Disc Degeneration & Herniated Discs - Correct Diagnosis & Chiropractic Adjustments Bring Pain Relief

As a Chiropractor in Plano, Texas, I hear a lot of misinformation from my patients in regards to herniated discs and disc degeneration. This led me to write this article about some of the myths and truths in regards to herniated discs. I truly believe that there are a lot of assumed myths about disc injuries which add considerably to the diagnostic nocebo effect of a suspected bulging disc. As a Doctor of Chiropractic I feel it's our duty to provide accurate diagnosis and treatment for patients that have these issues. Patients need the facts and solutions so that they can seek optimal health instead of waiting until it becomes a crisis and they have a worse problem on their hands. I'm amazed at how many times people wait until they've exhausted all the "do it yourself" treatments and remedies before they finally come to realization that they need professional help. So let's look at some of the myths and facts that you might have heard.

Myths:

* All herniations are painful.

* Only older people suffer from disc degeneration.

* Most herniated discs require surgery.

* All herniated discs cause pinched nerves.

* All herniations are the result of injury.

* If you have a herniated disc, then that's where your back pain is coming from.

Facts you should know about herniated discs and disc degeneration:

* Herniated discs can induce pain in some cases, but with proper treatment, will typically resolve themselves over 2-3 months of time.

* Degenerated discs have abnormal blood supply.

* Degenerated discs have more nerve supply than normal discs.

* Range of motion is reduced in degenerated discs.

* Opting for major back surgery for a herniated disc can possibly lead to some of the worst medicinal results you can experience. Surgery might also lead to irreversible functional loss of the disc and physical restrictions.

* The vast majority of herniated discs go entirely undetected, since they produce little or no pain and/or related symptoms. Truthfully, most herniations are found by accident during routine testing for an unrelated condition.

* As we age, the spine degenerates and this is a leading contributor to disc problems. Therefore, this is merely a fact of life and should be expected for most people.

What is the chiropractic approach to conservative care of the disc?

First I want to address a big misconception. As a Chiropractor I don't attempt to "pop a disc back in place" with sharp adjusting or manipulative techniques. It is rare, that I use traditional chiropractic adjustments for bulging discs or discs that have compressed. Most disc problems are treated with a gentle program of low-force techniques using spinal decompression. I use the Pro-Adjuster system and it does a marvelous job on disc injuries.

Another misconception people have about chiropractic care, is that the treatment process is a quick process. Rather, chiropractors who treat disc conditions incorporate low force adjustments in a methodical process based on evaluation and treatments over a period of time.

When I prepare a program of chiropractic care for patients with disc problems, I will continue to monitor their progress with probing questions and verifying what is and isn't working for them. There must be consistent evaluations using neurological and chiropractic tests to compare with my initial findings in order to successfully resolve my clients back issues.

Chiropractic Versus The AMA

For many years, chiropractors were labeled as quacks by the established medical community. Only in recent years have medical doctors started to work with chiropractors instead of having a confrontational relationship with them. The basic theory behind chiropractic is that subluxations are the cause of many, if not most, medical problems. Subluxations are defined as misalignments in the spine or other skeletal structures that may cause blocked and impaired nerve functions. The idea is that if a chiropractor realigns the spine then normal nerve pathways will be restored and good health will be the result for the patient. However, there is no scientific evidence that supports these theories and this is why medical doctors were opposed to chiropractic. All the studies made in support of chiropractic are basically testimonials from patients. The chiropractor aligns the patient's spine and the patient "says" he feels better. Whether or not the alignment is the direct and only cause of the patient's restored health has not been scientifically established.

