Churchill
Chiropractic Frequently Asked Questions
| What is chiropractic care? |
| There's nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It's
a natural method of health care that focuses on correcting
the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating
the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful
premise. With a normally functioning spine and healthy
nerve system, your body is better able to heal itself.
That's because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous
system. It controls feeling, movement, and all function
through your body. |
| How does chiropractic work? |
| Chiropractic works by restoring your body's inborn ability
to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous
system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body
are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic
approach to better health is to locate and remove interferences
(subluxations, misaligned vertebrae) to your nervous system.
With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous
system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove
interference that may be impairing normal health through
specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body
to heal itself. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle
are your keys to optimal health! |
| What type of education do chiropractic doctors
receive? |
| Doctors of Chiropractic are well-educated. Chiropractic
education and medical education are similar in many respects
and different in others because chiropractors do not prescribe
drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct
vertebral subluxations. After graduating with a Doctor
of Chiropractic (D.C.) Degree, each candidate passes the
demanding four part National Board Examinations. Then,
doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing
board and pass a still more difficult test before being
granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractor's education,
however, never ends. Most doctors complete regular postgraduate
instruction for license renewal and to stay current on
the latest research and adjustment techniques. |
| What is a chiropractic adjustment? |
| A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific
force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that
is subluxated, "locked up," or not moving properly.
The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to eliminate
interference to the nervous system, improving spinal function
and overall health. "Gentle spinal adjustments boosts
your body's immunity." |
| Can I tell if I have a subluxation? |
| Not always. A subluxation is like a dental cavity--you
may have it for a long time before symptoms appear. That's
why periodic spinal checkups are so important. Although
it may be possible to know you have a subluxation, it
is rarely possible to be sure you don't. Regular spinal
checkups are always a good idea, and they promote good
health from the inside out. |
| Do children need chiropractic care? |
| Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth,
many parents have their newborns immediately checked for
vertebral subluxation. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting
procedures are adapted for the child's spine. Many childhood
health complaints that are brushed off can be traced to
the spine. Health problems that emerge in adulthood could
often be prevented by having your children's spine checked
by a chiropractor early. Most parents report that their
children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are
healthier than their peers. |
| Are all patients adjusted the same way? |
| No. The doctor evaluates each patient's unique spinal
problem and develops an individual course of care. Each
chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The
resulting recommendations are based upon years of training
and experience. Each patient's care is uniquely different
from every other patient. |
| Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It
is the result of a conservative and natural approach to
health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs.
As proof, one merely has to compare malpractice rates
between chiropractors and other health care professionals.
Chiropractors' malpractice premiums are a small fraction
of those for medical doctors. |
| What causes the sound during an adjustment? |
| Actually, adjustments do not always produce a sound.
Often, however, adjustments do create the sound of a spinal
"release", or "popping" sound. The
sound is caused by gas rushing in to fill the partial
vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated.
This sound is painless and totally harmless. |
| No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force,
applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it
is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and
accurately. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in
certain ways to create a "popping" sound that
sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately,
this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive,
often making an already unstable spine even more unstable,
and can sometimes be dangerous. Adjusting the spine is
not for amateurs! |
| Is chiropractic care addictive? |
| No. If only it were, there would be more healthy people
around and chiropractors would not get patients who last
saw a chiropractor a few years ago when their back went
out. It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced,
less stressed, and more energetic as a result or regular
chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive, however,
good health is. |
| Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor? |
| Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of those
who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original
symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect
of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is know
as "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic
may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if
chiropractic care is initially utilized back surgery can
often be avoided in the first place. |
| Does chiropractic work for all types of health
problems? |
| No, however chiropractic care is successful with a very
wide variety of health problems not necessarily considered
"back" problems because of improved nerve system
function. With a normal nerve supply the body's natural
healing capacity can improve a variety of health problems. |
| Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant? |
| Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve
system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments
improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves
and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to
a patients size, weight, age, and condition of health. |
| Why do chiropractors take x-rays? |
| Chiropractors take x-rays to reveal the internal structure
and alignment of the spine. We are also concerned about
underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine
such as spinal deterioration, arthritis of the spine,
abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors
and spinal curvature. X-rays also provide a blueprint
for correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment. |
| Is a good work-out the same as getting adjusted? |
| No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet
without normal spinal function a physical workout merely
puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning
spinal joints. |
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