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Common Questions & Answers
What is chiropractic care?
What type
of education do chiropractic
doctors receive?
What is a chiropractic
adjustment?
Can I tell
if I have a subluxation?
Are all patients adjusted the
same way?
What causes the sound during an
adjustment?
Can I
adjust myself?
Is
chiropractic safe?
Is
chiropractic care addictive?
Can a
person who had back surgery see
a chiropractor?
Is it OK
to see a chiropractor if I'm
pregnant?
Why do chiropractors take
x-rays?
What about Automobile Accidents?
What is chiropractic care?
There's nothing mysterious about
chiropractic. It's a natural
method of health care that
focuses on correcting the causes
of physical problems, rather
than just treating the symptoms.
Chiropractic is based on a
simple but powerful premise.
With a normally functioning
spine and healthy nerve system,
your body is better able to heal
itself. That's because your
spine is the lifeline of your
nervous system. It controls
feeling, movement, and all
function through your body.
What type of education do
chiropractic doctors receive?
Doctors of Chiropractic are
well-educated. Chiropractic
education and medical education
are similar in many respects and
different in others because
chiropractors do not prescribe
drugs or perform surgery, and
medical doctors do not correct
vertebral subluxations. After
graduating with a Doctor of
Chiropractic (D.C.) Degree, each
candidate passes the demanding
four part National Board
Examinations. Then, doctors
apply to a governmental or
professional licensing board and
pass a still more difficult test
before being granted the
privilege to practice. A
chiropractor's education,
however, never ends. Most
doctors complete regular
postgraduate instruction for
license renewal and to stay
current on the latest research
and adjustment techniques.
What is a chiropractic
adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the
art of using a specific force in
a precise direction, applied to
a joint that is "locked
up," or not moving properly.
Can I tell if I have a
subluxation?
Not always. A subluxation is
like a dental cavity--you may
have it for a long time before
symptoms appear. That's why
periodic spinal checkups are so
important. Although it may be
possible to know you have a
subluxation, it is rarely
possible to be sure you don't.
Regular spinal checkups are
always a good idea, and they
promote good health from the
inside out.
Are all patients adjusted the
same way?
No. The doctor evaluates each
patient's unique spinal problem
and develops an individual
course of care. Each
chiropractic adjustment builds
on the one before. The resulting
recommendations are based upon
years of training and
experience. Each patient's care
is uniquely different from every
other patient.
What causes the sound during an
adjustment?
Actually, adjustments do not
always produce a sound. Often,
however, adjustments do create
the sound of a spinal "release",
or "popping" sound. The sound is
caused by gas rushing in to fill
the partial vacuum created when
the joints are slightly
separated. This sound is
painless and totally harmless.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Since a chiropractic
adjustment is a specific force,
applied in a specific direction
to a specific joint, it is
virtually impossible to adjust
oneself correctly and
accurately. It is possible to
turn or bend or twist in certain
ways to create a "popping" sound
that sometimes accompanies a
chiropractic adjustment.
Unfortunately, this type of
joint manipulation is usually
counterproductive, often making
an already unstable spine even
more unstable, and can sometimes
be dangerous. Adjusting the
spine is not for amateurs!
Is chiropractic safe?
Yes. Chiropractic has an
excellent safety record. It is
the result of a conservative and
natural approach to health that
avoids invasive procedures or
addictive drugs. As proof, one
merely has to compare
malpractice rates between
chiropractors and other health
care professionals.
Chiropractors' malpractice
premiums are a small fraction of
those for medical doctors.
Is chiropractic care addictive?
No. If only it were, there would
be more healthy people around
and chiropractors would not get
patients who last saw a
chiropractor a few years ago
when their back went out. It is
possible to get used to feeling
more balanced, less stressed,
and more energetic as a result
or regular chiropractic care.
Chiropractic is not addictive,
however, good health is.
Can a person who had back
surgery see a chiropractor?
Yes. It's an unfortunate fact
that up to half of those who had
spinal surgery discover a return
of their original symptoms
months or years later. They then
face the prospect of additional
surgery. This too common
occurrence is know as "Failed
Back Surgery Syndrome."
Chiropractic may help prevent
repeated back surgeries.
Is it OK to see a chiropractor
if I'm pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a
better functioning nerve system.
Pregnant mothers find that
chiropractic adjustments improve
their pregnancy and make
delivery easier for themselves
and their baby. Adjusting
methods are always adapted to a
patients size, weight, age, and
condition of health.
Why do chiropractors take
x-rays?
Chiropractors take x-rays to
reveal the internal structure
and alignment of the spine. We
are also concerned about
underlying disease processes and
disorders of the spine such as
fracture, spinal deterioration, arthritis
of the spine, abnormal
development, bone spurs, disc
disorders, tumors and spinal
curvature. X-rays also provide a
blueprint for correcting the
spine back to optimal health and
alignment.
What about Automobile Accidents?
Seek chiropractic
care immediately after being
involved in an accident. Early
diagnosis and treatment can
reduce the risk of serious,
permanent injury. Some pain
symptoms may not arise for up to
two weeks after an accident. |
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