FAQ

1. Are treatments safe?

  • Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest and most effective, drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of back pain, neck pain, joint pain of the arms or legs, headaches, and other neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic; however, are very small.
  • Physical Therapy is among the safe, effective alternatives recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in guidelines urging the avoidance of opioids for most pain treatment. Whereas opioids only mask the sensation of pain, physical therapists treat pain through movement.

 

2. How do I know which treatment is best for me?

  • Chiropractic is a specialty in the neurological system and in spinal alignment; physical therapy is a specialty in the muscular strengthening needed to maintain spinal alignment. Although chiropractic care and physical therapy both aim to return function to the body, they go about it in different ways:
    • Chiropractic care focuses on gaining optimal wellness and function by vertebral realignment through adjustments. This increases function of the nervous system, which controls all areas of the body. Although the general public often associates chiropractic with neck or back pain, the reality is that improvement in nerve function can have a positive effect on pain in all areas. The nervous system consists of your brain and spinal cord. The brain is at the very top of your nervous system, and the spinal cord runs down the length of your spine. Your nervous system controls every muscle, organ and cell of your body. Proper spinal alignment allows the brain to talk to every part of your body which promotes better movement, balance, and nerve function.
    • Physical therapy addresses a variety of issues including fibromyalgia, sports injuries, or any condition that causes a decrease in physical ability and day-to-day function. Physical therapy treatments assist a patient in improving strength, flexibility, coordination and mobility using a series of exercises designed to work out specific areas of the body. A physical therapist provides treatment when your movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors.
      There is no need to choose between physical therapy and chiropractic care. The two services can and should work together to receive whole body benefits. Through chiropractic, you regain nerve function and spinal alignment, while physical therapy will serve to assist you with improved strength and a better range of motion. Essentially, the two work hand in hand; if your nervous system isn’t functioning at an optimal level, you may not be treating an underlying cause that is preventing you from moving or exercising to your full ability. If your body is not strong enough to “hold” the adjustment because the muscles around the spine are weak, the adjustment may not have its maximum effect on your body.

 

3. Will it hurt?

  • Chiropractic is not painful. You may feel a twinge of discomfort when the joint shifts, but it is very pleasant and gives a feeling of relief as the dysfunctional joint starts to move more freely. Occasionally, if there is a significant amount of swelling or spasm, your adjustment may be a bit more uncomfortable, but it should not hurt any more than if you pressed on the sore muscles with your thumb.
  • Physical therapy treats pain through movement. Individuals receiving treatment in physical therapy are generally there as a result of damaged tissues. These tissues often present with some signs of injury such as sudden or severe pain, swelling, extreme tenderness, extreme weakness in a limb, inability to move a joint through its full range of motion, numbness or tingling, and visible dislocation or broken bone. As a result, therapy revolves around healing these tissues. Depending on the stage of recovery, therapy may involve pain- such as that associated with stretching tightened tissues or strengthening excessively weakened muscles. In other cases, therapy will focus on decreasing the swelling or inflammation of an injured area- in this case, pain should be avoided as the injury heals. Once the swelling or inflammation has subsided, stretching or strengthening of the tissues begins. This may result in some level of pain as new exercises are introduced.
  • Massage therapy focuses on relaxing muscle tissue. There are two key factors that determine if a massage will “hurt.” The first is the type of massage you choose. For example, a Swedish massage is on the “relaxing” end of massage therapy. It provides stress relief, relaxation, and is normally the “intro” to massages; whereas a deep tissue massage applies deep pressure onto specific trouble points. It is used for treating stiff, painful trouble spots, and is better for someone who has very dense tissue or someone who is undergoing physical therapy to aid in the breakdown process of scar tissue after proper healing from the injury has occurred.
    The second key factor is you. What is your reason for coming? Are you coming because you find massage therapy relaxing or are you coming because you are already having pain in a specific area of your body? If inflammation is already present then the chances of your massage “hurting” are greater than someone who is coming just to relax.

 

4. When will I begin to see results?

  • Every “body” that comes into our office is different. Some people experience relief after one visit, while it may take several visits for others to find relief.

 

5. How long will I need treatment?

  • Chiropractic and physical therapy is a personal decision and an individualized process, just like any other kind of health care. Our doctors will educate you on your specific condition and tailor a treatment plan based on your specific needs. No one patient is alike, so the length of time treatment is needed will vary on a case by case basis.

 

6. What should I wear?

  • You can wear just about anything you are comfortable in and that you can move in easily. If you are coming to us straight from work, we can provide you with a place to change, should you need it.

 

7. What will happen on my first visit?

  • You will be greeted by a friendly face and asked to sign in. Our front desk personnel will ask for a copy of your insurance cards, so that your benefits can be checked while you fill out your new patient paperwork. After completion of your new patient file, you will be examined by the doctor and proceed with any treatments that he recommends. Upon check out, you will pay any monies that are due for your services that day and scheduled for your follow up appointment. We suggest that you allow 1hr – 1.5hrs for this initial visit.

 

8. Can I afford chiropractic and/or physical therapy?

  • Do you have insurance? We are in network with most insurance plans. We offer a complimentary benefits check upon your initial visit, so you will know what your part is before services are rendered.
  • No insurance? Welcome to our office! We have many patients without insurance, and we understand the need for affordable care.
  • Were you involved in an accident? Good news, we specialize in personal injury cases.