In the 1970s the American Medical Association (AMA), which is the main governing body for medical doctors in the USA, officially condemned and labeled chiropractic as a cult and quackery. The AMA actually had a section in its written Medical Code of Ethics that prevented medical doctors from associating with chiropractors in any way, shape or form. Also, the AMA's Committee on Quackery was working hard to discredit chiropractic by preventing coverage and recognition in all federal and state government agencies. The chiropractors, in return, sued the AMA claiming that the condemnation restricted free trade, and they won the lawsuit. Lawsuits between the AMA and chiropracters continued throughout the 1980s culminating in a Supreme Court decision in 1990 that supported an earlier decision that found the AMA guilty of illegally boycotting and conspiring against the chiropractic profession. The lawsuits didn't establish the scientific validity of chiropractic medicine but they did allow chiropractors to continue their practice without medical doctor interference. Despite improvements in the relation between medical doctors and chiropractors since then, chiropractors are still not a normal established part of the medical staffs at hospitals and medical clinics. Chiropractors usually work out of their own buildings and organizations separate from medical doctors' facilities. Occasionally a doctor will refer a patient to a chiropractor and vice versa but there is no clearly established working relationship between the two.

Part of the problem is that the established medical profession has for many years been opposed to all other alternative forms of medicine, valid or not. Science was not the real legal issue. They actively tried to contain and eliminate competition, which is against the law. The AMA has enjoyed its monopoly of the health profession industry and has zealously tried to defend it against all other approaches whether it be acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic or any other form of health care that does not buy into the surgery and drugs culture of the established medical community.

The biggest losers in all of this unfortunately have been the patients. If a spirit of cooperation and learning had been fostered between doctors and chiropractors instead of antagonism there would undoubtedly be a much stronger infrastructure today for providing health care to patients.

The Importance of Preventative Chiropractic Care

Most people think of visiting the chiropractor after they have hurt themselves. What they do not realize is how important it can be to see the chiropractor before an injury can occur. A body that is in proper alignment can protect itself from injury far more easily than one that is not aligned.

Not everyone needs the same kind of preventative visits. Some people are very physically active, and may require more visits than those who are only mildly active. Your chiropractor is the person to talk to about how often you need to be seen to receive preventative care.

Chiropractors can also help you determine the types of preventative care that would work best for your situation. Perhaps acupuncture would help you best, not only in the short term, but in the long term as well. Your chiropractor is the person who can help you in planning your health goals.

Chiropractic care works well in conjunction with physical therapy to get you to the activity and health level you want to be at. Many chiropractors specialize in sports injury therapy, and work at keeping the bones and joints adjusted as the physical therapist works with the muscles and muscle memory training.

When your body is working at its peak performance, it can better protect itself from injury, as well as having an increased capacity to heal itself. Anything that interferes with this performance, whether it is chronic stress or a traumatic injury, keeps the body from working at its best. Spinal adjustments and physical therapy helps your body stay at its best and enable your body to draw on its own natural healing abilities.

While your primary focus may be on fixing the pain that you may be currently experiencing, a chiropractor would help you through that and then focus on the underlying problem that allowed your original pain to happen.

Take your car as an example. You know that to keep it running well it needs routine maintenance. Oil changes, tire rotation and tune-ups are just a sampling of what it takes to keep your car in great shape, and keep you from worrying about being stranded somewhere. Your body is not much different than your car in that respect. The exercise you do keeps your muscles healthy. Combine that with the food you use as fuel, and your body stays healthier. Combine the exercise and fuel with preventative chiropractic care to keep everything in alignment, and you have an almost unstoppable mix.

Injuries can still happen if you receive preventative care, but the way your body's reaction to the injury will be different. It may not be as severe an injury - the way it could have been if you were not taking steps to maintain your physical health. Chiropractic care is one of the things you can do for yourself to ensure you are as healthy and as active for as long as you can be.

Chiropractic And Leg And Hip Pain

Subluxation of the spine results in leg pain and hip pain. This can result in irritation of the nerves, muscle spasms and pain. Hips and legs provide support to the entire body and provide stability, mobility, strength and flexibility. This is the reason why there is a lot of stress on these parts of the body. Due to the place where the spine connects with the pelvis, hip pain is at times confused with backache.

The hip is a ball and socket joint where the hipbone connects with the thighbone. Cartilage separates the two bones and it behaves like a cushion so that the bones do not rub against each other. When this cartilage wears out, there is swelling and pain and this result in hip pain. This condition is commonly also known as arthritis.

Some reason for leg pain and hip pain can be wrong posture and sitting for long period of time. These activities can cause ruptured or slipped disc. Cracks take place in the intervertebral disc and the soft nucleus leaks out. Slipped disc takes place in case the disc pushes on sensitive tissues and creates pain. Weakness in the legs, sciatica and numbness are caused due to disc pressing against the spinal nerve. There might be a need to perform surgery to remove the herniated disc material if the rupture is large and is not managed correctly.

