity of any vertebral subluxations you may have.
Can vertebral subluxations clear up on their own?
Sometimes. Today’s hectic lifestyles are a constant source of vertebral subluxations. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these minor problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night. When vertebral subluxations don’t resolve, you need to see a chiropractic doctor for an adjustment!