As a Chiropractor I receive many questions from patients. I thought it would be a good idea to take an informal poll in the office. The following article is a result of that pole. These are the top ten questions about chiropractic. You might also find that this addresses some of the myths associated with chiropractic adjustments.
- What is a subluxation?
A subluxation is a misalignment of the spinal segments. These misalignments place pressure on the spinal nerves. Misalignments that do not put pressure on nerves are not subluxations. These subluxations affect the function of the nervous system. A Chiropractor's job is to realign these spinal segments allowing the nervous system to operate properly. When the nervous system is compromised it can cause various symptoms. There can be numbness and tingling. Often the person feels fatigue, headaches, neck pain and/or back pain. Since the nervous system controls immunity, the person can be more susceptible to colds and other problems caused by viruses and bacteria.
- What is that popping noise?
That noise is simply gas being released from the fluid around the joint. It is the same noise that results from popping your knuckles. There was actually a study done regarding the popping of knuckles. It was actually found that it basically annoys the people around you. There was no evidence of degeneration in the joints.
- Will the adjustment hurt?
If you have never had an adjustment, you may get what we call "exercise soreness. " That means that it would most likely feel like you had a hard workout at the gym. Patients love going to chiropractic offices because of the way adjustments make them feel. We always say.......if it hurt who would come back? The doctor will generally recommend some ice or heat depending on the individual case.
- How long will it take?
A normal adjustment can take about 5-10 minutes. That really depends on what is done on that visit. Procedures that can increase the time of the visit can range from ice and heat to exercise instruction and traction (to reshape the curves of the spine). The majority of chiropractic offices do mostly hands-on adjusting. This means that the doctor adjusts the spine using his hands. Occasionally an instrument called an activator or some other device is used to make the adjustment easier.
- Do I need to do any exercises?
In some cases chiropractors utilize exercises to support the chiropractic adjustments and nutrition programs. The exercises help strengthen the muscles around the spine. Stretching exercises may also be used to increase a particular range of motion. A properly moving spine and body should allow you to approach normal ranges of motion in the joints of your body.
- Do you adjust children?
Yes chiropractors do adjust children and infants. The chiropractic adjusting technique is different and often the force required is just finger pressure being placed on the spinal segment. Children have much less muscle tension, so it doesn't take as much effort to re-align their spinal segments. Chiropractors see children with ear infections and allergies just to name a couple. Many of the falls and slips that kids have can cause injuries to their bodies. Parents are happy to get drug-free treatment and preventive care for children.
- Do I have to be x-rayed?
Not all cases require x-rays. It often depends of the type of chiropractic adjusting technique that the chiropractor uses. They will let you know. An additional factor is the cause of the injury. This can be determined after taking a comprehensive history and exam of the patient. Children usually do not require x-rays films. Most chiropractic clinics do not x-ray pregnant women. After a detailed case analysis the doctor will let you know whether x-ray films are recommended.
- Why does it take more than one adjustment?
It is rare that a patient's problem has developed over night. It has usually been going on for months or years. It simply takes time to overcome that time gap and the compensations the body has developed. Most people do not seek care until the problem has been going on for quite a while. Here is a great example that we hear a lot. "I was bending over to pick something up off the floor and I felt a sharp pain in my low back." The item is nearly always an item that is light in weight. That means that the stress of picking up the object did not cause the injury. The person's body had a pre-existing area of weakness that was exposed by the act of lifting something off of the floor. That weakness took time to develop and will take some time to correct.
- Does my bed have anything to do with my problem?
It can. You may have to change your daily habits to get the best results from your chiropractic adjustments. Old mattresses do not support the body. This includes your pillow. It should be of good quality and support your neck curve. Neck pain and low back pain can be exacerbated by a bad mattress and pillow.
- What's the best way to sleep?
Generally the best way to sleep is on your back. Sleeping on your side is also a good position, but there have been some shoulder problems reported. Be sure to turn your entire body when moving to your side. Otherwise, stress can be placed on the shoulder joint and clavicle. There you have it, the top 10 questions polled. Hopefully this cleared up some of the myths about chiropractic while answering a few of your questions.
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