What is Chiropractic?   

Chiropractic is the treatment to keep your spine and Nervous System healthy.  Your spine is made up of bones, or vertebra, that keep your body upright, and also act like armor to protect your Spinal Cord.  Your Nervous System is made up of your Brain and Spinal Cord, which control everything in your body.  

If your spine is unhealthy, it can cause problems with your Nervous System, which can lead to other problems like pain, headaches, or even nerve problems.  Nerve problems can then cause a variety of symptoms anywhere in your body, like asthma, infertility, reflux, stomach pain, etc.  An unhealthy spine is also going to cause joint and muscle pain, typically around the areas of the spine in the neck, mid-back, and low-back.    

Unlike medicine, which you only take when you have an obvious problem or symptom, Chiropractic adjustments are used even if you feel good, to keep your spine healthy, before it gets bad and causes problems.  So, it's ideal for kids, and even newborn babies, to have their spine checked regularly to prevent problems from starting.  

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Are Treatments for Kids the same as Adults?

Chiropractic adjustments for kids are similar to treatments for adults, but customized for their little size.  The amount of force used in adjusting kids is significantly less than for adjusting adults.  In many cases, you will not hear any popping or noises with the adjustments.  We use both manual adjusting (with hands) and instrument adjusting for the specific care of children.  

Is Chiropractic safe?

Yes, Chiropractic is very safe for both kids and adults, with a much better safety record than nearly any medical treatment.  This is reflected in malpractice insurance rates for Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) compared to Medical doctors (MDs).  Common side effects can include soreness or pain from the treatment.  Although most of our patients feel better following treatment, it is not uncommon for a patient to experience some soreness the day-of or day-after treatment, especially if they have a significant spinal problem.  However, most will then begin to feel significantly better following any soreness they may experience.  

If I get an adjustment, do I have to keep getting adjusted in the future?
Many people have asked this same question in a manner of ways..."Will I become addicted to getting adjusted," or "...once I get adjusted, I'll have to always get Chiropractic care...?"  For many people who have never experienced Chiropractic treatments, there's a concern that once they receive a Chiropractic adjustment they will 'have' to keep getting them forever.  This is simply not true.  There is no physiological, biological, or psychological reason that would require someone to continue getting Chiropractic care.  Most people who choose to continue Chiropractic care do so not because they have to, but because they want to continue feeling good and functioning at a better level than before.     

While some people see Chiropractors only for injuries or acute pain situations, many people see them on a regular basis for preventative health care, even when they feel great.  This type of care doesn't make sense to our typical medical health care system.  Medical doctors are typically only seen when there is an obvious problem or symptom.  As a result, some patients feel a recommendation to continue seeing a Chiropractor on a maintenance schedule is 'unnecessary' or even that the doctor just 'wants all my money!'  This is similar to the regular maintenance you perform on your car to make it run well and last long.  You change the oil, rotate the tires, and maybe even change brake or transmission fluid or replace an air-filter.   You perform these tasks not because there's an obvious problem, but because you have a significant financial investment in your car and want to get as many miles out of it as possible.  The same applies to your body, especially since you can't just buy a new one if it 'breaks down.'  

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How long does it take to fix my problem?

It completely depends upon the condition of your body/spine.  For many people, the pain or symptoms they are experiencing are the result of many years of stress/strain of a job or activity.  It is unlikely that a long-term problem will be fixed overnight.  For those undergoing the Spinal Correction process, we will be able to estimate the number of visits required for their care plan before they begin treatment.

However, Chiropractic never ceases to amaze me.  We frequently see patients with problems such as headaches/migraines, Bed-wetting, insomnia, etc. that respond almost immediately to treatments (some with just 1,2 or 3 treatments).   Each patient will be assessed according to their unique presentation and recommendations will be made for their personalized care.  We value good communication with each patient and want to empower them in their healing process.  

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Can Chiropractic adjustments cause strokes?

Although very rare, there have been reported cases of strokes following aggressive adjustments of the neck, especially in persons with existing cardiovascular disease.  However, the odds of this happening are less than 1 in 3 million.  You are more likely to die from being struck by lightning (1 in 79,746), by a shark attack (1 in 60,453), or even being killed by fireworks (1 in 340,733).  There is a risk in everything, but it's good to see it in perspective.  

Interestingly, there have been numerous medical groups who have tried to discourage people from seeing Chiropractors due to this very small risk of stroke.  This criticism from the medical world seems a bit unbalanced given the reality that 440,000 Americans die each year as a result of preventable harm while they are hospitalized.  This is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US.  [1]

Additionally, Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) (by correctly administered drugs) kill more than 100,000 Americans each year, making it between the 4th and 6th leading cause of death in the US.

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References

1 - recent analysis in the Journal of Patient Safety (referenced from Consumer Reports)