Frequently Asked Questions

Q - What is the Vertebral Subluxation Complex?
A - The Vertebral Subluxation Complex has five parts that describe the malfunction of spine, nervous system, muscles, soft tissues, and the rest of the body due to abnormal motion and position of individual spinal bones. The detection, treatment, and prevention of VSC makes chiropractic unique in the health care sciences.

Q - What is an adjustment?
A - A specific chiropractic procedure using carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore spinal bones to a more normal position and motion. Normalizing the position and motion of spinal bones eliminates the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (the abnormal motion and position of spinal bones) and allows the body to begin the healing process.

Q - Is a good work out the same as getting adjusted?
A - No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet without normal spinal function a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints.

Q - Why is it impossible to have a slipped disc?
A - Discs are small pads of cartilage with a soft, pulpy center which are situated between each vertebra that act as "shock absorbers" for your spine. They attach to the weight bearing surfaces of adjacent vertebrae in such a way that they cannot slip. When people refer to a slipped disc they usually mean a torn, bulging, or herniated disc.

Q - Do chiropractic doctors get the same amount of education as medical practitioners?
A - Yes. Doctors of Chiropractic receive about the same number of accredited classroom hours as medical doctors (about 4,500 hours). Since most Doctors of Chiropractic do not prescribe drugs, instead of taking pharmacology and surgery courses, they receive more in depth training in physiology, neurology, and X-ray than their medical counterparts.

Q - What conditions do chiropractors treat?
A - Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

Q - Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?
A - No, a patient does not need referral by an MD before visiting a doctor of chiropractic. Chiropractors are first contact physicians, and are so defined in federal and state regulations. Following a consultation and examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive at a diagnosis under chiropractic care, or refer the patient to the appropriate health care provider.

Q - Is chiropractic treatment safe?
A - Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. However, Chiropractic malpractice insurance has the lowest fees of any medical profession, demonstrating the high safety rating of Chiropractic care.
Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.
Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion and reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension.
Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper high-velocity neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, there is not yet a clear understanding of the connection. The occurrence appears to be very rare - 1 in 5.85 million manipulations - based on the clinical reports and scientific studies to date. If you are visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care provider.
It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain -- prescription and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) -- as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of Gastroenterology, approximately one-third of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.

Q - Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
A - Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.

Q - What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
A - Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant at a chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work.
Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding - four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training.
In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Q - How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
A - Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function.
Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

Q - Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
A - The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks).
A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.

Q - Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
A - Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound - it's exactly the same as when you "crack" your knuckles. The noise is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved.