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Chiropractic is an effective form of care
helping your nervous system work the way it
should. It's a scientific fact that your brain,
spinal cord control every aspect of your body.
Millions of instructions travel from these
higher centers down through the delicate nerves
that innervate every organ and tissue. Signals
sent back to the brain confirm everything is
functioning properly. Obstruct these vital
networks between your brain and your body, and
ill health can result.
"Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word
Chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by
hand." Chiropractic also has an ageless place in
health care. The Chinese have included
"manipulation" in their treatment methods for
thousands of years. Hippocrates, the "father of
modern medicine," utilized manipulations in his
treatments. Chiropractic has been practiced in
America for over 100 years.
Today's approach to wellness begins with a
highly trained Chiropractic Physician who
completes the rigorous educational process of 5
years training after completion of his
pre-professional/pre-med undergraduate studies.
Chiropractors are portal of entry Doctors who
are trained to diagnose all human ailments and
treat the patient if the problem falls within
the scope of Chiropractic. There are only three
types of Primary Care Physician's (PCP) today:
the Medical Doctor (MD), the Doctor of
Osteopathy (DO), and the Doctor of Chiropractic
(DC).
All provide complete physical examinations
and may also prescribe x-rays and clinical
laboratory services as part of the diagnostic
process. Back to top |
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Chiropractic is a multifaceted approach that
assists the body in attaining wellness when ill
or injured. It works because you are a
self-healing, self-regulating organism
controlled by your brain and nervous system.
Improper spinal motion can choke or irritate
this nervous system as it relays information to
every organ and tissue in your body.
Chiropractors call this the Vertebral
Subluxation Complex (VSC). Health is often
returned after correcting these spinal or
structural concerns. Other facets of care
commensurate with attaining wellness include
proper nutrition, corrective posture, stretching
and exercise. Back to top |
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An adjustment, or manipulation, is the
carefully directed and controlled pressure that
helps to better restore position and motion to a
"stuck" or fixated spinal joint. This gentle
procedure is over 4000 years old. Some methods
use just the hands while others may use
specialized instruments or tables. This may be
augmented by other treatments such as
specialized massage, the use of physical therapy
modalities, and/or exercise rehabilitative
programs.
These adjustments are the unique domain of
the Chiropractic Physician. Back to top |
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The literature is abundant on the efficacy
and safety of this treatment for a variety of
neuromusculoskeletal conditions, demonstrating
that there is often recovery in a shorter period
of time and at a lesser cost than traditional
care! A New Zealand study finds that adjustments
are "remarkably safe." By avoiding drugs and
surgery, chiropractic care enjoys an excellent
track record. A thorough examination can
identify the rare person for whom
chiropractic care might be unsuited. Compare
these statistics to over-the- counter pain
relievers; Adjustments are 100 times safer. In
fact, millions of chiropractic adjustments are
safely delivered each day. Likewise, there has
been several favorable media reports regarding
the profession from the print media to
television spots on 20/20, Today, Good Morning
America, Seinfeld, Friends, The Simpsons, and
commercials by Volvo, Honda and TORO. This
exposure has heightened the awareness of the
profession in a positive way. Back to top |
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Joints are enclosed capsules lubricated by
fluids and gas. When these fluids shift
during an adjustment the gas may create a sound
not unlike a suction cup or "popping.'
The sound is interesting but definitely not a
guide to the quality of the treatment.
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No. Some people can make their joints "pop,"
but that is not an adjustment. Worse, damage may
occur by mobilizing joints and weakening muscles
and ligaments. Adjustments are specific and take
years to master. Even a chiropractic doctor must
consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic
care. Back to top |
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The number of visits required by each
individual is unique. Each patient's care is
custom-tailored for their age, condition and
health goals. Patients usually experience relief
within the first 1-2 weeks of treatment. As
their spine becomes more stable, these
treatments decrease. In long-standing or chronic
cases, healing can take anywhere from two months
to two years. Back to top |
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Many factors can affect the healing process.
Every patient responds differently. Some detect
changes in a few short days or weeks. Some
people wait too long for obvious symptoms to
appear before consulting a Doctor of
Chiropractic, while others maintain a healthy
lifestyle to avoid the chance of these problems
occurring, i.e. flossing your teeth. These
patients show up for their appointments feeling
great but their visits help support the final
stages of healing and detect and resolve new
problems before they happen. Poor diet,
exercise, sleep or stress are also factors to
consider. Typically, your doctor will recommend
a two week trial basis of care. After you get
the relief you want, you may choose to continue.
The cycle of care is completed with an emphasis
on wellness and will include consultations
regarding proper nutrition and posture, regular
exercise, and stress management with a positive
life attitude. Many patients sense enough
progress to carry out their doctors
recommendations. After that point, how long you
decide to benefit from Chiropractic care is up
to you. Back to top |
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What if I am pregnant?
Structural changes which take place in the
spine, muscles, ligaments and joints during
pregnancy can lead to pain and discomfort.
Gentle adjusting techniques adapted to the size,
weight, age and trimester of pregnancy can
improve the comfort and function of the mother
and make delivery easier for her and the baby.
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Why do Newborns and Children Get Adjusted?
Many of the health problems you experience
today may have stemmed from a less than ideal
childbirth or lack of pediatric wellness care.
This is changing, although even today's
"natural" childbirth methods can affect an
infant's spine. Preliminary studies suggest that
colic, unusual crying, decreased appetite, ear
infections or erratic sleeping habits can be
signs of spinal distress. Pediatric adjustments
are gentle. Knowing where to adjust, the doctor
applies no more pressure than you'd use to test
the ripeness of a tomato. Back to top |
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Why Doesn't My Medical Doctor Refer Me?
This is changing also. Today's medical model
of care is shifting more towards the whole
person - not just the disease or symptom. Years
of prejudice among doctors of medicine and
chiropractic are giving way to research showing
the benefits of chiropractic care. Some
attitudes are slow to change but the evidence of
chiropractic's effectiveness and safety are
overwhelming. As more and more people demand
complimentary medicine and take control of their
health, the more medical doctors are referring
their patients to what works! Back to top |
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How Much Will It Cost Me?
Most insurance companies now cover your
chiropractic care. While it is convenient when
they pay the bill, don't allow them to gain
control of your health. Find out how
chiropractic can be affordable for just about
anyone. Your health is too valuable a possession
and affects everything you do. If you do not
have coverage when you consult your Doctor of
Chiropractic, he or she will go over all payment
options available to you. Back to top |
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How Do I Choose a Doctor of Chiropractic?
Individuals and patients should seek out
health information from all available sources.
They should make rational choices among the many
health care services and practitioners, evaluate
the implications of such health care services,
and search for the most efficient and economical
health care assistance available. The search for
a wellness practitioner can be difficult at
times because one must fully understand the
wellness in light of illness concept.
The doctor of Chiropractic is commonly viewed
as the ideal wellness practitioner since he/she
is a holistic and drugless practitioner, a
humanistic and naturalistic doctor, a
conservative and egalitarian health care
provider, and most importantly a caring and
personable individual who strives to develop a
positive image of personal control over one's
health. The doctor of Chiropractic believes in
and relies on the body's inherent recuperative
ability and powers and the relationship between
muscles, bones, joints and nerves to restore and
maintain health. In light of the above, the best
choice for a patient with neuromusculoskeletal
problems is to select a Doctor of Chiropractic
as his or her physician. This choice is a well
deserved one since persons who sought care for
low back pain from doctors of Chiropractic rated
the care they received much more highly than
those who sought care from family physicians.
Most importantly, they also reported far fewer
days of limited activity due to their back pain.
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