chiropractic | FAQ's

What is an adjustment?
When a subluxation occurs, the chiropractor can facilitate movement and allow the vertebrae to return to ideal movement. This procedure is called an adjustment, and it also allows the body to heal. The chiropractic adjustment is a controlled, and specific quick thrust to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting movement.

What is the adjustment doing?
The adjustment helps to keep information from the nervous system flowing and fix the problem not the symptoms. To sustain this, several adjustments over a course of time may be necessary in addition to massage, active release, custom orthotics, shiatsu, exercise, rehabilitation, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, stretching and strengthening. In chiropractic, our goal is to fix the problem not the symptoms and prevent any reoccurances.

I heard once you go to the chiropractor you have to always go back?
No. However, often times patients understand that the daily physical, emotional, and chemical stressors in life can lead to restrictions in the spine which can decrease range of motion and irritate nerves. Getting maintenance care helps to prevent relapses, avoid future problems, save you money, feel great and continue to learn!

Can you get worse after an adjustment?
Although it is rare, sometimes minor discomfort is experienced, especially if the surrounding muscles are in spasm or if the patient tenses up during the procedure. During an adjustment small muscles in the spine and joints that are restricted in motion get stretched. So similar to getting sore after going to the gym for the first time in a long time, you can get a feeling that parallels that in your back. Usually it subsides in 24 hours, if it even happens at all. Most of the time you can expect to feel “looser” in your back.

What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals?
Chiropractors are the only health care professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat spinal subluxations. The word vertebral subluxation literally means a slight dislocation of the bones in the spine. As we know this subluxation is actually an inhibition of proper motion between spinal bones.

Will I get cracked, what is that sound?
Adjustments are often accompanied by an audible release of gas from the joint capsule. It often sounds like a "crack" or "pop". It can be shocking the first few times you get adjusted but this treatment is often very relieving. Occassionally, the audible crack is not heard. It doesn’t mean that the vertebra didn’t move, often times it’s because the muscles are tight or the patient is finding it hard to relax.

What else do they do besides backs and cracking?
Chiropractors also treat injuries and conditions of the hip, knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow and wrist. Some are also certified in various soft tissue techniques (ie: Active Release Technique), acupunture and prescribe Orthotics.

Is chiropractic appropriate for children?
Yes, children are very active and experience blows and falls from daily living and playing sports. This may cause symptoms such as pain, stiffness, or soreness. Chiropractic care is tailored to the individual and is a highly skilled technique which varies for children, emphasizing very gentle techniques.

I can crack my spine myself, why should I see a chiropractor for that?
When you adjust your back or neck and are getting a "crack" you are doing what is called a self-cavitation. You are actually moving a segment that is already moving too much (hypermobile) and somewhere else in your spine an area is compensating by not moving enough (hypomobile). Chiropractic focuses on areas that are not moving correctly (hypomobile) and thus address the root of the problem.

What’s the main difference between wellness care and standard medical care?
Standard medical care, on the other hand, seeks to treat a symptom by adding something from the outside - a medication, a surgery or procedure. In particular progressions of disease this may be the only solution.

Wellness care seeks to turn on the natural healing ability, not by adding something to the system, but by removing anything that might interfere with normal function, trusting that the body would know what to do if nothing were interfering with it. This type of care will continue giving you benefits as you continue with the care, similarily like eating a healthy diet or exercising regularly. When the body is working properly, it tends to heal effectively, no matter what the condition. When the body heals well and maintains itself well, then there is another level of health that goes beyond "asymptomatic" or "pain-free" which reveals an open-ended opportunity for functionality, vitality, and an enhanced experience of life.