 

9. Can I afford massage therapy?

  • Massage therapy is not covered by insurance, but we do understand the need for affordable treatment  options; and we offer a variety of packages at discounted rates.

 

10. What conditions can be treated?

  • Chiropractic treats, but is not limited to:
    ▪ Fibromyalgia
    ▪ Rheumatoid Arthritis
    ▪ Spondylolisthesis
    ▪ Colic
    ▪ Forward Head Posture
    ▪ Gastroesophageal Reflux
    ▪ Scoliosis
    ▪ Pregnancy-related Pain
    ▪ Fertility Issues
    ▪ Menstrual Issues
  • Physical Therapy treats, but is not limited to:
    ▪ Pre/Post-Operative Rehabilitation (Total Knee, Hip, Ankle, Tendon/Ligament Repairs, etc.)
    ▪ Cardiac Rehabilitation
    ▪ Gait Dysfunctions
    ▪ Neurological Dysfunctions
    ▪ Stroke, Spina Bifida, Parkinson, etc.
  • Chiropractic and Physical Therapy both treat, but are not limited to:
    ▪ Back & Neck Pain
    ▪ Dizziness/Vertigo
    ▪ Headaches
    ▪ Carpal Tunnel
    ▪ Degenerative Disc Disease
    ▪ Degenerative Joint Disease
    ▪ Golfer’s Elbow/Tennis Elbow
    ▪ Osteoarthritis
    ▪ Piriformis Syndrome
    ▪ Radiculopathy
    ▪ Sciatica
    ▪ Whiplash
    ▪ Herniated Discs
    ▪ Sports & Recreational Injuries
    ▪ Motor Vehicle Accident Injuries
    ▪ Work Related Injuries
    ▪ Falls
    ▪ Generalized weakness
    ▪ Limitations in Joint ROM
  • Massage Therapy treats, but is not limited to:
    ▪ Physical pain (Muscle tension, Back and neck pain, Shoulder, knee, and elbow pain)
    ▪ Myofascial pain syndrome
    ▪ Rotator cuff syndrome
    ▪ Sciatica
    ▪ Tennis Elbow
    ▪ Frozen shoulder
    ▪ Muscle strains and sprains
    ▪ Sports injuries
    ▪ Anxiety
    ▪ Insomnia
    ▪ Headaches and migraines
    ▪ Depression
    ▪ Common cold and flu
    ▪ Arthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis
    ▪ Carpal tunnel
    ▪ Hypertension
    ▪ Fibromyalgia
    ▪ Asthma and Bronchitis

 

11. Can children receive chiropractic adjustments?

  • Absolutely, and it is highly recommended. A child encounters many physical stresses during their growing years. The earliest challenge a growing spine faces is the position it is forced to adopt in utero. The cause of many newborn health complaints such as colic, reflux, breastfeeding difficulties, sleep disturbances, allergic reactions, and chronic infections can often be traced to nervous system irritation caused by spinal and cranial misalignments. Many developmental milestones such as learning to hold the head up, sitting upright, crawling, and walking are all activities that are affected by spinal alignment and are important times to have your child checked by a chiropractor. Additionally, falls, sports injuries, playground bumps, heavy school bags, and sitting all day in the classroom are all physical stresses to the growing child’s spine and nervous system.

 

12. What is that “cracking” noise?

  • The “cracking” is called a cavitation, and it’s the release of gas that makes the cracking sound. The joints of the spine are called synovial joints and they produce a fluid called synovial fluid. Synovial fluid lubricates the joint, for movement, and nourishes it. When a joint is opened up, the gas is released and you hear a distinctive cracking sound.

 

13. What causes misalignments or subluxations?

  • There are various kinds of external invasive forces that affect the spine. They can be put into three classifications:
    • Physical forces– These are probably the most well known and most easily understood. It is not difficult to see how a physical trauma could cause a vertebra to subluxate. Examples of physical forces:
      • Automobile accident
      • Falling down a flight of stairs
      • Contact sports
      • Falling off a bike
      • Slipping on ice
      • Sitting
      • Standing
      • Learning to walk
      • Sleeping incorrectly
      • Gravity
      • Any activity that uses one side of the body more than the other, such as the mail carrier who carries the mail bag on one shoulder.
      • “Normal” birth process
    • Chemical forces– It is an accepted fact that a chemical can affect the tone of a muscle. The alignment of the spinal bones is dependent upon and effected by muscle tone. Lack of calcium, for example, can cause muscle spasms. The body has a delicately balanced chemistry. Anything that upsets this chemistry such as smoking, alcohol, caffeine, processed foods, etc. can irritate the nerve system causing abnormal function of muscle fibers, upsetting muscle tone, and cause a subluxation.
    • Emotional Forces– It has been suggested that the most common cause of subluxations are emotional forces. If you have ever been in a tense or emotional situation (worry, fear, anger, etc.) you can remember how the muscles in the back of your neck and across your shoulders tightened. This muscle tension can cause a vertebra to subluxate.
  • Although each of these three forces can cause a subluxation by themselves, most subluxations are caused by a combination of all three. Subluxations occur regularly and in everyone from birth until death. It is important that we have our spines checked regularly by our chiropractor in order to correct subluxations as soon as they occur.