Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is America’s number one health care profession. Chiropractic doctors focus on the correction of misalignment in the skeletal system that causes pressure and interference in the nervous system thus resulting in decreased function, poor health, other symptoms, and dis-ease
Our human body is exposed and undergoes physical, emotional, mental, and chemical stress on a daily basis in many ways. Physical trauma such as falls and accidents, mental and emotional stress from work deadlines or running a household, or environmental pollutions or toxins such as fumes from automobiles can cause problems within our spine and body. These stressors can all lead to a spinal condition referred to as vertebral subluxations. Chiropractic is drug free and helps millions of people on a daily basis across the world.
“Chiropractors are the only doctors trained to detect and correct subluxations through safe, gentle, and specific adjustments.”
What is a Subluxation?
A subluxation or somatic dysfunction refers to a spinal or peripheral joint that is not in it’s normal position and is not moving (fixated) and causing nerve pressure and interference with nerve messages being sent from the brain to all the organs, tissues, and cells of the body. Subluxations create imbalance and restriction of the spinal joints and irritation of the nervous system leading to symptoms and dysfunction in the muscles and organs. Subluxations can also be asymptomatic for months and even years until weaknesses or changes in normal function, eventually leading to the progression of muscular and nerve breakdown, worse injury or degenerative disease.
Why is the nervous system so important?
The nervous system carries vital messages from the brain to every organ, tissue, and cell in the body. These messages are extremely important for proper bodily function. Without proper communication between the brain and the body systems our body will not function correctly resulting in poor health and dis-ease.
What is the Gonstead Method of Chiropractic?
In chiropractic there are about 38 different techniques. The Gonstead Method is a very specific and scientific technique with very gentle and precise adjustments. The Gonstead Method was developed and researched by Dr. C.S. Gonstead in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. Dr. Gonstead was a mechanical engineer prior to being a chiropractor. After graduation from Chiropractic School he decided he could do chiropractic better than he was taught if he could learn how to apply mechanical engineering principles to the spine. For more information about the Gonstead Method please visit www.gonstead.com.
Will I need X-rays?
We only take X-rays when clinically necessary. X-rays reveal a great deal of information that helps the doctor understand what’s going on with your spine and what areas we should focus on to maximize your corrective chiropractic care. X-rays allow us to be precise and ensures patient safety with each adjustment.
How will an adjustment help me?
Chiropractic adjustments eliminate nerve interference that prevents your body from healing itself properly. Misaligned vertebrae interfere with the function of your musculoskeletal and nervous system thus causing decreased function and weakening of your body. A Chiropractic adjustment corrects the underlying cause of your symptoms and allows the body to heal itself more quickly.
Is Chiropractic Care safe for pregnant women?
Yes, Chiropractic is safe during pregnancy because it is drug free and non-invasive on both the mother and baby. Pregnancy places additional stress on the mother’s body causing her pelvis and spine to misalign easier. Chiropractic can help relieve pregnancy related low back pain, leg and sciatic pain, and mid-back pain. It may also reduce incidence of headaches, nausea, and heartburn. Anecdotal evidence shows that regular Chiropractic Care up to the point of delivery can significantly reduce labor time and the chances of complications during delivery.
How old should a person be before receiving Chiropractic Care?
People of all ages can receive Chiropractic Care. Even infants should have their spines checked for subluxation due to trauma involved during the birth process. It’s best to have children under Chiropractic Care early in life to remove the chances of any negative effects that subluxation has on development. A rapidly developing skeletal structure can put stress on a child’s bones and joints causing them to develop abnormally. Sometimes this can develop into the spinal condition known as Scoliosis. Early detection of Scoliosis is important while curvature can still be corrected.
There is no age restriction to when your child should get his or her first misalignment therefore, there is no restriction on what age your child should receive their first adjustment. Having a newborn’s spine and pelvis checked for subluxation after birth is considered good prevention to avoid common problems later in life.
Does the adjustment hurt?
Is some acute cases the adjustment may cause a small amount of discomfort for a few seconds depending on the amount of inflammation and irritated tissues around the injured site. The great majority of adjustments given do not hurt because they are given precisely and gently.
Can you be too old to be under Chiropractic Care?
You are never to old to start receiving Chiropractic Care. Seniors tend to have weaker spines that are more at risk for subluxation and misalignment due to postural changes from osteoporosis and degenerative disease (due to long lived subluxation of multiple spinal joints). Therefore, seniors need to take care of their spines and pelvic alignment with regular maintenance adjustments. If you plan on living into your “Golden Years” then you should already be receiving regular wellness care for prevention instead of waiting for things to get bad. We have wellness patient’s in their 80’s and 90’s that get around better than some 40 year old’s that aren’t under Chiropractic Wellness Care.