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"The
doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients
in the
care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of
disease."
-Thomas Edison
What
is a chiropractor, or "D.C."?
Chiropractors
are independent health care professionals who treat many conditions
as they relate to the spine, emphasizing the dependency of health
on the correct functioning of the central nerve system.
Chiropractors
adjust or manipulate misaligned vertebrae (the bones of your spinal
column) to restore correct functioning of your central nerve system.
They may also work with other parts of your body affected by the misaligned
vertebrae. Chiropractors may do this by using their hands and various
mechanical and electrical instruments. "D.C." stands for
"Doctor of Chiropractic," the degree state licensed chiropractors
must earn.
What kinds of conditions or complaints does a chiropractor
treat?
Chiropractors
care for patients suffering from a wide variety of symptoms as their
cause relates to the spine, such as headaches; numbness; back, shoulder,
neck, chest, rib, arm and leg pain; abnormal curvature of the spine;
muscle spasms; dizziness; and even some stress, asthma, and allergy
disorders, among others.
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Stress Reduction
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Relief From Headaches
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Enhanced Immune System
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More Energy
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Enhanced Athletic Performance
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Improved Sleep
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Greater Flexibility
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Postural Correction
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Freedom of Movement
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Recovery From Trauma
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Mental Clarity
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Emotional Calm
Remember
that the nervous system controls every function performed by the body
directly or indirectly. Therefore, ANY problem can be improved with
a better functioning nervous system. Chiropractic helps the nervous
system function better by removing blockages that may be preventing
you from health.
How
are these conditions or complaints treated?
Chiropractic
is a hands-on profession; the primary treatment procedure is the chiropractic
spinal adjustment. Licensed chiropractors are authorized to:
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Detect nerve interference by using their hands, instruments, x-rays
or other imaging procedures (e.g., MRIs), and by ordering and interpreting
laboratory tests;
Adjust and/or manipulate bones in your body;
Use electrical stimulation, acupressure, massage, ultrasound, deep
heat, hot and cold packs, traction, and support devices; and
Provide guidance and recommendations on lifestyle habits, posture,
exercise, diet, and stress.
What
can you expect during a chiropractic examination?
The
chiropractor will conduct a physical examination and record a comprehensive
case history related to the chiropractic services. Like other primary
care health professionals, chiropractors consider many different causes
for your symptoms.
If
some other type of care is needed in addition to or instead of chiropractic
care, you may be referred to another health care provider. Chiropractors
often consult with other health professionals, such as medical doctors.
Will
my health insurance cover chiropractic services?
Probably--but
review and understand your insurance plan. Contact your insurance
provider or consult with your chiropractor's office staff, who can
often help you determine your plan's benefits.
To
help your professional relationship with your chiropractor you should:
- Answer
all health-related questions completely and accurately
Ask questions about terminology and procedures you don't understand
Ask why and how a chiropractic adjustment will be made
Authorize your other health care providers to release your records
to your chiropractor
Ask about insurance coverage for your treatment
In
turn, your chiropractor should:
Explain
your diagnosis, treatment plan, and the procedures that will be used
Advise you on appropriate attire for examination and treatment--only
the areas of your body being treated or examined should be exposed
What records are maintained? Can anyone else
get them?
Your
patient file typically includes your case history, physical examination
data, x-ray films, lab findings, and reports from other treatment
professionals. Your chiropractor must keep client records for six
years (three years for x-ray films) or until the client turns 22,
whichever is longer.
Generally,
your records are confidential unless you approve their release. Ask
your professional about exceptions to this. If you want a copy of
your records, provide your chiropractor with a written request. You
may be charged a reasonable fee to offset the cost of providing copies.
Do
I Have A Pinched Nerve?
Many
patients consult a chiropractic doctor because they think they have
a pinched nerve.
Because
of the way your spine is designed, abnormal spinal function caused
frm physical trauma, emotional tensions, or chemical toxins can affect
the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
While
commonly associated with the spine, the pinched nerve (comprehensive
lesion) is actually rare. Researchers suggest that only 10% to 15%
of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on
nerve tissue! This can result in numbness, burning, or a "pins
and needles" feeling.
More
frequently, nerves are irritated (facilitative lesion). This is caused
when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by a loss of spinal
curve, or irritated by malfunctioning spinal joints.
Do I Have a Slipped Disc?
Technically,
a disc can't slip.
The
intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage-type material situated between
spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber
for the spine. A soft, jellylike center is contained by outer layers
of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs help allow normal turning and bending.
Because
of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below,
a disc cannot "slip". However, trauma or injury to the spine
can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniate, or worse, rupture. This
can be quite painful, as the soft center of the disc leaks, putting
pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.
While
results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided needless
surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by choosing chiropractic care
for their disc-related health problems.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic
is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating,
self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by
the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body.
The
skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones
of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the
spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system is impaired, it
causes malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body.
Doctors call this the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Vertebral, meaning
bones of the spine. Subluxation, meaning less than total dislocation.
And Complex, meaning consisting of more than one part.
Chiropractic
is the science of locating final offending spinal structures, the
art of reducing their impact to the nervous system, and the philosophy
of all things natural.
How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic
works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. When under
the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues,
and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health.
The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove
interferences to your natural state of being healthy.
A
common interference to the nervous system is the 24 moving bones of
the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones
can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can
disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses.
With
improved spinal function, there is often improved nervous system function.
Your chiropractic doctor can help remove interferences that may be
impairing normal health.
