If you are considering Chiropractic care, CAM (Complementary Alternative Medicine), Acupuncture, or Naturopathic healing methods, we know you’ll have a lot of questions. For your convenience, we would like to take the time to answer the most commonly asked questions below.
What is chiropractic care? There's nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It's a natural method of health care that focuses on correcting the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise that with a normally functioning spine and healthy nerve system, your body is better able to heal itself. That's because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling, movement, and all function through your body.
How does chiropractic work? Chiropractic works by restoring your body's natural 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, restore or improve spinal related neurological function. With improved function, there is improved ability of the body to remain healthy. The goal of the chiropractic physician is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health, through specific chiropractic treatments, allowing your body to heal itself. The chiropractic physicain may also employ associated methods such as specific physio-therapy, exercise, diet, acupuncture, and counseling about lifestyle. Chiropractic emphasizes a natural approach as a first option for health care. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health!
What is a chiropractic adjustment? A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific, yet gentle, force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is misaligned, "locked up," or not moving properly. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to eliminate interference to the nervous system, improving spinal function and overall health. An adjustment is a specifically directed force, normally by hand designed to 'unlock' the subluxated vertebrae returning normal motion and alignment to the spine. There are a variety of different methods used in Chiropractic, to analyze and adjust the spine. Dr. Mooring will choose the most effective technique for each patient, as well taking into consideration the physical needs of the patient, their age, or any other health matters. Additionally, Dr. Mooring will make sure the adjustment is as comfortable as possible.
Does the adjustment treatment hurt? Actually no. The chiropractic adjustment, or manipulation, is typically gentle. In fact, very young infants and the elderly routienly receive chiropractic treatment. Certainly, as with many treatment procedures one may encounter, there may be some sensitivity or discomfort, especially if tissue tenderness is present, but this is usually minimal with no lasting after affects. And, stastistics prove that chiropractic treatment is one of the safest forms of health care services.
What is a subluxation or spinal misalignment? Subluxation is a term which describes a problem area of your spine, which may affect your nervous system. In these problem areas, the spinal bones are misaligned, or have lost their normal range of movement. This irritates or puts pressure on local nerves, which interferes with the communication between your brain and body. It may involve your muscles, discs, ligaments, tendons and other body parts as well.
How do these "misalignments" or "vertebral dysfunctins" happen? The stresses and strains of everyday living such as housework, gardening, desk work, lifting, or even sleeping on the couch, can cause spinal problems. So can falls, accidents (especially car accidents), sports activities and injuries. In children, these misalignments can initially occur during the birth process, learning to walk, in play and from everyday childhood activities.
Can I tell if I have a vertebral function problem? Not always. It is like a dental cavity--you may have it for a long time before symptoms appear. That's why periodic spinal checkups are so important. Although it may be possible to know you have a vertebral dysfunction problem, it is rarely possible to be sure you don't. Regular spinal checkups are always a good idea, and they promote good health from the inside out.
What are some warning signs of spinal/vertebral dysfunctions? Symptoms such as headaches, back pain, neck stiffness, pain in your shoulders, arms or legs, numbness in your hands or feet, fatigue, or nervousness are the most common signs. But, like a tooth cavity, most people will have a malalignment, or vertebral dysfunction, long before they notice any symptoms.
Are all patients adjusted the same way? No. Dr. Mooring evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience. Each patient's care is uniquely different from every other patient.
Can I adjust myself? No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a "popping" sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint movement is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs! It is a precise treatment and, like surgery, should never be performed with out years of proper training.
Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems? No, however chiropractic care is successful with a very wide variety of health problems, some not necessarily considered "back" problems. Many people may not relate their symptoms to the "back" or "spine," simply because there may not be specific pain there. However, many health problems may be related to the spine, such as headaches, migraines, numbness, pain, or tingling in the hands arms, legs and feet, fatigue, reltless sleep, as well as general tension and stress. It is best to allow Dr. Mooring to determine if your symptoms may be related to a spinal problem. Only a trained chiropractic physician can determine if your problem may respond to chiropractic care.
Is chiropractic care addictive? I heard that once you start chiropractic care you will always need it. No. If only it were, there would probably be more healthy people around, and chiropractic doctors would not get patients who say they "last saw a chiropractor a few years ago when their back went out." It is, however, possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more energetic as a result of regular chiropractic care. There is actually nothing addictive about Chiropractic care. The reality is that, Chiropractic physicians encourage regular check-ups, much like your eye doctor or dentist may recommend regular check-ups. Chiropractic is not addictive, however, good health and feeling good is!
What type of education do chiropractic doctors receive? Doctors of Chiropractic are well-educated. They spend at least four years of graduate training at a Chiropractic College or University accredited by the United States Department of Education. Chiropractic education and medical education are similar in many respects and different in others. Chiropractic physicians do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral subluxations. After graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, each candidate passes a comprehensive National Board Examination. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass still more difficult tests before being granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractic physician's education, however, never ends. Most doctors complete regular postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest research and treatment technologies. Many chiropractic physicians go on to complete specialty training in many fields, such as neurology, orthopedics, internal diagnosis, radiology, physio-therapy, sports injuries, neurodiagnostic testing, peadiatrics, acupuncture, nutrition, and natural medicine healing methods.
