Q: What is chiropractic?

A: Chiropractic is the science, art & philosophy of locating & correcting vertebral subluxations through gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments thus allowing your body to function at it's optimum potential.

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Q: What is a spinal fixation?

A: A "sticking" or loss of normal motion of one or more of your spinal bones (vertebrae), which causes undesirable input your nervous system. If your nervous system is interfered with, your body's natural ability to heal itself & function at it's optimum potential becomes impaired. A spinal fixation is a perfect example of how structure affects function.

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Q: What is an adjustment?

A: A gentle, specific "thrust" delivered by hand or instrument. The purpose of the adjustment is to correct your spinal subluxation(s) thus removing the nerve interference in your body.

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Q: Does it hurt to get adjusted?

A: No. Chiropractic adjustments feel great. I am confident that once you begin receiving your adjustments, you will begin to look forward to them. They will become one of the highlights of your week. When you allow the vertebrae in your spine to return to their proper position, you will notice much less stress and tension.

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Q: Is chiropractic care safe?

A: Yes. Statistics prove that chiropractic care is one of the safest types of healthcare in the world. You need only compare the malpractice premiums paid by chiropractors to those paid by medical doctors. Doctors of Chiropractic pay only a small fraction (approx. 1/20) of the price medical doctors pay in malpractice premiums. 250,000 people will die this year as a result of bad medicine, making this the third leading cause of death in the United States of America (The Journal of The American Medical Association, JAMA; Vol.284, July 26, 2000). Of the millions of people receiving chiropractic adjustments, each year, only a handful will even make a complaint.

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Q: Why do my children need chiropractic care?

A: The birth process can be the cause of your child's first spine problem. A very soft and undeveloped spine of an infant can suffer trauma during delivery. It is estimated that as much as 80lbs of pulling pressure can be exerted to remove a baby from the birth canal. Then, as children grow up and become more adventurous, the number of injuries to their spines become countless. The repeated falls as children learn to walk, the running, jumping, twisting, bumping and falling while playing in the yard or on an athletic field will often cause your child's spine to become injured. However, often children do not show any signs or symptoms of being spinal problems until later on in life. Chiropractic care offers your child a more responsive body and overall increased performance as she/he passes through their windows of development. A child with a healthy spine and skeleton can minimize their risk of future health challenges.

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Q: What causes the sound made during a chiropractic adjustment?

A: That sound is not your spine "cracking" or "popping" like most people think. That sound is created by gas (in this case, nitrogen) rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. Another example of this phenomenon would be the "pop" sound you hear when the cork is taken out of a champagne bottle. Not all chiropractic adjusting techniques produce this noise. In fact, some adjusting techniques use little force and thus produce no noise at all.

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Q: Is it bad to "crack" your back or neck a lot?

A: This question is frequently asked because people associate the "cracking" or "popping" of one's back or neck with a chiropractic adjustment. The two are not the same thing. If a person has a desire to "crack" his/her neck or back it is often because one area of their spine is fixated or jammed causing another area to move too much and "pop", sometimes by itself. It's the fixated or jammed area that needs to be properly adjusted by a chiropractor so that the other parts of the spine will not be hypermobile and noisy. When you "crack" your back you may be relieving the tension for a little while. Do you notice how it keeps coming back? That is because you are not giving yourself a specific chiropractic adjustment. The cause of the spinal tension, the fixated or jammed (subluxated) vertebrae, has not been corrected. Any person who makes a habit out of "cracking" or "popping" their back or neck needs to go to a Doctor of Chiropractic to have their spine checked. Even a chiropractor cannot adjust him/herself.

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Q: Once you see a chiropractor, do you have to go for the rest of your life?

A: No. The extent to which you choose to benefit from your chiropractic care is ultimately up to you. Each & everyone of us is solely responsible for the quality of our health & well-being. However, we do suggest some practice members to consider periodic tune-ups. This is where the long-term, lasting benefits of care are enjoyed. Regular exercise & healthy eating habits are a lifestyle decision and so is appropriate chiropractic care.

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Q: Should I continue chiropractic care if I don't have any symptoms and I feel better?

A: There are certain patients whom can be benefit from periodic "tune-ups", due to their occupation, past injuries, and/or chronic pain.  So called "wellness care" is scientifically unfounded.  There is a lack of evidence to support the notion that everyone needs regular adjustments.  If an office tells you that wellness care is needed, chances are the wellness is for their wallet.  Consider taking your body and money elsewhere.

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