faq's
What is Chiropractic?
The term itself is from the Greek: Chiro (hand), Praktic (to adjust). The history of chiropractic as it is known in the United States dates back to 1895. Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly. Chiropractic’s approach is to establish and maintain optimal physiological activity by correcting abnormal structural relationships. Its goal is to organize the body in such a manner as to enable it to utilize its own biological resources for a return to normal function. Chiropractic also places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications as well as patient education for promoting physical and mental health. While chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, Doctors of chiropractic do refer patients for medical care when those interventions are indicated. In fact, chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists and other health care professionals now work as partners in occupational health, sports medicine, and a wide variety of other rehabilitation practices.
Why should I see a Chiropractor?
From professional athletes to homemakers, engineers to electricians, young people to seniors, chiropractic care has been the answer to optimum health. Many people see a chiropractor for back, neck or other joint problems. Still others find that regular visits to their chiropractor keep them in peak condition.
Regularly a dentist checks our teeth, an optometrist checks our eyes and a doctor checks our blood pressure and heart. Yet, we take the spine - a crucial component of our body - for granted. Call your family's chiropractor today because regular checkups of your spine can help you maintain better health.
Do many people see chiropractors?
The non-surgical, drug-free healing nature of chiropractic provides benefit to the health of millions of other people worldwide each year. Most chiropractic patients experience real relief and improved general well being, and continue to make regular visits a part of their healthy lifestyle choice.
Is chiropractic effective?
Yes. Chiropractic care is safe and effective. Scientific evidence proving that chiropractic care works is overwhelming. Over the past 20 years, many controlled and independent research studies have shown again and again that chiropractic care is safe and effective for treating low back pain, neck pain, headaches and other conditions relating to the spine. Based on these scientific studies, the consensus is that chiropractic care is the treatment of choice for most spinal problems. The extent to which a person can benefit from care varies depending on their problem and how long it has existed.
What Can Chiropractic Help?
While chiropractic care can help with any number of symptoms and problems, we have listed out some of the more common conditions that you may recognize in yourself or others. If you are experiencing any of these problems, please contact us for an appointment today.
Osteoarthritis
Arthritis is a condition characterized by the gradual breakdown of joint cartilage, most common in the weight bearing joints of the body such as the knees, hips, and back. It is also common in the neck and hands. As the joint is broken down it can lead to joint stiffness and increased strain on the muscles in that area. Additionally, as joint function changes it can lead to movement compensations and place strain on other areas of the body as well. Although degenerative changes are common with age they do not automatically result in pain. Research now shows that it is not the degeneration of the joint that is responsible for pain but the effects the degeneration has on how the joint is functioning particularly the stiffness and muscles strain.
We focus on restoration and maintenance of function by emphasizing joint movement and increasing the ability of the muscles to support and stabilize the affected joints. In addition, we assess how the body as a whole if functioning to uncover any other movement abnormalities that may be affecting the degenerated area.
The doctor will assess movement of the joints to feel for areas of altered or restricted movements. Once identified, the abnormal movement can be restored using a combination of chiropractic joint adjustments and ART. Whenever possible simple home exercises are demonstrated to facilitate and maintain proper motion in key areas. Underlying factors such as poor posture and muscle imbalance often need to be addressed in cases of chronic or recurrent joint dysfunction.
Neck/Low Back Pain
Subluxations (misalignments of the spinal column) are one of the most common causes of neck and low back pain. When vertebrae are misaligned, they put pressure directly on spinal nerves, causing pain. Muscle spasms may set in, which can increase the pressure further. This extra pressure can cause even more inflammation and irritation, which leads to more pain. And the cycle continues.
Often times stretching and massage may only temporarily relieve the pain, because the cause (subluxation) has not been addressed. A chiropractic adjustment focuses on correcting the cause.
Headaches
80% of headaches originate from the neck. Usually an increased amount of stress and tension held in the shoulders causes contractions of all of the surrounding neck muscles. When these muscles contract, vertebrae can become misaligned causing pressure on spinal nerves, and ultimately pain. With a typical cervicogenic (neck origin) headache, a person usually feels pain starting at the base of the skull which radiates into the temples, eyeballs, and forehead.
There may be several other causes of headaches, so a proper examination is needed to determine the actual cause.
Sciatica
The sciatic nerve is a long nerve originating in the lower back and extending down the back of the leg. When this nerve is irritated, it can cause pain, numbness, weakness, or other symptoms in the lower back and down the leg. There are several possible causes of this condition. A misaligned vertebra can cause inflammation of the joints, putting pressure on the nerve. Bulging discs and muscle spasms can also cause pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Several other conditions may cause this symptom, so a complete evaluation would be needed to correctly asses the exact cause.
