Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No. Each patient's spine is unique, and each patient's care plan is different. With 24 spinal bones (that can each move in seven different directions!), we see a wide variety of spinal patterns. Everyone's care is tailored for his or her age, condition and health goals.
Can I have chiropractic care after back surgery?
Yes. Naturally we avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery has been known to cause instability above or below the involved area. More than likely, this will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
Do I have a pinched nerve?
A pinched nerve is actually rare. It's more likely that a spinal bone will irritate, stretch, rub or chaff a nearby nerve root. These "subluxations" may distort the critical nerve messages sent from and to the brain. This may produce unhealthy alterations in the ways affected organs and tissues are able to function.
How does chiropractic work?
Chiropractic works because you are a self-healing organism controlled and regulated by your nervous system. Millions of instructions flow from your brain, down the spinal cord, and out to every organ and tissue. Signals sent back to the brain confirm whether your body is working as it should. Improper motion or position of the moving bones of the spine may interfere with the vital exchange by irritating nearby nerves and the tissues they control. Precise chiropractic adjustments are intended to improve mind/body communications. Health often returns with improved nervous system control of the body.
How many adjustments will it take?
The number and frequency of adjustments vary from patient to patient. Most patients see some progress within a week or two. As supporting muscles and ligaments heal, visits may become less frequent. More difficult, longstanding cases may require regular visits over many months or years to make lasting changes.
What does chiropractic cure?
Separating each spinal bone is a special type of tissue called a disc. Its fibrous outer ring contains a jelly-like material. This soft center serves as a "ball bearing" for joint movement. Because of the way in which discs attach to the vertebrae above and below, it can't actually "slip." However, a disc can bulge, tear, herniate, thin, prolapse and dry out.
Yes. Learning to walk, riding a bike or playing sports can cause subluxations that are often passed off as mere "growing pains." Chiropractic care detects and helps correct these spinal distortions, providing a clearer path toward proper development. Ignored, these problems may worsen until they become more difficult to correct as an adult.
Even today's "natural" childbirth methods can stress an infant's spine. Colic, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits may be signs of spinal distress from the birth process. Adjustments for babies are gentle. Knowing exactly where to adjust, the amount of pressure applied is no more than you would use to test the ripeness of a tomato.
Yes, arthritis (spinal decay) can result from an abnormal, long-standing adaptation to gravity. The body deposits calcium on malfunctioning joint surfaces in an attempt to shore up or "splint" the joints. Bone spurs, and eventually fusion, can result.
Our posture is a window into the condition of our nervous system. It reveals how we adapt to stress. Common examples include uncorrected physical stresses from the birth process, childhood sports injuries, automobile accidents and even unresolved emotional pressures. As a result of these and other stresses, our bodies assume a defensive, protective posture.
During our examination we look for the head tilting to one side, forward head carriage, a lowered shoulder or a hip that has improperly rotated. We also look at the way you walk, unusual shoe wear or a leg that appears contracted. We encourage parents to have their children evaluated so these same issues don't become ingrained patterns early on.
Yes. A New Zealand government inquiry found that chiropractic adjustments are "remarkably safe." A thorough examination helps identify the rare individual for whom chiropractic care might be suited. Compare the statistics. Adjustments are about 100 times safer than taking a common, over-the-counter pain reliever.
Of course. When developing a care plan, chiropractors consider your unique circumstances. There are many ways to adjust the spine. The method selected is best suited to accommodate your age, size and any health issues you may have..
No. Generally only the spinal joints that are stuck and "locked up" receive adjustments. The spinal joints that have had to compensate, becoming unstable, are passed over so weakened muscles and ligaments can heal and strengthen.
Special fluids lubricate each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound as the gas and fluids in the joint shift - like releasing the pressure in a bottle of champagne. The sound, if it occurs, is fascinating, but isn't a guide to the quality or effectiveness of an adjustment.
You can have subluxations and not know it. Like the early stages of tooth decay or even cancer, subluxations can be present without obvious symptoms. The results of a thorough examination can reveal the location and severity of any subluxations you may have.
Subluxatons are usually the result of physical, emotional or chemical stresses. Physical stresses might include slips and falls, accidents, repetitive motions or improper lifting. Emotional stress, such as grief, anger or depression, may produce subluxations. Alcohol, drugs or preservatives are common examples of chemical stress.