How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works because you are a self-healing, self-regulating organism controlled 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 if your body is working right. Back to Top
What Is Innate Intelligence?
The answer to this question could fill up a book, but for our purpose here we all try to keep it short. Innate intelligence is the inborn wisdom/intelligence of our body (and all living things) that allows us to adapt to our environment in order to survive. It has nothing to do with how smart a person is, their education, or ability to learn. It is our body’s ability to regulate itself. It is what is responsible for all the proper functioning and coordination of all the trillions of cells of the body so that you can breathe, digest food, beat your heart, heal injuries, all the things needed for you to be alive. Innate intelligence uses our nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves) as the communication system for its messages. A vertebral subluxation interferes with the expression of innate intelligence and consequently our body cannot function or adapt to their optimum capabilities. Our whole body is affected by a subluxation. Back to Top
What Is A Vertebral Subluxation?
In its simplest explanation, a subluxation (a.k.a. Vertebral Subluxation) is when one or more of the bones of your spine (vertebrae) move out of their proper position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves causing those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves. How does this affect you? Innate intelligence uses your nervous system to control and coordinates all the functions of your body. If you interfere with the signals traveling over nerves, parts of your body will not get the proper nerve messages and will not be able to function at 100% of their innate abilities. Your body chemistry is altered, your immune system is weakened, negative, abnormal changes take place throughout you body, in other words, your body will not be working properly.
It is the responsibility of the Chiropractor to locate subluxations, and reduce or correct them. This is done through a series of chiropractic adjustments specifically designed to correct the vertebral subluxations in your spine. Chiropractors are the only professionals who undergo years of training to be the experts at correcting subluxations. Back to Top
Do I Have A Pinched Nerve?
A pinched nerve is rare. It is more likely that an adjacent spinal bone irritates, stretches, rubs, chokes, or chafes the spinal cord or a nerve when you have a subluxation. These subluxations distort the nerve messages sent between the brain and the body. This can produce unhealthy alterations to the organs and tissues connected by the affected nerves. Back to Top
Do I Have A Slipped Disc?
The disc is a soft pulpy “shock absorber.” It has a fibrous outer ring, which holds in a jelly-like material. A “slipped disc” is a common way to refer to a wide variety of disc problems. However, a disc can’t slip because of the way it is attached to the spinal bones above and below it. A disc can bulge, tear, herniated, thin, dry out, or collapse. But it cannot slip. However, in order to do any of these things the vertebrae must have subluxated first. While some disc problems require immediate surgery, most can be greatly helped by chiropractic care. Back to Top
How Do You Get Subluxations?
There are three basic causes/stresses of subluxations, physical, chemical, and emotional stresses. Examples of physical stresses include slips and falls, accidents, the birth process, repetitive motions, poor posture and improper lifting. This type of stress is the most commonly associated with chiropractic, but in reality is the least common cause of subluxations. Examples of emotional stresses include worry, grief, anger, and fear. These are by far, the most common causes of subluxations. Some examples of chemical stresses include alcohol, drugs, pollution, smoking, and poor diet. These are the second most common cause of subluxations. Usually it is a combination of all three stresses that cause subluxations. As you can see, the list is endless and these causes occur throughout life. Back to Top
How Do I Know If I Have A Subluxation?
In most cases, subluxations are present without any obvious symptoms. Like early stages of cancer, heart disease, and tooth decay, subluxations can be present before any warning signs. Only a thorough spinal analysis can show the location and severity of any subluxations you may have. Back to Top
Can Subluxations Clear Up On Their Own?
Sometimes. Today’s hectic lifestyles are a constant source of subluxations. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to self-correct some of these problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night. The only problem is that we do not always know when we have subluxations nor can we predict if they will be corrected. For this reason, periodic spinal check-ups are necessary. Back to Top
What’s An Adjustment?
An adjustment is a thrust that helps add motion to subluxated vertebrae (misaligned spinal bones that aren’t moving correctly). Some methods use the doctor’s hands, an instrument, a special table, or the force of gravity. There are many ways to adjust the spine. Back to Top
How Long Does An Adjustment Take?
After the initial spinal analysis and evaluation is performed, subsequent visits for adjustments will only take a few minutes, depending on which technique is used. Thorough, efficient, and quick techniques are used in this office to get you in and out so that you can go on living your life. Most people can be adjusted in less than 5 minutes. We work diligently to insure that you are seen as quickly as possible and offer appointments that are convenient to your busy lifestyle. Please rest assured that should you have question or want to learn more about health, you can schedule your adjustments during slower periods of the day and remain as long as you need to have your questions answered. Back to Top
Are Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?
Yes. A New Zealand government study (and many others) has found that adjustments are “remarkably safe.” A thorough spinal analysis can identify the rare person for whom chiropractic care might need to be modified or not might not be suited. Many hours of training and years of perfecting our art has made chiropractic probably the safest form of health care. If you have any doubts, compare the statistics and check malpractice fees. Adjustments are hundreds times safer than taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Back to Top
Can The Bones Move Too Much?