Pinched Nerve
A pinched nerve is just that. It is a severely compressed nerve, usually caused by a misaligned vertebra. When nerves get pinched they become severely inflamed and muscles may spasm, causing even more discomfort. The pain is usually so severe that you can't move that part of the body and it can cause other symptoms as well.
There can be several causes of the pinched nerve; a proper examination is needed to determine the exact cause.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
These days millions of Americans have jobs which can have damaging effects on the hands and arms. Repetitive movements which are not performed with good ergonomics in mind can cause micro-trauma to the hands and wrists. This trauma combined with joint dysfunction and spinal problems may result in a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome. The median nerve which is affected travels from the tips of the fingers through the wrist up the arm and into the neck connecting to the spinal cord. If one or more of these structures are affected, symptoms of wrist pain, numbness, weakness, burning and loss of muscle function can occur.
Chiropractic can assure that all of the joints and muscles along the path of the nerve are free of obstruction and functioning normally, thus reducing nerve irritation.
Maintenance Care
What many people don’t know is that you don't have to be injured to benefit from chiropractic care. By staying well adjusted with maintenance chiropractic care you can help prevent injury. Some other possible benefits of maintenance care are: optimal nerve output for optimal physical performance, improved posture, decreased stiffness, increased mobility, energy, strength, circulation, and immune function just to name a few.
Everybody benefits from chiropractic a little differently, but one thing everybody has in common is that they just feel better.
Whiplash
Whiplash is most commonly received from riding in a car that is struck from behind or that collides with another object. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth beyond its normal limits, the muscles and ligaments that support the spine and head can be overstretched or torn. The soft, pulpy discs between spinal bones can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae can be forced out of their normal position, reducing range of motion. The spinal cord and nerve roots in the neck can get stretched and irritated. While occupants can suffer considerable soft tissue injury, the car may only be slightly damaged.
The resulting instability of the spine and soft tissues can cause headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, pain in the shoulder, arms and hands, reduced ability to turn and bend, and even low back problems. As the body attempts to adapt, symptoms may not appear for weeks or even months later.
The chiropractic approach to these types of injuries is to use specific chiropractic adjustment to help return spinal function. After a thorough examination and case history, the doctor will recommend a series of visits to help restore proper motion and position of the spinal bones. If caught early enough, inflammation can be reduced and scar tissue can often be minimized.
Consult a Chiropractic Doctor before enduring constant headaches, depending upon addictive pain medication, or submitting to surgery. Fibromyalgia is a controversial and complicated condition to understand. For proper diagnosis and treatment, a wide variety of factors need to be considered including "head-to-toe" joint and muscle function, nutrition, and lifestyle issues. A thorough examination including orthopedic and neurologic testing, as well as other specialized tests, will help to determine the exact causes of your symptoms and your individualized treatment plan. Very often, a comprehensive treatment program addressing all of these issues leads to significant improvement.
Joint and soft tissue manipulation is often very helpful in relieving the aches and pains of fibromyalgia and related conditions. Other treatment options may include ultrasound or electrical muscle stimulation, acupuncture, therapeutic exercises, and massage therapy & myofascial release techniques. These procedures, combined with nutritional & herbal medicine, and/or homeopathy constitute a comprehensive, holistic approach. Although researchers are still a long way from finding a "cure" for fibromyalgia, chiropractic care is usually very successful in the effective management of this condition. However, if after examination we conclude that your case cannot be helped with conservative care, a prompt referral will be made.
Disc problems
The disc is a small cartilage pad that is situated between spinal bones. The soft jellylike center is contained by layers of fibrous tissues. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine. When healthy, discs allow normal bending and turning
Since spinal discs have a very poor blood supply, they depend upon the circulation of joint fluids to bring nutrients and expel waste. If a spinal joint loses its normal motion and this pumping action is impaired, the health of the disc deteriorates. Like a wet sponge, a healthy disc is flexible. A dry sponge is hard, stiff, and can crack easily. This is how many disc problems begin.
Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebra above and below it, a disc cannot slip as commonly thought. However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to bulge, herniate, or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful, putting pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots, interfering with their function.
While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided needless surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by choosing conservative chiropractic care.
What can I expect from my visit to a chiropractor?
As a licensed practitioner, it is the duty of your chiropractor to do the following:
-- A thorough review of your specific problem is conducted, including relevant past history and overall health.
--You will be asked to perform physical tests and movements to help identify the problem.
--In certain situations, an X-ray may be used to confirm the history and examination findings and to investigate for the presence of any underlying bone conditions or pathological developments.
--A diagnosis is made, with treatment options for its resolution outlined. If it is, a plan of treatment is communicated. If it is not a chiropractic problem, an appropriate referral is arranged.
