FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the vertebral subluxation compex?
2. Does everyone get subluxations?
3. Is pain always associated with improper spinal function?
6. What is that "cracking" or "popping" sound you hear when you get adjusted?
7. What happens if I have a subluxation and I choose not to have it adjusted by a chiropractor?
8. How much danger is there in going to the chiropractor?
9. What typically happens on the first visit?
10. Why should I continue chiropractic care if I do not have symptoms and feel better?
11. Can I speed up the healing process?
12. Why do my children need chiropractic care?
1. What is the vertebral subluxation complex?
The vertebral subluxation complex (VSC) is the condition in which a vertebra has lost its proper alignment and motion with respect to the one above, the one below, or both. The result is the impingement or irritation of the nerve root, which interferes with the transmission of information coming from the brain traveling to the muscles, organs, and tissues in the body. The detection, treatment, and prevention of VSC makes chiropractic unique in the health care sciences. In other words, the spinal misalignment negatively affects the soft tissue around it, causing spasms of your muscles and abnormal nerve signals. If ignored, problems can arise in the affected organ system.
2. Does everyone get subluxation?
Yes. Subluxations result from a variety of stresses, including (but not limited to): the birth process, sitting for extended periods of time, lifting and / or carrying heavy objects, shoveling snow, repetitive on-the-job motions, abnormal sleeping positions, slips, falls, sports injuries, car accidents, posture, etc. Subluxations happen all the time, but with all of our daily activities and stresses, the body cannot always correct them by itself.
3. Is pain always associated with improper spinal function?
No. Your body is very adaptive and pain is seldom associated with the early occurrence of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). When pain is present, many times it will diminish or disappear even if corrective action isn't taken - emerging months or years later as a far worse condition. (Have you ever heard someone say that all they did was bend over or sneeze and their back went out? This is what happens if you ignore the problem when it first occurs.) Also, only 10% of your nerve fibers sense pain, so pain is a very poor indicator of improper function in the body.
4. What is an "adjustment"?
An adjustment is the action of the chiropractor, using his or her hands or other instruments to deliver a light force on three different vectors to a vertebra that is subluxated, thereby putting it back into alignment, relieving nerve interference, and helping the body to once again function properly.
5. Do adjustments hurt?
The actual adjustment does not hurt. In fact, most people say that the adjustment feels very good (the adjustment causes endorphins, the body's "feel-good" chemicals, to be released and it feels good to have mechanical pressure off a nerve). Any further information about the experience of getting adjusted for the first time will be answered by one of the Doctors.
6. What is that "cracking" and "popping" sound you hear when you get adjusted?
There is fluid between each of the joints in your body. When you hear the “popping” sound (which is called a cavitation), it is simply gas being released from that fluid. It is just like the sound you hear when you pop the cork off a bottle of champagne or open a can of soda - that sound is also gas being released from within the fluid. Not all adjustments create this sound, so the effectiveness of an adjustment should not be judged by the presence or loudness of the sound.
7. What happens if I have a subluxation and I choose not to have it adjusted by a chiropractor?
The result of a subluxation is a state of dis-ease in the body: both a loss of function in the organ or system that the affected nerve leads to (a particular muscle, tissue, etc. in the body), and spinal decay in the affected joint itself, which results in osteoarthritis if left undetected and / or uncorrected.
8. How much danger is there in going to the chiropractor?
Chiropractic Malpractice insurance speaks for itself. Chiropractors have very low malpractice insurance compared to medical doctors (tens of thousands of dollars lower!). The reason for this is that there is a risk of death and serious permanent injury by the use of drugs and surgery, but not with a chiropractic adjustment. The insurance companies realize this. Ask your Doctor about the numerous research documents available that discuss the safety of chiropractic treatment.
9. What typically happens on the first visit?
Typically on the first visit you will fill out a complete health history detailing past injuries or problems and present symptoms. Remember, we are not asking you about your symptoms because we are going to treat them, the symptoms help us determine where your problem started and what technique will best suit you. We will then review your case history with you and discuss how you may benefit from chiropractic care. We will then give you a complete examination, consisting of various testing procedures to help determine where your subluxations lie.
On your second visit, we will then discuss the Report of Findings with you. These are the results of the examination. We will then recommend a specific and optimal course of care for you and, if you are ready to start on the path to wellness, we will begin treatment.
10. Why should I continue chiropractic care if I do not have any symptoms and feel better?
Chiropractic care is not a treatment or a cure for symptoms, conditions or disease.
Just because symptoms disappear, your problem probably hasn’t completely healed. Many of the cases seen by chiropractors consist of patients who present spinal problems that have developed over many years. Slips, falls, and other accidents experienced over your lifetime adversely affect your spine. The longer you wait to have your spine checked, the longer it will take to correct a problem. You must allow your body time to heal physiologically once the pain disappears.
We will suggest a schedule of adjustments to correct your subluxations. Once your body has regained the ability to hold the vertebra in place (meaning your soft tissues have adjusted to the adjustments) you can decide whether you would like to continue with a wellness program.
11. Can I help speed up the healing process?
Absolutely. Though it is difficult to speed up your body's natural healing process, by following a few recommendations, you can give yourself the opportunity to recover quickly and prevent future problems.
Every part of your day can affect your health or lack thereof. Your doctor is knowledgeable and can coach you to be active in your healthcare involving several areas of your lifestyle including: sleep, posture, nutrition and food, exercise, attitude, relationships and occupational hazards.
Choosing to participate in a wellness care program with your chiropractor can also help. Get checked on a regular basis to be the best you can be.
12. Why do my children need chiropractic care?
There are several reasons that children should be checked for subluxations. First, the birth process can often be one of the most traumatic events of a child's life. The spine can often be injured during the delivery, even if the birth is by cesarean section.
Having your child checked by chiropractor immediately after birth is a very wise decision. Spinal nerve interference from the birth process often because more serious as your child grows up. Only a doctor of chiropractic has the proper training and qualifications to diagnose and correct vertebral subluxations.
Secondly, your child's posture is an important indicator of spinal problems. Scoliosis is often caused by improper posture. By having your children checked at a young age, these problems can be prevented.
Lastly, children become involved in sports and recreational playing at a young age. These activities can often include minor injuries. When your children play they are jumping, running, twisting, bumping and falling quite often. Although these traumas are very minor, they will become subluxated during these activities. To minimize the chance of future health problems it is important to have your children checked by a chiropractor on a regular basis. Similarly, when your child begins to learn to walk, then run, they often times end up falling on their behind several times before mastering the skills.
Spinal hygiene should be part of your whole family's wellness lifestyle.
