Frequently Asked Questions

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism, controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and nerves of the body. When you have a misalignment, the vertebrae, which protects the brain and nervous system, causes malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body.

What is an adjustment and what causes the sound made by a chiropractic adjustment?

Chiropractic adjustments usually involve a quick thrust that helps add motion to spinal joints that aren't moving right. Some methods use the doctor's hands, an instrument, a special table or the force of gravity. There are many ways to adjust the spine. The purpose of the adjustment is to correct your spinal subluxation(s) thus removing the nerve interference in your body.

That sound made by chiropractic adjustments is not your spine "cracking" or "popping" like most people think. Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound when the gas and fluids in the joint shift. It's much like opening a bottle of champagne or removing a suction cup. Not all chiropractic adjusting techniques produce this noise. In fact, some adjusting techniques use little force and thus produce no noise at all.

Is chiropractic care safe and do adjustments hurt?

In the words of the New Zealand government's inquiry, chiropractic care is "...remarkably safe." It is safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers – including aspirin. All ages from babies to the elderly enjoy safe, effective care.

NO! Chiropractic adjustments feel great. I am confident that once you begin receiving your adjustments, you will begin to look forward to them. They will become one of the highlights of your week. When you allow the vertebrae in your spine to return to their proper position, you will notice much less stress and tension.

Do I have a pinched nerve?

A pinched nerve is rare. It is more likely that an adjacent spinal bone irritates, stretches, rubs, or chafes a nerve. These subluxations distort the nerve messages sent between the brain and the body. This can produce unhealthy alternations to the organs and tissues connected by the affected nerves.

Is it bad to "crack" your back or neck a lot?

This question is frequently asked because people associate the "cracking" or "popping" of one's back or neck with a chiropractic adjustment. The two are not the same thing. If a person has a desire to "crack" his/her neck or back, it is often because one area of their spine is fixated or jammed causing another area to move too much and "pop", sometimes by itself. It's the fixated or jammed area that needs to be properly adjusted by a chiropractor so
that the other parts of the spine will not be hypermobile
and noisy.

When you "crack" your back you may be relieving the tension for a little while. Do you notice how it keeps coming back? That is because you are not giving yourself a specific chiropractic adjustment. The cause of the spinal tension, the fixated or jammed (subluxated) vertebrae, has not been corrected. Any person who makes a habit out of "cracking" or "popping" their back or neck needs to go to a Doctor of Chiropractic to have their spine checked. Even a chiropractor cannot adjust him/herself.

Are all patients adjusted the same way?

No. Each patient's spine and care plan is unique. With 24 moving bones in the spine, each of which can move in seven different directions, we see a wide variety of spinal patterns. Each patient's care is custom-tailored for their age, condition and health goals.

Can I have chiropractic care after back surgery?

Yes. Rest assured that your chiropractic doctor will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. These areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care.

Can patients with osteoporosis get
chiropractic care?

Of course. When developing a care plan, your chiropractic doctor considers the unique circumstances of each patient. There are many ways to adjust the spine. The method selected will be best suited to your age, size
and condition.

Can I receive chiropractic care if I have fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia causes numerous tender points all over the body, causing back pain, neck pain, and leg cramps. Adjustments to the neck and spine can restore the carriage of the whole body, a lot of fibromyalgia sufferers find that alignments of the spine significantly reduce pain and fatigue; many even report better sleep quality.

How long will I need chiropractic care?

The number of adjustments varies with each patient
and their individual health goals. Many patients sense progress within a week or two of frequent visits. Visits become less often as your spine stabilizes. In chronic cases, complete healing can take months or even years.

There are three types of chiropractic care: initial care to remove symptoms; corrective care to correct the cause of the underlying muscle weakness, soft tissue damage and degenerative changes; and wellness care. Similar to brushing your teeth, tuning up your car, or regularly visiting a dentist, wellness care is important for maintaining optimal health, saving money and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic is always up to you.

Is chiropractic care OK for my child?

Chiropractic adjusting techniques are modified to fit a child's size, weight and unique spinal problem. The force needed to adjust an infant or child is so little, that infants are often adjusted while sleeping and don't even wake-up.

A recent study by Nilsson in Denmark reports that children under chiropractic care are healthier than other children, miss less school, are more attentive and have less need for drugs. Children with conditions such as earaches, colic, bed-wetting, scoliosis, "growing pains", torticollis and asthma respond wonderfully to chiropractic.

Do I need a referral to visit a chiropractor?

Absolutely not – a Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary contact physician. This means you do not need a referral.
If yours is not a chiropractic case, a responsible Chiropractor will refer you to the appropriate health
care provider.