What happens when you go to see a chiropractor?

Before the course of treatment, the patient will always be examined thoroughly. The purpose of the examination is to determine whether the problem qualifies for chiropractic treatment and also to make an appropriate diagnosis.

Patient's History: You will be asked to fill out our entrance form and then we will discuss the symptoms and problems that you are experiencing. Questions about working conditions, previous diseases, operations, medicine taken, as well as general questions about lifestyle are common.

Examination: A physical evaluation will be made using orthopedic and neurological tests to better diagnose the patient's physical condition. Also we incorporate a computerized spinal exam to further examine the patient's complaints and how they may be affecting the patient's body.

X-ray examination: The necessity of X-ray's will be determined from the examination findings. Not every patient is X-rayed arbitrarily.

What is chiropractic treatment?

Manipulation of the spine is the most important thing we do in treating our patients. With our hands, we move or adjust the vertebral joints of the spine to alleviate pain, tension, and muscle spasms. This treatment goes further in that affects the nerves that come from the spinal cord that connect to every muscle, organ and tissue of the body. Most people don't appreciate how important their spine is until they experience pain or discomfort!

During the adjustment of the spine, an audible 'snap' or 'pop' may be heard. That in no way determines the effectiveness of the adjustment and it is not something that we force the body to do . It is merely a possibility during the adjustment and a change in pressure between the joints. If you have ever had to "pop your eardrums" during a flight or rapid elevator ride, it is the same principal that makes the joints of the spine create that noise. This sound is not caused by bones grating against each other or by something being torn.

Soft tissue treatment

We also treat their soft tissues of the body - the muscles and tendons. The physiotherapies we use and stretches we may recommend will also speed the healing process. We have many patients that once we treat their main concerns, will have us treat knee or handle problems as well as carpal tunnel, elbow and shoulder problems. Not only can chiropractic alleviate spinal problems, but many times the arms and legs will benefit from spinal health!

Training

An important part of chiropractic treatment is to teach the patient how to take care of their own body. The patient may be given a program of exercises to be done at home in between visits.

Recent research shows that these programs, as well as a regular exercise regimen can, under supervision from educated personnel be valuable for patients with persistent pains in their back and throughout their body. The responsibility for the health or our patients is also upon them to improve and these activities get our patients more involved in their own treatment and maintaining their health.

Prevention

Once the problem has been relieved, it is important to prevent similar problems arising in the future. Many patients learn how their daily activities can affect their body. We teach our patients to LISTEN to the signals their body sends and to not automatically reach for the medicine cabinet. In over 100 years of Chiropractic, NO ONE has been diagnosed as being aspirin deficient! We may also recommend braces or supports from the specific needs or our patients.

What does a chiropractor treat?

In our office, the most common complaint we have is related to pains in the back and/or neck area. These may be sports-related, work-related, as a result of an auto accident or of a non-specific origin.

The nervous system is many times affected by spinal problems and these symptoms include headaches, sciatica (numbness or tingling in the legs), burning sensations (in the arms or legs); even bowel and urinary problems.

The benefits of chiropractic care range from eliminating or reducing these symptoms to improved circulatory system, increased immune system function and muscular strength and tone. From the very young to the very old, our patients are guaranteed that we will treat them with the respect and integrity they deserve.