What
is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts based upon the
understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally
functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves
extending from the spine to all parts of the body). "Chiropractic"
comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning "effective
treatment by hand." Chiropractic stresses the idea that
the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability
to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases
not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting
a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly.
What conditions benefit from chiropractic
care?
Although chiropractic is used most frequently to relieve low
back pain, studies have found it to be effective for a variety
of conditions, such as migraine headaches, neck and shoulder
pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and infantile colic.
Does Chiropractic hurt?
Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. The patient
may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment
which lasts only seconds.
Is Chiropractic safe?
Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe.
The risk factor is estimated to be in excess of one million
to one.
What kind of education and training
do doctors of chiropractic have?
Chiropractors receive an education that emphasizes neuromuscular
diagnosis and treatment. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic
is concentrated on three areas of learning; basic training in
the biological and health sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology,
biochemistry, clinical and radiological diagnosis); specialized
training in the chiropractic discipline (theoretical studies,
practice, diagnosis and applications); and extensive clinical
training.
Have any studies been published
showing what chiropractic is effective for?
Several studies have documented the effectiveness of chiropractic
in relieving back pain. More recent studies have shown chiropractic
to be effective in treating infantile colic and migraine headaches.
What can I expect on my first visit?
The first thing a chiropractor will do is ask you about the
health complaints about which you are chiefly concerned. The
DC will also ask about your family history, dietary habits,
other care you may have had (chiropractic, osteopathic, medical,
etc.), your job, and other questions designed to help determine
the nature of your illness and the best way to go about treating
the problem.
A
physical examination will be performed in accordance with your
DC's clinical judgement, which may include x-rays, laboratory
analysis and other diagnostic procedures. In addition, a careful
spinal examination and analysis will be performed to detect
any structural abnormalities which may be affecting or causing
your condition. All of these elements are important components
of your total health profile, and vital to the doctor of chiropractic
in evaluating your problem.
What other services do you offer
besides chiropractic?
Our office offers a variety of alternative health treatments,
including herbal medicine, Chinese medicine and nutritional
consulting.
What other conditions do you treat
besides the ones listed above?
We have had good success in treating a wide variety of "extremitiy
problems" such as elbow and wrist problems, hip, knee,
and ankle/foot pain, and shoulder conditions, including rotator
cuff syndrome and thoracic outlet syndrome.
