Chiropractic

1. What is chiropractic?
2. What is a subluxation?
3. What is an adjustment?
4. What common conditions are treated through Chiropractic care?
5. Is regular chiropractic care necessary?
6. Do I need a referral?
7. Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

1. What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a series of spinal adjustments for the correction of misalignments. Misalignments in the spine can produce interferences in the function of the nervous system. Your nervous system plays an integral part of the body’s communications. If the spinal joints are not properly moving, irritating nearby nerves, messages from your brain to the rest of the body may not be appropriately received. When communication is impaired the body will not function at optimum levels. Chiropractors are Doctors who specialize in restoring proper joint function through spinal adjustments. A spinal adjustment is a gentle and painless procedure performed by the chiropractor’s highly skilled hands or by a hand held instrument, called the activator.

2. What is a subluxation?

Subluxations (spinal restrictions) are problem areas of the spine that affect your entire nervous system. In these problem areas the spinal bones are misaligned or have lost their normal range of movement. This irritates or puts pressure on local nerves which interferes with the communication between your brain and body (and vice versa).

What causes a subluxation?
Tension and stress on your spine can come from many sources. Common causes of these subluxations are:

• Poor posture
• Repetitive motions that cause stress on the body
• Improper sleeping positions
• Improper lifting
• Obesity Lack of exercise
• Stress
• Fall, injury, sudden jar, or trauma

3. What is an adjustment?

Doctors of Chiropractic are specialists in neuromusculoskeletal conditions. They are trained to restore the normal function of the spinal column. They do this manually, utilizing the chiropractic procedure known as "spinal adjustment." Your chiropractor, in most cases, will use his or her hands in applying corrective pressure to the spine in a specific direction and location. The manual force or thrust helps restore the alignment and mobility of the vertebrae. In some cases, the chiropractor may use instrumentation to detect subluxations and adjust the spine.

Does the adjustment hurt?
Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. It is also common to feel a brief sensation in the extremities immediately following an adjustment due to the sudden decompression of the affected nerve root.

How will the adjustment help me?
Chiropractic adjustments by themselves do not actually heal the body. When any of the 24 moveable spinal vertebrae become restricted, a basic imbalance or disruption can occur in the nervous and blood vascular system, which may contribute to stress in the body. Chiropractic adjustments help eliminate that imbalance or disruption so that the body can function at it's true potential.

4. What common conditions are treated through Chiropractic care?

• Low Back Pain
• Sciatica
• Degenerative Disc Disease
• Disc Herniation
• Rib Dysfunction
• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis (Shoulder Pain)
• Repetitive Strain Injuries
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Neck Pain
• Whiplash Associated Disorder
• TMJ
• Sinusitis
• Ear Aches
• Allergies
• Many more...

5. Is regular chiropractic care necessary?

Regular chiropractic care plays an important role in maintaining optimal health and wellness. Misalignments often exist without presenting any symptoms. It is vital for individuals to maintain proper alignment through regular care, thus preventing more severe conditions from occurring. Your chiropractor will be able to determine a treatment plan that is tailored to individual needs.

6. Do I need a referral?

No, chiropractors are considered primary contact doctors. No referral from a medical doctor is necessary.

7. Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

Chiropractic treatment can be performed on everyone, at any age. The vertebrae can become misaligned throughout the entire life cycle. For example, the birth process may cause trauma to the neck and spine which can result in colic, ear aches, torticollis and other problems. Young children may also benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from a wide range of activities and sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle. An early chiropractic check-up may detect many spinal problems when they are still easily correctable.