CHIROPRACTIC IN A NUT SHELL
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic literally means “Done by Hand” and is the third largest primary health-care profession in the world, after medicine and dentistry.
Chiropractors specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of conditions that are due to problems with the joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves of the body, particularly those of the spine.
Treatment consists of a wide range of techniques designed to improve the function of the joints, relieving pain and muscle spasm. Chiropractic does not involve the use of any drugs or surgery. Chiropractors commonly seek patients with health issues other health care approaches have failed to help but due to its safe, conservative, drug free approach chiropractic should be your first choice. Chiropractors are primary healthcare providers and are trained to recognize health issues outside the scope of chiropractic and refer patients to the appropriate provider when more invasive care is required.
Just as brushing helps to preserve the health of your teeth, spinal adjustments help preserve the health of your spinal joints and disks by restoring normal motion to restricted / misaligned areas of your spine.
Is Chiropractic safe?
In a word, yes. However, you may experience some mild aching after your first treatment, similar to the feeling you get after a workout.
Some patients are initially worried about having their neck adjusted. A recent study covering over 50,000 neck treatments found no serious side effects, reinforcing the research that risks associated with treatment are low to very low (Thiel, et al 2007, Spine 32;21).
To put it into perspective, Chiropractic treatment is safer than crossing the road and many, many times safer than regularly taking anti-inflammatories used to mask pain.
Are Chiropractors well-trained?
Yes. After completing a four year undergraduate degree with the standard pre-med courses, all Chiropractors have to complete a rigorous degree program which takes four additional years. This includes comprehensive knowledge of all systems of the body and diagnostic procedures to enable us to thoroughly evaluate a patient, address disorders relating to joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves and determine the need for referral to another health care practitioner when needed.
Chiropractic education is regulated under the U. S. Department of Education, the Council on Chiropractic Education and all chiropractors are required to pass four rigorous board exams: Part 1: Basic Sciences, Part 2: Differential Diagnosis, Part 3: Case Management, and Part 4 which is a weekend long practical examination where the candidate must demonstrate proficiency in x-ray reading, history taking, physical examination, patient interaction, differential diagnosis, and chiropractic adjusting techniques.
Are Chiropractors regulated?
Yes. Chiropractors are required to be licensed in each state they practice and must complete continuing education courses to maintain their licences. This is to ensure that they stay up-to-date with modern research and new techniques.
Does treatment hurt?
No, not really. If you’ve ever had a massage during which the massage therapist finds a ‘knot’ in one of your muscles, you’ve already experienced more severe pain than you will here.
Usually, the first treatment is slightly uncomfortable as you’re a little tense. After that though, it’s a fairly relaxing experience. You may experience some muscle soreness similar to a post-workout soreness after your first adjustment.
I’ve heard Chiropractor’s “crack your bones” Is that true!?!
No. It is possible that you will hear a ‘cracking noise’ during the adjustment. This noise is simply tiny gas bubbles from within your joints being released as a “pop”. This is not harmful in any way.
How long will it take for me to feel better?
How long it takes before you start to feel better depends on three main factors. How severe your problem is to start with, how long you have had it and finally your lifestyle.
In other words, if you have had mild low back ache for two days and are otherwise healthy and active, you will probably start to feel better almost immediately.
However, if you have severe low back pain radiating into your legs and have had repeated episodes for over twenty years, don’t look after yourself very well and sit at a desk all day, you will probably find progress a little slower.
It is important to remember that pain is not a very good predictor of a problem since pain is often the last symptom to appear. It is possible that segments of your spine have been misaligned for years or decades and your spine has been adapting itself to those shifts without obvious symptoms. These changes in your spines alignment alter the way forces are dispersed through your spine and eventually result in an over-stressed region suffering injury and pain.
How long will my course of care last?
This relates very closely to the above. Some people simply want pain relief. As soon as they have it they stop coming.
Some people are after more than that. They want the faulty mechanics that caused their problem to be corrected and rehabilitated, which can take longer.
Many patients choose to have Wellness visits when their problem has been resolved, a little like sticking with a workout routine so the benefits gained do not fade away.
We will give you simple to understand recommendations on all of the above options. However, at Core Wellness Chiropractic, you decide when you come and for how long, it’s as simple as that.
Do you take x-rays and MRI scans?
Only when absolutely necessary. If x-rays or MRI’s are require we will refer you to a local imaging center with a request for the required views.
