Question & Answers on Chiropractic

What does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is a neuromusculoskeletal specialist, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches, among many other problems. Chiropractors do not use medications or surgery as treatments, but rather utilize natural, hands-on methods along with exercise and lifestyle modification. Chiropractors utilize a holistic approach to treating patients meaning they treat the patient as a whole persone. Although most cases can be diagnosed through discussion of the problem and physical examination, chiropractor utilize blood tests, MRI, CAT scans, X rays, and other diagnostic tests when necessary.

What types of problems do chiropractors treat?

Chiropractors are neuromusculoskeletal specialists. Therefore, any disorder that involves joints, muscles, discs or nerves can potentially be appropriately addressed by a chiropractor. This includes:-

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Sciatica
• Pregnancy-related low back or leg pain
• Whiplash injuries
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Work-related injuries
• Sport-related injuries including elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle injuries
• Shoulder, arm and leg pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Muscle tightness, weakness or imbalance
• Numbness and tingling

What is the difference between a chiropractor and a physical therapist?

The function of the chiropractor is to first diagnose the cause of the particular problem that the patient is experiencing, including, if necessary, ordering X rays, MRIs, blood tests or other diagnostic studies. The chiropractor then formulates a management strategy that may include manipulation, muscle treatments, exercise, nutritional advice, or physical therapy. The physical therapist’s job is to perform a comprehensive evaluation of movement, stability, and joint and muscle function, and to provide manual therapy, exercise, ergonomic and lifestyle advice.

What are the educational requirements to become a chiropractor?

Some students are required to have a Bachelor's degree before applying to Chiropractic school, with credits in basic science and math. Chiropractic College itself is then 4 additional years of post-graduate, full-time, intensive schooling, including one year of internship, with a foundation in basic sciences, not unlike that of medical school, it total about 6 years of study. Some colleges require their students to do a research thesis.

How does Chiropractic work?

Chiropractic works by restoring your own 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 help remove interferences to your natural state of being healthy.

A common interference to the nervous system is the 24 moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses.

With improved spinal function there is often improved nervous system function. Chiropractic doctor can help remove interferences that may be impairing normal health.

Since the primary focus of your care is improved nervous system function, chiropractic can have a positive effect on many health conditions not normally thought of as "back" problems.

Why do I have to exercise?

Besides all the benefits of regular aerobic and strengthening exercise, your chiropractic physician will prescribe rehabilitative exercises designed to keep joints moving properly or to improve the ability of muscles to stabilize the back or neck and prevent re-occurring pain. For many of these, it will be recommended for you to continue long term, while others are to be used only temporarily while you are having pain. In other words, certain exercises will help you to heal faster, and others will prevent the pain from coming back, as well as making you feel more fit and flexible from day to day.

What can I expect during the first visit?

The primary purpose of the first visit is for the chiropractor to get to know you and your condition. He or she will ask you for certain details about the history of the problem and will perform a comprehensive examination for the purpose of establishing a diagnosis. Blood tests, MRI, CAT scan or X rays may be ordered, although most often these are not necessary. Then, the chiropractic physician will discuss with you his or her findings and your diagnosis and, if your case is accepted, will discuss the recommended treatment(s).

Treatment may or may not be rendered on the first visit, but the full scope of the diagnosis and recommended treatment will be discussed prior to any treatment being given.

Is chiropractic care safe?

Chiropractic is a conservative approach to health that avoids invasive surgery or drugs with side effects. Chiropractic care is safer than back surgery, muscle relaxants, and even aspirin. A comprehensive history and examination shows the exact areas of the spine that may be causing joint fixation or nerve irritation. This also allows the doctor to determine the best course of care for each individual patient and condition.

How old do I have to be to see a chiropractor?

Chiropractic is safe for all ages. Many childhood activities have a significant impact on the spine. Learning to walk or ride a bicycle, playing sports and even the birth process can cause spinal problems. Regular spinal check ups can help identify these problems and help avoid any more problems seen later in adults. As we age and reach the later years of life the spine can go through degenerative changes. The benefits of chiropractic care can also be seen as many patients have reported relief of arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process. The adjusting techniques are modified depending on the age of the patient in order to give maximum comfort and results.

What will happen on your 1st Visit?

Our chiropractors will listen to the history of your symptoms:-

• when they occur
• what makes them worse
• possible cause, which may include falls or accidents you may have had
• previous health problem

They will then give you a thorough physical, neurological and orthopaedic examination, instrument checks, and if necessary X-ray/MRI your spine. Such examinations help the chiropractor to determine if spinal misalignments are related to your health problem. The examination result will give your doctor valuable information as to the quickest road to recovery.

Our doctors will then discuss his/her finding with the patient and outline the treatment plan he has suggested.