Highly unlikely. A chiropractic adjustment is special. It has the right amount of energy, delivered to an exact spot, at a precise angle, at just right time. The intent is to get a “stuck” spinal joint moving again, helping reduced nerve interference. Years of training, practice and experience make chiropractic adjustments specific and safe. Back to Top
Will Adjustments Make My Spine Too Loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are “locked up” receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles, tendons, and ligaments to stabilize and heal. Back to Top
What Makes A Sound During The Adjustment?
Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joints shift. It’s much like opening a bottle of champagne or removing a suction cup. The sound is interesting, but it isn’t a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment. In other words, you can be adjusted without producing the sound or you can produce the sound without being properly adjusted. Back to Top
Are All Patients Adjusted The Same Way?
No. Each patient’s spine and care plan is unique. At times it may look that way. But, with 24 moving bones in the spine, most of which can be subluxated in 9 possible directions (with the exception of the atlas, the 1st vertebrae in your neck, which can subluxate in 20 different directions), we see wide variety of spinal patterns. Each patient’s care is custom tailored for his or her age, condition and health goals. Back to Top
Can I Adjust Myself?
No. Some people can make their joint “pop”, but that’s not an adjustment! In many instances they are moving hypermobile joints (joints that move too much to make up for the “stuck” joints). By doing so, they give the stuck joints no incentive to become unstuck. Worse, damage can occur by mobilizing a joint with weakened muscles and ligaments. Adjustments are specific and take years to master. Even your chiropractor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care. Back to Top
Why Do Newborns and Children Need Adjustments?
Even under the best circumstances today’s natural childbirth methods can be very traumatic to an infant’s spine. Use of forceps, vacuum extraction, and C-sections are even more traumatic. Preliminary studies suggest that colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal stress. Learning to crawl, walk, run, and all the new physical activities associated with childhood are constant sources of subluxations. A tremendous amount of physical, emotional, and chemical changes occur in our first years of life. Each a potential cause of subluxation. In fact, children need chiropractic care more than adults. Pediatric adjustments are gentle and incredibly safe. Knowing exactly where to adjust, the doctor applies no more pressure than you can comfortably push on your eye. Back to Top
Can I Have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery?
Yes. Rest assured that your chiropractor would avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved levels. These areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care. Back to Top
Can Patients With Osteoporosis Get Chiropractic Care?
Of course. When developing a care plan, your chiropractor considers the unique circumstances of each patient. They are many ways to adjust the spine. The methods selected will be best suited to your age, size and condition. Back to Top
How Long Until I’ll Feel Better?
Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take many weeks or months. Many factors can affect the healing process. How long have you had your problem? Are you keeping to your adjustment schedule? Are you getting the proper rest, exercise, and nutrition? Do you smoke or do other things that rob your health? Are you in otherwise good condition? We all want to feel good, but your progress and care do not revolve around symptoms. Symptoms are very poor judge of health. They are usually the last part of a diseases process to appear and they disappear before a problem has even begun to be corrected under chiropractic care. Back to Top
How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care?
Let me turn that around and ask the same question about doing other things that are healthy. Once I start exercising, do I have to do that forever? Or, once I start eating healthy foods, do I have to do that forever? Do I have to brush my teeth forever? You must look at chiropractic care as part of a healthy lifestyle, not a temporary treatment for something. In reality we do not treat anything. We correct nerve interference caused by subluxations in your spine, which occur throughout your life. Therefore, having a nerve system free of interference is not something you want only occasionally. After practice members get the relief they want and undergo spinal correction, most choose to continue with some type of periodic/wellness care. They show up for their visits feeling great. These visits can help support the final stages of healing and help detect and resolve new problems before they become serious. The answer is no, you do not have to keep going. Our job is to explain your options and offer the very best care; your job is to decide how much of it you want. Most people decide to continue because it is healthy to do so. Back to Top
What Diseases And Conditions Can A Chiropractor Cure?
Chiropractors do not cure anything. No doctor can cure anything. Sick and diseased cells must die and be replaced by healthy cells in order for you to heal and “be cured”. That can only be done by your body. If the sick and diseased cells that die are replaced by more sick and diseased cells the health condition remains or gets worse. Chiropractic care helps your body to function to its greatest potential and in many cases will help in the production of healthy cells, thereby allowing your body to heal itself. There has not been a disease that a properly functioning body has not been able to overcome. However, if you have passed the limitation of matter (gone beyond you bodies ability to heal itself), other forms of care may be needed to relieve suffering or keep a person alive. Back to Top
Does Health Insurance Cover Chiropractic?
