CHIROPRACTIC FAQ

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, under the belief that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system. Chiropractic treatment simply opens the nerve pathways that are blocked so the body can heal itself.

Do you need a referral to see a Chiropractor?

Your Chiropractor is a primary contact provider just like your family physician, optometrist or dentist. You do not need a referral from your medical doctor to see a Chiropractor.

What does a Chiropractor do?

A Chiropractor is a health care professional focused on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders, with an emphasis on treatment through manual adjustment and/or manipulation of the spine. These manipulations open blocked nerve pathways so your body can heal itself.

What are Chiropractic services?

Chiropractic is health care that deals with the relationship between the body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function (as coordinated by the nervous system) of the human body, as that relationship affects the restoration and preservation of your health.

Are Chiropractors real doctors?

Absolutely.  In fact Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) have more education and training in medicine than most doctors.

Doctors of Chiropractic have studied & trained for at least seven years in a post-secondary college or university.  Which simply means that a Doctor of Chiropractic has undergone four years of college to obtain their undergraduate degree and then another seven years to become a Doctor of Chiropractic.  In contrast, the average Medical Doctor (MD) has four years of medical school.

What types of pain do Chiropractors treat?

Chiropractors are known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches. They also treat sports injuries and other disorders involving muscles, ligaments and joints. The benefits of Chiropractic Care go beyond this and extend into general health as our core body structure affects overall function and health.

What is a Chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific, controlled force in a precise direction that is applied to a spinal joint not moving properly or “locked up.” The purpose of this natural and safe procedure is to correct structural alignment and eliminate interference in the nervous system. For the patient, this means improved spinal function, reduction in pain, and an overall improvement in health and wellness.

Are Chiropractic adjustments safe?

Chiropractic Care is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back, neck, hip, shoulder and many other problems. Chiropractic adjustments are extremely safe when performed by a licensed chiropractor.

Why do Chiropractic adjustments sometimes make a popping sound?

The noises you sometimes hear resembling popping sounds are your joints releasing tiny pockets of air. A Chiropractic adjustment does not affect the bones of either side of a joint; it affects the connective tissue that holds the joint together.

Why do I need x-rays?

Your Chiropractor needs to assess your health and needs to see where you are now so he/she knows what treatment schedule to utilize.  The best way to think of this need is this analogy:

  1. You are trying to get to a new address.
  2. You put in the new address in your mobile device.
  3. However, your mobile device has to know where you are to tell you how to get to the new address.  Your x-rays tell your Chiropractor where you are now, just like your mobile device has to know where you are now to get to the new address.
  4. The new address is the improved health you are seeking.

Once your x-rays are taken, your Chiropractor will meet with you for a Report of Findings and to discuss your corresponding Chiropractic Treatment based on this information.  This is your starting point to achieving much improved health!

Will Chiropractic adjustments completely remove back pain?

For many, back pain can become chronic if left untreated. Chiropractic Care has been shown to ease and even eliminate back pain for many patients.

If I am not in pain shoud I see a Chiropractor?

Absolutely!  The human spine has over 300,000 nerves going through it.  This is the super highway from your brain to the rest of your body.  Only 18% of the nerves in your body are programmed to report any pain to the brain.  You may have subluxation (misalignment) and not even realize it.  If not treated, this condition will certainly lead to pain, often severe pain which is many times debilitating.

A Chiropractic exam is essential in preserving your overall health and well being.

Can I see a Chiropractor if I am pregnant?

Many pregnant women find that Chiropractic adjustments improve the pregnancy experience and make delivery easier. Adjustments are adapted to accommodate the stage of pregnancy and the unique needs of each patient.

Is back pain common?

More than 80 percent of people experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it is one of the most reported reasons people miss work and is the second most frequent reason patients visit the doctor.

The likelihood of surgery for workers with back injuries are 42.7% if their first point of contact is a Surgeon/MD.

The likelihood of surgery for workers with back injuries are 1.5% if their first point of contact is a Chiropractor/MD.