Browse our FAQs…
What is an 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. “Gentle spinal adjustments boost your body’s immunity.”
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 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!
Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No. The doctor evaluates each patient’s unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience. Each patient’s care is uniquely different from every other patient.
Do children need chiropractic care?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their 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. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers.
Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I am pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patients size, weight, age, and condition of health.
Do I have to keep coming back for treatments?
Of course not…your approach to long term wellness is up to you. You may have heard that once you go to a chiropractor you have to keep going back. Although often times continued care is of great benefit, the notion that you HAVE TO keep receiving care is simply not true. We find where your body is not communicating with the brain, we then work on adjusting you to help your body naturally repair itself. If patients are interested and/or their problem warrants on-going care it will be discussed at the conclusion of their active treatment plan.
Like your dentist and many other medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions, minimizing new injuries and optimizing health.
So the answer is no, you do not HAVE TO continue with periodic care, but once our patients have gone through a treatment plan and have been educated as to the benefit of maintaining proper biomechanics, many decide that periodic, preventative care just makes sense.
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. X-rays also provide a blueprint for correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment.
What type of education do Chiropractors receive?
Doctors of Chiropractic receive nearly the same amount of credit-hour education as any other doctor. 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 pass a still 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.