Chiropractic Frequently Asked Questions
What Is A Chiropractic Adjustment?
Is Chiropractic Safe?
What is a Subluxation?
What Causes A Subluxation?
How is a Subluxation Corrected?
Does the Adjustment Hurt?
Does Effective Adjustment have to make Noise?
What is a Chiropractic technique?
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the Science, Art and Philosophy that concerns itself with the restoration of good health by restoring and maintaining a properly functioning nervous system,without the use of drugs or surgery. Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating,self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body. The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communcation pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body. Doctors of Chiropractic call this the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. The Chiropractic adjustment has been proven to increase motion, increase circulation,reduce swelling and pain, and remove nervous irritation. Once this nervous irritation is removed, your body is able to do what it is designed to do – heal itself.
What Type of Education do Doctors of Chiropractic receive?
Today’s Doctor of Chiropractic is extremely well educated. The science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, bio-mechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques and related subjects. This demanding curriculum prepares chiropractic doctors to be primary care providers. The responsibility of a primary care provider is to properly access the current state of the patient and determine what type of care is necessary. This could mean using a variety of therapies or even a referral to another specialist. Before beginning Chiropractic school, chiropractic students need to complete 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education to obtain the necessary prerequisites or degrees. A chiropractic student then completes 4 years of graduate school to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Each student must then pass both Federal and Provincial board examinations in order to receive a license to practice chiropractic. It takes about 7-8 years of post-secondary schooling to learn how to be a chiropractor!
A chiropractic education never ends. Most doctors continue to educate themselves by taking postgraduate courses and staying current by reading the latest scientific research. After undergraduate studies, today’s chiropractic doctor completes an additional four-year curriculum of over 4,500 classroom hours of health sciences.
What Is A Chiropracitc Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction to aid in restoring proper function to the body.
There are hundreds of ways to adjust the body. Usually the doctor’s hands or specially designed instruments are used to deliver the adjustment. Adjusting methods can range from being very strong, deep, and forceful, to light and non-forceful. Others require a slow, constant pressure.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called “chiropractic adjustment.” The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their movement – as a result of a tissue injury. –American Chiropracitc Association
Is Chiropractic Safe?
There are literally thousands of published scientific studies proving chiropractic’s safety and effectiveness. In the words of the New Zealand government’s inquiry, chiropractic care is “remarkably safe.”
Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health that is proven safe and effective. In fact, chiropractic adjustments are safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers and even aspirin!
What is a Subluxation?
The word “subluxation” comes from the Latin words meaning “to dislocate” (luxate) and “somewhat or slightly” (sub). A subluxation means a slight dislocation (misalignment) or biomechanical malfunctioning of the vertebrae (bones of the spine). These disturbances may irritate nerve roots and blood vessels which branch off from the spinal cord between each of the vertebrae. This irritation may cause dysfunction in the normal body processes.
What Causes A Subluxation?
A fall, injury, sudden jar, trauma, or sometimes an inherited spinal weakness can cause a subluxation. Other causes can include organ related problems, chemical irritants, poor posture, occupational hazards, incorrect lifting practices, obesity, lack of rest and exercise, and emotional stress.
How is a Subluxation Corrected?
Doctors of Chiropractic are specialists in correcting subluxations. They do this by utilizing the chiropractic procedure known as “the adjustment.” Dr. Geske will use his hands or an adjusting instrument to apply a corrective thrust in a specific direction and location. The thrust helps restore the normal functions of the nervous system. The adjustment also aids in restoring the natural alignment and mobility of the vertebrae.
Does the Adjustment Hurt?
Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless. Many patients actually enjoy receiving the adjustment. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation.
Does Effective Adjustment have to make Noise?
It is a common misconception that your joints must make a noise to be properly adjusted. However, more often than not when your vertebrae are adjusted, the smooth articular (joint) surfaces become separated, creating and then releasing a small vacuum, making a noise. This is the sound made when you crack your knuckles. Your chiropractor is concerned with the position of your vertebrae, not with the noise that may occur.
What is a Chiropractic technique?
While the fundamentals of chiropractic care are the foundation of the profession, chiropractic colleges, teach many different techniques that may be used in certain conditions. A founder of a successful technique will also set up training seminars for doctors.
Some chiropractors prefer to specialize in certain techniques. For example, some techniques use a deep thrust, others use a shallow thrust. Some use a special table that allows the intended results of that technique. Some techniques use X-rays or certain instruments to diagnose a problem, and to correct it, and check for progress. Some focus on the upper Cervical part of the body, some on the extremities.
So technique is a word used to describe these diversified methods. In fact, there is a technique called “Diversified”, which uses many techniques as its treatment method.