--A prognosis is made, taking into account your general health habits, occupation, stress and activity levels.
--Your response to treatment is monitored by your chiropractor, who looks for an improvement to your specific condition, as well as for changes in your overall health. Two of the basic components of chiropractic care are wellness and prevention. Utilization of exercises, along with nutrition and lifestyle modifications may also be suggested to improve your overall well-being and promote active, patient-centered care.
What is a vertebral subluxation ?
A vertebral subluxation is a minor misalignment of the bones of the spine, which causes nerve interference, and a loss of health. (See Vertebral Subluxation Page)
What can cause a vertebral subluxation?
There are many things that can cause a vertebral subluxation, such as birth trauma, falls, sports injuries, car accidents, improper lifting and posture.
But it is my opinion that there are three major causes of vertebral subluxation; physical stress, chemical stress, and emotional stress.
Are any of these in your life?
What is a chiropractic adjustment? Is it safe?
An adjustment is the main method of treatment used by your chiropractor. It is a specialized, controlled and safe pressure applied to your spine to restore the proper motion and position of your vertebrae. It is a precise procedure that your highly skilled chiropractor has learned and perfected over years of training at a Chiropractic College and in clinical practice.
Every health procedure, from taking aspirin to giving blood, involves a level of risk. Chiropractic adjustments are among the safest of all health care interventions because they are non-surgical, drug-free and present an extremely low risk. And they work! Do chiropractic adjustments hurt?
Most don’t. At Chiro+Merge Chiropractic Center we give the gentlest adjustment possible to get the job done. Because of this, there is generally very little, if any, actual pain or discomfort to the patient. As a matter of fact, small children, even babies, usually enjoy, and certainly benefit from, their adjustments. To most patients, the chiropractic adjustment feels very natural and comforting.
Do chiropractors "pop the neck" or "crack the back"?
If someone uses those terms to describe what the chiropractor does, it makes the adjustment sound menacing, doesn’t it? It really isn’t! Have you ever lifted a wet glass from a wet table? There may be a slight "popping" sound caused by what is called "fluidic attraction." This is similar to the reaction that takes place between the joint surfaces of the body. Joints are smooth (like the glass) and bathed in fluid (like the water). When they slide together in normal activity, there is no sound. However, when they are moved, as in a chiropractic adjustment, you may hear a "pop" – much like popping your knuckles.
How well educated is your Doctor of Chiropractic?
Doctors of chiropractic must satisfy a demanding academic course that leads to a first professional degree requiring a minimum six academic years of study – two years preparatory and four years professional.
Chiropractors must meet stringent educational requirements, including approximately 600 hours of externship, which qualify them for licensure in all states and Canadian provinces.
Chiropractors are required to pass stringent national board examinations as a prerequisite for licensure. And, the doctor of chiropractic must stay abreast of the latest health care techniques by attending seminars and other special study programs to maintain licensure.
How do I know when to take my child to my chiropractor?
Children communicate their needs both verbally and nonverbally, intentionally and unintentionally. Usually a child who is experiencing pain will verbalize his or her discomfort to a parent, teacher, or other adult whom the child trusts. At times it is difficult to know if the child is complaining of a problem because there truly is pain, or because they want attention, or because they are using the complaint as an excuse to get out of doing a chore.
In some cases, however, the usual signal that something is wrong – namely, pain – does not occur, leaving a problem unreported and unnoticed that can, and should, be corrected by chiropractic care.
Whether children complain of pain or not, it is wise for parents to get in the habit of observing them at play: running, jumping, walking, sitting, standing. These moments when the child is most unselfconscious, unaware that anyone is watching, will yield the most information for the observer. Pay special attention to the child’s posture. Look for postural changes in sitting, standing, walking, running, and reclining, both when the child is active and quiet. Try to determine which postures the child automatically assumes, and which they inherently avoid.
The emotional component may reveal information about a problem that the child may not yet be aware of. Look for irritability, unusual emotional sensitivity, or changes in eating habits, sleeping patterns, and play patterns.
If the verbal, postural, or behavioral cues indicate a problem, call your doctor of chiropractic to discuss your concerns.
At our office we use state of the art diagnostic equipment, as well as, very gentle and noninvasive adjusting techniques to detect and correct the vertebral subluxation that may exist. (See Subluxation Station Page)
What is scoliosis?
The word scoliosis refers to a lateral curvature of the spine. The condition is greatly misunderstood and many times feared for its distorting effect on the body.
Scoliosis is a disease affecting about four percent of youngsters between the ages of 9 and 14, results in abnormal curvature of the spine that can become progressively worse.
Unless it’s detected early and treated, it can cause deformity that is difficult to correct. But when detected early, its progression can be halted in many cases.