Some do. It has been estimated that more than half of the American population does not have health insurance. Half of those that do, do not have chiropractic coverage. We have set up our fee system to help as many people as possible. Our fees are affordable for everyone. If you have insurance that may cover chiropractic we can help you submit it to your insurance and try to get reimbursed, but our main focus is on your health rather that how many visits your insurance company "allows". Back to Top
Will Regular Visits To The Chiropractor Help Prevent Certain Illnesses?
Its hard to say, because there are so many factors that can cause an illness. Genetics, diet, exercise, rest, lifestyle choices, exposure to toxins, etc. are just some factors that can play a part in whether or not you become ill. Chiropractic helps you to express your potential in all areas of life, including health. Logically, getting adjusted will give you a huge help in preventing illness and disease. In some studies it has been shown that chiropractic can boost your immune system 200-400%. That has to be a big plus in promoting health. But, other health promoting activities, such as exercise, getting proper nutrition, proper rest, need to be done as well. By giving you a healthy nervous system, chiropractic ties those health-promoting activities together and helps you get the most out of them. Back to Top
Why Doesn’t A Subluxation Stay Corrected After An Adjustment?
Before answering this question I would like you to review the question titled “How do you get subluxations?” Realize that many subluxations have been present for years or decades before many people come to a chiropractor. Bone, ligament, muscle, tendon, and disc shapes have been altered. Your body perceives this ‘bad’ position as normal. It takes months of regular care to properly retrain and reshape these structures. In fact, ligaments may take a year or longer to heal correctly. Also, the reason why subluxations do not stay corrected is because the causes of subluxations exist throughout your life. They may vary from time to time; as will your subluxations, but the stresses that cause subluxations exist from birth to death. Back to Top
Does My Mattress Or How I Sleep Have Anything To Do With How Long I Hold My Adjustment?
Everyone has slept on a bad mattress, couch, or chair and awoken stiff and sore. Logically a good mattress should help support your spine and help you hold your adjustments longer. Sleeping on your stomach jams your spinal joints together and in many people will cause or aggravate pain. Many people report that sleeping on their side or on their back helps them when they are feeling discomfort. Ideally you want to keep your spine in a straight line when on your side. You do not want pillows that are too high or too flat. Experiment and see what works best for you. Back to Top
Why Do Some People Need More Frequent Adjustments Than Others?
Everyone is under different stresses and everyone’s ability to handle stress is different. Our bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, etc. are different and respond differently to stresses. We all have different genetic predispositions to subluxations, which we have inherited from our parents and grandparents. We do different things to promote or damage our health. Taking all that into consideration it is easy to see how some may need more frequent care than others. As you progress with care, your chiropractor and you will both determine what frequency of care is best for you based on your subluxation patterns. Back to Top
What Can I Do To Strengthen My Spine?
First and foremost, you need to stick to your adjustment schedule. That will be the best thing you can do for your spine. Getting the proper nutrition, rest, exercise, and having a positive mental attitude are a few things that can help promote overall health. You can also try to avoid things that damage health. Unfortunately, there are no specific exercises that can be done to strengthen the tiny muscles surrounding the bones of your spine. Back to Top
Do You Do Talks About Chiropractic To Other Clubs and Organizations?
Absolutely. I love any opportunity to lecture about chiropractic and health. If you belong to any group or organization that hosts lectures please let me know. I would love to do a talk for your group. I do 50 + talks a year to help our community stay as healthy as possible. Back to Top
Why Do Chiropractors Seem To Be Doing Different Things?
There are countless ways to adjust the spine. Numerous techniques are taught at different schools. All are good and effective. Every chiropractor will develop his/her own adjusting style that will help them serve their practice members. Techniques may also be modified to adjust practice members with special needs. As long as the technique removes subluxations you cannot go wrong. Back to Top
Do You Get Adjusted?
Personally, I get checked by my chiropractor at least once per week. I am adjusted as needed (usually every week). Now mind you, I have been a regular chiropractic patient since 1996, and still need to be adjusted weekly due to the stresses in my life that cause me to be subluxated that often. I check my wife weekly and will check my newborn in the first minutes of life . Realistically, for most people that is not an option, but I recommend at least weekly, to bi-weekly check-ups for most people unless they consistently show that they do not need such frequent care. In that case, I would recommend check-ups every three to four weeks. I have yet to encounter anyone who can hold his or her adjustments longer than that. Back to Top
How Often Should I Get Adjusted If I Feel Fine?
To answer this you must remember that the purpose for getting adjusted is to correct subluxations. The problem is that subluxations, (like dental cavities), usually don't cause pain. By the time you feel any pain or discomfort, your subluxations have been there for a while. So, how often should you get checked to see if you need to be adjusted? A number of my practice members who “feel fine” get checked weekly or bi-weekly. The question you have to ask yourself is, "How much nervous system interference/malfunction from subluxations is acceptable?" For me - NONE! Back to Top
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