What is chiropractic?

The art, science and philosophy of chiropractic emphasize the nervous system as the lifeline to every muscle, organ and tissue in the body. Rather than focusing on symptoms, chiropractors have a different approach to wellness that uses therapeutic techniques to correct neuromusculoskeletal disorders and promote the body’s natural healing ability.

What is a chiropractic adjustment, and is it safe?

An adjustment is the main method used by your Doctor of Chiropractic. It is a specialized, gentle, controlled, and safe pressure applied to your spine. This is done to restore the proper motion and position of your vertebrae that will in turn help your body function at an optimal level.

Do I need to go to a chiropractor even if I feel fine?

The chiropractor can recognize problem areas in your spine before they develop into problem conditions. Chiropractic adjustments can help to maintain and support a healthy spine. Maintenance spinal care may help to prevent small problems from becoming major misalignments. Remember, optimal health is more than just the absence of pain.

Why do I need to keep going to the chiropractor?

Regularly, a dentist checks our teeth, an optometrist checks our eyes, and a doctor checks our blood pressure and heart. Yet we take the spine — a vital component of our body — for granted. Regular chiropractic adjustments help to maintain a healthy balance in our body and keep the physical, chemical and mental stress of our day-to-day lives under control.

How old should a person be before beginning chiropractic care?

Chiropractic patients range in years from birth to old age. One would think that babies couldn’t have any misalignments of the spine because they are just born. However, the birthing process is actually very traumatic for little ones. Studies have shown that colic, ear infections, digestive disorders and many other childhood problems can be caused by birthing traumas. When these problems are left uncorrected, they can cause symptoms now, but also much larger and more difficult to correct issues later in life. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. The adjustment for babies is done with a gentle technique. These techniques are also applied to elderly patients that might have severe degeneration or osteoporosis. Remember, the sooner the problem is detected and adjusted, the better the chance you have for full recovery.

What is that “pop” sound, and does the adjustment have to make a noise to be effective?

Adjustment of a particular segment in the spine may result in the release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound. This is not your bones breaking. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint space that results in gas bubbles being released.

It is a common misconception that you must hear a “pop” for the treatment to be effective. While this popping sound is frequently heard, it has no bearing on how effective the treatment is. In fact, there are some techniques where noise from the adjustment is never heard, and the patient sill receives the same results. The chiropractor is concerned with the position and motion of your vertebrae, not with the noise that may occur.