We at Chiro+Merge Chiropractic Center are highly experienced in screening, diagnosing, and treating scoliosis.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica is a painful condition the low back and leg, related to the sciatic nerve. Often times the pain is quite uncomfortable or even disabling. The sciatic nerve, the largest in the body, is formed from nerves that exit between lumbar (low back) vertebrae and then travel through the buttocks area and down the leg into the foot. Typically, the pain starts as an ache in the lower back, then in the buttocks – usually on one side. Then it may go down the leg, causing a numbness – a "pins and needles" feeling. The leg may become weaker and more painful if the condition persists.
Why should I continue chiropractic care if I have no symptoms?
That depends on your health goals. For many people, regular chiropractic check-ups are just part of a healthy lifestyle which includes adequate exercise, good nutrition, and a positive mental attitude. It’s a combination that’s hard to beat.
Yes. A New Zealand government study concluded that chiropractic adjustments are "remarkably safe." Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever is about 100 times more risky.
Are adjustments safe?Yes. A New Zealand government study concluded that chiropractic adjustments are "remarkably safe." Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever is about 100 times more risky.
Will adjustments make my spine too loose?
No. Only the spinal joints that are "locked up" receive adjustments. This allows weakened muscles and ligaments to stabilize and heal.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Some patients can make their joints "pop" but that`s not an adjustment! Even your chiropractic doctor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care.
How do I know if I have a subluxation?
You can have subluxations and not even know it. Like tooth decay or cancer, subluxations can be present before any warning signs appear. The results of a thorough examination can show the location and severity of any subluxations you may have.
Can subluxations clear up on their own?
Sometimes. Today`s hectic lifestyles are a constant source of subluxations. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these minor problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night. When subluxations don`t resolve, you need a chiropractic doctor!
Can children get subluxations?
Your first subluxation probably occurred from the birth process. Even "modern" childbirth methods can put tremendous pressure on an infant`s spine. Poor appetite, unexplained crying and sleeplessness can be signs of spinal subluxations.
Why do newborns get chiropractic adjustments?
Even today`s "natural" childbirth methods can affect an infant`s spine. Preliminary studies suggest that colic, unusual crying; poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress. Relax. Newborns adjustments are gentle. As a rule, no more pressure than you`d used to test the ripeness of a tomato is involved.
How long until I feel better?
Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take months, sometimes years. Every patient recovers at their own pace. Factors that can affect the healing process include your age, your overall health condition, muscle tone, diet and even your attitude.
Will I receive any medication for my pain?
No. Chiropractic doctors don`t dispense drugs. Because we rely on natural methods, ask for directions on how to use ice to control any painful symptoms. Ice, when properly applied, can have an analgesic effect without the side effects associated with pain medications.
Who can chiropractic help?
Improved nerve communications between your brain and your body can help everyone. So, if you have subluxations, you could likely benefit from chiropractic care. Modified adjusting approaches can help children, the elderly or those with special needs.
What if my insurance company doesn`t cover chiropractic?
Each of us has the freedom to place a different value on our health. Ultimately, good health is about personal responsibility. While an insurance company or other third party may be helpful, be careful. Don`t allow a profit-motivated company to make decisions about what you do with your health. Find out how we make chiropractic care affordable for just about anyone.
How long will it take to get well?
Since chiropractic care depends on the healing abilities of each patient, results are hard to predict. Every patient responds differently. Some detect changes in a few short days or weeks. Others may take weeks to months before showing progress.
Can I get chiropractic care if I`ve had back surgery?
Yes. Your chiropractic doctor will avoid areas of your spine surgically modified. However, surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. These "reactions" will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
Can patients with osteoporosis get chiropractic care?
Of course. Regardless of your age, size or condition, chiropractic care can be helpful. The specific needs of each patient are considered. If yours is not a chiropractic case, we`ll refer you to the appropriate specialist.
Does a lack of calcium or carrying a heavy book bag cause scoliosis?
No. However, there are a growing number of authorities that believe uncorrected spinal damage from the birth process may be involved. Others suggest that using walkers to encourage early walking may be a culprit.
What`s the best time for a scoliosis examination?
As with the case of many health problems, early detection can improve the likelihood of correction. Wise parents consult our office soon after the birth of their child. Then they follow up with periodic chiropractic checkups throughout their child`s developing years.
What causes headaches?
The most common causes are physical trauma, emotional stress, nutritional deficiencies or chemical toxins. Sometimes there may be a combination of these and other factors. Our examination process helps identify the most likely cause.
Can chiropractic cure sciatica?
Actually, chiropractic doesn`t cure anything! Only your body can do that. The chiropractic approach to sciatica (and other health problems) is to help restore the way your spine works, reducing nerve irritation and revitalizing your own healing ability.
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