Since
the primary focus of your care is improved nervous system function,
chiropractic can have a positive effect on many health conditions
not normally thought of as "back" problems.
What Do Chiropractic Doctors Do?
Helping
to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system
function begins with a case history. This gives the doctor a background
about your health, such as surgeries, accidents, the onset of your
condition, and other details affecting your current health.
After
reviewing your history and discussing your specific problems, a thorough
orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic examination is performed.
X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functional problems
associated with the spinal column. These examinations help identify
areas of spinal malfunction and resulting nervous system deficit.
The
findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic
adjustments many be recommended. Progress is monitored with periodic
examinations and follow-up reports.
Since
the word "doctor" comes from the Latin word meaning teacher,
regardless of your doctor's unique clinical approach, he or she has
a strong committment to patient education.
What Types of Education Do Chiropractic Doctors
Get?
Today's
Doctor of Chiropractic is well educated.
The
science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology,
pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques,
and related subjects. This demanding curriculum prepares chiropractic
doctors to locate the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and help correct
the resulting nervous system dysfunction.
To
graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, each candidate passes
the demanding National Board Examination. 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
chiropractic education never ends. Most doctors complete postgraduate
instruction for licensing renewal and to stay current on the latest
scientific research.
What Is An Adjustment?
A
chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a
precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, "locked
up", or not moving properly. This adds motion to the joint, helping
the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The
purpose of this safe and natural procedure is improved spinal function,
improved nervous system function, and improved health.
There
are many ways to adjust the spine.
Usually
the doctor's hands, or a specially designed instrument delivers a
brief and highly-accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick,
whereas others require a slow and constant pressure.
After
years of training and clinical experience, each chiropractic doctor
becomes highly skilled in the delivery of a variety of approaches.
Are All Patients Adjusted The Same Way?
The
doctor evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops
an individual course of care. The resulting recommendations are based
upon years of training and experience.
Some
patients who complain of headaches, may actually have a lower back
problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the
skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in
their fingers, when the actual problem is in the neck. Each patient
presents a uniquely different spinal pattern.
Patients
notice that their chiropractic care is delivered with confidence and
precision. Each visit builds on the one before. And while visits may
seem similar, each patient's care is uniquely different from every
other patient.
Can I Adjust Myself?
Since
a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific
direction, to a specific spinal joint, it is virtually impossible
to adjust oneself.
It
is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a "popping"
sound, like the sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment.
Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive,
often making an already unstable area of the spine even more unsteady.
Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!
The
best way to enjoy the healthy benefits of chiropractic is to receive
adjustments from a Doctor of Chiropractic. Even your doctor must seek
out the services of another colleague to help restore and maintain
proper spinal function.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
In
the words of the New Zealand government's inquiry, chiropractic care
is "remarkably safe".
Chiropractic
has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative
approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs.
A
thorough case history and examination help reveal areas of the spine
that may be causing the nervous system malfunction. This information
will be used to determine the best course of care for each patient.
Chiropractic
care is a natural approach to better health that is proven safe and
effective.
Can I Speed The Healing Process?
While
there aren't any shortcuts to speed your body's natural healing process,
there's a lot you can do to give yourself the best chance of a quick
recovery.
Learn
proper sitting and lifting methods. Specific exercises may be suggested
to help retrain the muscles that support your spine.
Proper
rest is an important aspect of the healing process, too. get the appropriate
amount of rest your body needs and avoid sleeping on your stomach.
During
the healing process, proper nutrition is more important than ever.
Make sure you eat balanced meals, and if you're overweight, now would
be a good time to slim down and reduce unnecessary stresses to your
spine.
Perhaps
most important of all, keep your appointments and follow your chiropractic
doctor's recommendations for optimum results.
Why Do Children Need Chiropractic Care?
Since
significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their
newborns checked for the Vertebral Subluxation Complex.
Later,
learning to walk, ride a bicycle, and other childhood activities can
cause spinal problems. While a bandage and some comforting words can
hellp a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the child's spine is the
unique domain of a chiropractic doctor.
Many
childhood health complaints that are brushed off as "growing
pains" can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic
checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health
complaints seen later in adults.
Naturally,
chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child's spine.
Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments
and seem healthier than other children.
Am I Too Old For Chiropractic Care?
More
and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in
their later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and
the side effects of combining various prescriptions drugs, safe, natural
chiropractic care is growing in popularity.
Restoring
better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance,
and appetite. Many patients report improvements with arthritic symptoms
and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process.
The
adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum
comfort and results.
As
we get older and wiser, the simplicity and effectiveness of chiropractic
care becomes more and more obvious.
How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care?
Spinal
problems, neglected since childhood, may require ongoing supportive
care for optimum spinal function. These long-standing problems are
often associated with muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative
changes to the spine.
Most
patients find that periodic chiropractic checkups help keep them in
tip-top shape. Those who are active, have stressful jobs, or want
to be their very best, find that a schedule of preventive visits are
helpful in the maintenance of good health.
Some
patients seek chiropractic care only when their ache or pain becomes
unbearable. When this style of "crisis management" is usually
more costly and time-consuming, our office stands ready to help all
patients, regardless of their health goals.
How
long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to
you.
Does It Hurt?
The
treatments themselves are generally not painful. In fact, most patients
look forward to their treatments as many experience instantaneous
relief immediately afterwards. Individuals who present with moderate
to severe pain may experience some minor discomfort for obvious reasons,
however, care is always gentle, safe and noninvasive
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