What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the branch of the healing arts that is concerned with human health and disease processes.

Chiropractic is the science which studies the relationship between structure, primarily the spine, and function, primarily the nervous system, of the human body.

Chiropractors are greatly concerned with the affect vetrebral positioning has upon nervous system function.Your nervous system consists of your brain, spinal cord, and the nerves in your body. Your vertebrae make up your spinal column. Doctors of Chiropractic are physicians who consider man as an integrated being.

Chiropractic is a form of health care that is drug-free and non-surgical. Chiropractic instead takes a natural, hands-on, approach to healing.

Chiropractic is for entire families, including seniors and kids!

Hands-on care

After taking a complete case history, a thorough examination will be conducted, including the use of further imaging if indicated. After reviewing this information, I will make a diagnosis, advise on treatment options and recommend a treatment program.

Treatment programs may consist of spinal and/or extremity adjusting and the use of modalities including, but not limited to, ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, and hot moist packs depending upon the patient and the condition being treated. I also provide evaluation and instructions regarding disease prevention and health promotion through proper nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modification, among others.

What is a doctor of Chiropractic?

To become a Doctor of Chiropractic students must complete a four-year professional program heavily weighted in basic sciences and clinical experience, in addition to either a bachelors degree or a two-year pre-chiropractic curriculum. Doctors must also successfully pass rigorous National and State Board Examinations to gain licensure.

Chiropractors are first-contact physicians who have the diagnostic skills to differentiate health conditions that are amendable to their management from those conditions that require referral or co-management. Chiropractors provide conservative management of neuromusculoskeletal disorders including, but not limited to, back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

Chiropractic physicians are expert providers of spinal adjustments and other therapeutic manipulations. They also utilize a variety of manual, mechanical, and electronic therapeutic modalities. Chiropractic physicians also provide evaluation and instructions regarding disease prevention and health promotion through proper nutrition, exercise and lifestyle modification, among others.

What do Chiropractics do?

Chiropractors analyze the structure of the body, looking for misalignments in the spine. The alignments, termed vertebral subluxations put pressure on the nerves, which in turn inhibits the body’s ability to function optimally. If the spine isn’t properly aligned and balanced, the body cannot perform at its potential and is more susceptible to illness and injury. Vertebral Subluxations cause nerve conduction interference. This inhibits millions of messages from flowing smoothly along the nerves and this in turn interferes with the coordinating of the actions of the body. The only health care provider trained to diagnose and correct vertebral subluxations is the Doctor of Chiropractic

What is an adjustment?

An adjustment is the means by which a chiropractor corrects vertebral subluxations. This consists of a high velocity low amplitude force applied in a specific direction. After years of training, chiropractors become experts at using just the right amount of force. With adjustments, the doctor seeks to provide relief from symptoms, improve joint and muscle function, and speed recovery. Adjustments are safe! In fact, statistics show that patient risk is substantially lower with chiropractic as opposed to medical care, where the use of prescription drugs and surgery can pose a greater risk.

What are some of the conditions that chiropractors treat?

Chiropractic care has been shown beneficial for back pain, neck pain, headaches, shoulder and arm pain, hip pain, knee and leg pain, sinusitis and ear pain, numbness and tingling, sciatica, among many other conditions.

Symptoms and conditions that may be alleviated by Chiropractic care include:

BENEFITS FOR CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Effective for Acute Low Back Problems
“ For patients with acute low-back symptoms without radiculopathy, the scientific evidence in reducing pain and perhaps speeding recovery within the first month of symptoms” Clinical Practice Guidelines, AHCPR (1994)

Long Term Low Back Problems
“…Improvement in all patients at three years was about 20% more in those treated by chiropractors than in those treated by hospitals. The beneficial effect of chiropractic on pain was particularly clear.” British Medical Journal, Koes et al. (1992)

Effective for Pain
“ For the management of low-back pain, chiropractic care is the most effective treatment, and it should be fully integrated into the health care system.” The Magna Report (1993)

Effective for Headaches
“ Cervical spine manipulation was associated with significant improvement in the headache outcomes in trials involving patients with neck pain and/or neck dysfunction and headache.” FCER Evidence Report, McCrory, Penzlen, Hasselblad, Gray (1995)