What is Chiropractic? Chiropractic is an effective form of care helping your nervous system work the way it should. It's a scientific fact that your brain, spinal cord control every aspect of your body. Millions of instructions travel from these higher centers down through the delicate nerves that innervate every organ and tissue. Signals sent back to the brain confirm everything is functioning properly. Obstruct these vital networks between your brain and your body, and ill health can result. "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic also has an ageless place in health care. The Chinese have included "manipulation" in their treatment methods for thousands of years. Hippocrates, the "father of modern medicine," utilized manipulations in his treatments. Chiropractic has been practiced in America for over 100 years. Today's approach to wellness begins with a highly trained Chiropractic Physician who completes the rigorous educational process of 5 years training after completion of his pre-professional/pre-med undergraduate studies. Chiropractors are portal of entry Doctors who are trained to diagnose all human ailments and treat the patient if the problem falls within the scope of Chiropractic. There are only three types of Primary Care Physician's (PCP) today: the Medical Doctor (MD), the Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), and the Doctor of Chiropractic (DC). All provide complete physical examinations and may also prescribe x-rays and clinical laboratory services as part of the diagnostic process. How does Chiropractic Work? Chiropractic is a multifaceted approach that assists the body in attaining wellness when ill or injured. It works because you are a self-healing, self-regulating organism controlled by your brain and nervous system. Improper spinal motion can choke or irritate this nervous system as it relays information to every organ and tissue in your body. Chiropractors call this the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). Health is often returned after correcting these spinal or structural concerns. Other facets of care commensurate with attaining wellness include proper nutrition, corrective posture, stretching and exercise. What is an Adjustment? An adjustment, or manipulation, is the carefully directed and controlled pressure that helps to better restore position and motion to a "stuck" or fixated spinal joint. This gentle procedure is over 4000 years old. Some methods use just the hands while others may use specialized instruments or tables. This may be augmented by other treatments such as specialized massage, the use of physical therapy modalities, and/or exercise rehabilitative programs.These adjustments are the unique domain of the Chiropractic Physician. Effectiveness of Chiropractic The literature is abundant on the efficacy and safety of this treatment for a variety of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, demonstrating that there is often recovery in a shorter period of time and at a lesser cost than traditional care! A New Zealand study finds that adjustments are "remarkably safe." By avoiding drugs and surgery, chiropractic care enjoys an excellent track record. A thorough examination can identify the rare person for whom chiropractic care might be unsuited. Compare these statistics to over-the- counter pain relievers; Adjustments are 100 times safer. In fact, millions of chiropractic adjustments are safely delivered each day. Likewise,there has been several favorable media reports regarding the profession from the print media to television spots on 20/20, Today, Good Morning America, Seinfeld,Friends, The Simpsons, and commercials by Volvo, Honda and TORO. This exposure has heightened the awareness of the profession in a positive way. What's That Sound During My Adjustment? Joints are enclosed capsules lubricated by fluids and gas. When these fluids shift during an adjustment the gas may create a sound not unlike a suction cup or "popping.' The sound is interesting but definitely not a guide to the quality of the treatment. Can I Adjust Myself? No. Some people can make their joints "pop," but that is not an adjustment. Worse, damage may occur by mobilizing joints and weakening muscles and ligaments. Adjustments are specific and take years to master. Even a chiropractic doctor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care. How Many Adjustments Do I Need? The number of visits required by each individual is unique. Each patient's care is custom-tailored for their age, condition and health goals. Patients usually experience relief within the first 1-2 weeks of treatment. As their spine becomes more stable, these treatments decrease. In long-standing or chronic cases, healing can take anywhere from two months to two years. How Long Will It Take? Many factors can affect the healing process. Every patient responds differently. Some detect changes in a few short days or weeks. Some people wait too long for obvious symptoms to appear before consulting a Doctor of Chiropractic, while others maintain a healthy lifestyle to avoid the chance of these problems occurring, i.e. flossing your teeth. These patients show up for their appointments feeling great but their visits help support the final stages of healing and detect and resolve new problems before they happen. Poor diet, exercise, sleep or stress are also factors to consider. Typically, your doctor will recommend a two week trial basis of care. After you get the relief you want, you may choose to continue. The cycle of care is completed with an emphasis on wellness and will include consultations regarding proper nutrition and posture, regular exercise, and stress management with a positive life attitude. Many patients sense enough progress to carry out their doctors recommendations. After that point, how long you decide to benefit from Chiropractic care is up to you. What if I am pregnant? Structural changes which take place in the spine, muscles, ligaments and joints during pregnancy can lead to pain and discomfort. Gentle adjusting techniques adapted to the size, weight, age and trimester of pregnancy can improve the comfort and function of the mother and make delivery easier for her and the baby. Why do Newborns and Children Get Adjusted? Many of the health problems you experience today may have stemmed from a less than ideal childbirth or lack of pediatric wellness care. This is changing, although even today's "natural" childbirth methods can affect an infant's spine. Preliminary studies suggest that colic, unusual crying, decreased appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress. Pediatric adjustments are gentle. Knowing where to adjust, the doctor applies no more pressure than you'd use to test the ripeness of a tomato. Why Doesn't My Medical Doctor Refer Me? This is changing also. Today's medical model of care is shifting more towards the whole person - not just the disease or symptom. Years of prejudice among doctors of medicine and chiropractic are giving way to research showing the benefits of chiropractic care. Some attitudes are slow to change but the evidence of chiropractic's effectiveness and safety are overwhelming. As more and more people demand complimentary medicine and take control of their health, the more medical doctors are referring their patients to what works! How Much Will It Cost Me? Most insurance companies now cover your chiropractic care. While it is convenient when they pay the bill, don't allow them to gain control of your health. Find out how chiropractic can be affordable for just about anyone. Your health is too valuable a possession and affects everything you do. If you do not have coverage when you consult your Doctor of Chiropractic, he or she will go over all payment options available to you. How Do I Choose a Doctor of Chiropractic? Individuals and patients should seek out health information from all available sources. They should make rational choices among the many health care services and practitioners, evaluate the implications of such health care services, and search for the most efficient and economical health care assistance available. The search for a wellness practitioner can be difficult at times because one must fully understand the wellness in light of illness concept. The doctor of Chiropractic is commonly viewed as the ideal wellness practitioner since he/she is a holistic and drugless practitioner, a humanistic and naturalistic doctor, a conservative and egalitarian health care provider, and most importantly a caring and personable individual who strives to develop a positive image of personal control over one's health. The doctor of Chiropractic believes in and relies on the body's inherent recuperative ability and powers and the relationship between muscles, bones, joints and nerves to restore and maintain health. In light of the above, the best choice for a patient with neuromusculoskeletal problems is to select a Doctor of Chiropractic as his or her physician. This choice is a well deserved one since persons who sought care for low back pain from doctors of Chiropractic rated the care they received much more highly than those who sought care from family physicians. Most importantly, they also reported far fewer days of limited activity due to their back pain