What does a chiropractor treat?
Back pain, neck pain, sciatic pain, headaches, TMJ/jaw pain, muscle strains & sprains, other joint pain and injuries.
What does a Chiropractor do?
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) care for patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. DCs are especially well known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain and headaches. They also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, involving the muscles, ligaments and joints. These painful conditions often involve or impact the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction distant to the region of injury. The benefits of chiropractic care extend to general health issues, as well, since our body structure affects our overall function. DCs also counsel patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic medicine emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Its philosophy of care supports the idea that the body works in a holistic manner, such that each system affects another. Consequently, chiropractic physicians treat using physical medicine and other non-invasive means, such as nutrition and rehabilitation exercises, to enable the body to heal itself and function at optimal health. As holistic practitioners, chiropractors focus on getting to the cause of disease or dysfunction, as opposed to treating only the related symptoms, in a comprehensive manner.
What should I expect on my first visit?
On your first visit, the doctor will go through a thorough health history and neuromusculoskeletal examination. She will go over a complete report of findings and answer any questions that may arise. If together it is decided that chiropractic treatment is right for you, a comprehensive treatment plan will be discussed. Treatment may include physiotherapy with physiologic modalities, chiropractic manipulation, muscular rehabilitation exercises, and soft tissue techniques. Nutritional counseling is also available.
What is a Chiropractic adjustment/manipulation?
A Chiropractic adjustment, also known as a manipulation, is a manual thrust maneuver using a controlled force to a specific area of the spine or extremities. The purpose is to restore normal biomechanical range of motion into joints that have become hypomobile, or restricted in full movement, usually as a result of an acute (sudden) or chronic (occurring over time) tissue injury. Manipulation of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, consequently relieving pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.
What is the “pop” or “crack” heard with manipulation?
First, nothing is cracking during an adjustment. The sound you may hear is simply gases passing through the joint, allowing for the entire chemical and neurological effect to take place. The noise during this reaction is similar to popping open a soda can. A Chirorpactic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. On occasion, patients may feel slight soreness afterward, an effect similar to such after strenuous exercise.