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Chiropractic Frequently Asked Questions

Is it true that some chiropractic techniques have significant risks associated with them?

While there is a certain degree of risk associated with any procedure or treatment, chiropractic treatments are among some of the safest treatments used in the health care field for individuals of all ages - from infancy to those into their golden years. According to Practice Guidelines released by the US Department of Health and Human Services, the risk of serious complications from spinal manipulation is rare. These guidelines also state that conservative treatments such as spinal manipulation should be pursued in most cases before considering surgical intervention.

What is a pinched nerve?

A misalignment of one or more of your spinal bones (vertebrae), which causes interference to 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 pinched nerve is a perfect example of how structure effects function.

Do chiropractors treat conditions other than back pain?

Chiropractors provide effective treatment for all types of soft tissue disorders and not just back and neck ailments. This includes conditions of the joints of the extremities like the ankle, knee and shoulder. What you may not be aware of is chiropractic's success in treating a number of non-soft tissue conditions like dysmenorrhea (painful menses), ulcers and migraine headaches. While we cannot claim to cure these conditions, we believe that many of these problems can be mimicked, aggravated and some times caused by disruptions in the nervous system as a result of spinal abnormalities. By correcting these spinal abnormalities like pinched nerves, chiropractic has helped thousands of individuals overcome these conditions and regain control of their lives.

What is an adjustment?

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

What causes the sound made during a chiropractic adjustment?

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.

I've heard that once I start chiropractic care, I'll have to continue with it for the rest of my life. Is that true?

You may have heard the notion that once you go to a chiropractor you have to keep going back. Before we answer that question, ask yourself how many times you have visited a dentist? Like most people, you've probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to prevent your teeth from literally rotting out of your head. Once we have eliminated your pain and rehabilitated the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Like your dentist and like many of the medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions and minimizing new injuries in the future. So the answer is yes, we want you to keep coming back, but just periodically. Periodic chiropractic care minimizes spinal and nerve stresses, reduces recurrences of old injuries, prevents new injuries from developing, and minimizes degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness.

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Chiropractic Frequently Asked Questions