Due to fracture or sprain, at times pain occurs. Usually, fracture takes place only in older people who fall and have osteoporosis. After a leg or hip fracture, you can observe swelling, stiffness, limited mobility and numbness. If you think you have fractured your leg or hip, you should go to a medical professional soon. Sprains are not very serious but should be treated by a doctor so that it does not result in a serious injury.

The main cause of your leg and hip pain can be determined by your chiropractor. Usually, these problems can be treated with the help of spinal adjustments. Your chiropractor will also give you advice on exercises so that you can stabilize and rehabilitate the misaligned and injured spinal structures. Work habits, posture and diet will also be examined and analyzed. This is because to completely get rid of the problem, you need to identify and correct the real cause of the problem. So, if you are suffering from hip pain or leg pain, you should go for chiropractic treatment immediately.

Back Pain Relief - Chiropractic Adjustments, Are They Good For You?

One of the most commonly sought after back pain relief methods is a chiropractic adjustment. Some people really like to have their back cracked, it feels good to them. But, what really happens when you have your back cracked? What makes it feel so good? And, is it really good for you?

People will do anything to get out of pain. The number one pain complaint is back pain (the headache is number one) causes people to spend lots of money on various treatments. But, chiropractors tend to be the most sought back pain relief provider.

A chiropractic adjustment, when done the standard way, involves using force. The area is taken to the extreme of where it can move, then a thrust is applied to move it further. This action forces the joint alignment back to where it is supposed to be. There may be back pain relief, however inflammation happens anytime force is applied to the body. An adjustment may not be as extreme as a blow to the body, but still there will be an inflammatory response. The best chiropractors work to minimize this with various means. I wish I could tell you how to find such a chiropractor, but the only way to tell is to talk to clients that weren't happy with their adjustment, or by experiencing their work for yourself.

Inflammation is not the best thing to have in your body. It is the root of almost every major illness, and in the case of an adjustment, it can cause injury to the surrounding tissues. Some chiropractors will apply ice after adjusting their clients to help minimize this natural reaction.

So, how can something that causes injury feel so good? The answer is the body's naturally occurring opiate, endorphins. Endorphins are a powerful hormone that helps the body deal with pain, just like morphine helps the body deal with pain. Whenever there is a crack in the spine, the body releases endorphins to deal with the pain. The response is virtually instantaneous, so the good feeling from the endorphins is associated with the crack. The choice becomes a question of which is the lesser of the two evils, the pain from a misalignment in the spine, or the damage that comes from an adjustment to eliminate the pain. The answer is more personal than something that can be measured, and it depends on many different factors.

However, there are other options. There are ways to do adjustments gently, to have back pain relief without force. Soft tissue adjustments rely on massage and gentle manipulation that does not involve force. A few chiropractors learn these methods. Also, medical doctors that specialize in bones and joints, osteopaths, often learn them as well. But, you have the same problem as before, how do you find such a gentle practitioner?

All You Need To Know About Chiropractors

Chiropractors or chiropractic physicians are licensed doctors whose main function is to improve the relation between structure and functionality of the body. The major area of treatment for chiropractors is neuromusculoskeletal system and its effect on the performance of body.

Many patients are looking up to chiropractors these days for back, neck or muscle pain assistance that might have been caused by accident or muscle strain. Chiropractic is a non surgical treatment and an alternative therapeutic treatment for medical care. It is one of the oldest healing practices and is a kind of spinal manipulation. People usually go to see a chiropractor in conditions like back pain, headaches, sports injuries, arthritis and repetitive strains.

Chiropractic therapy is gaining a lot of popularity due to its effectiveness. The various techniques used by chiropractors include Activator Methods, Diversified technique, Thompson, gonstead, Applied Kinesiology, Cranial, Neuro-Vascular technique, Bio-Energetic Synchronization, Chiropractic Biophysics Vector Point therapy, Motion Palpation, Logan Basic and many others. A chiropractor may use one or more of these adjustments depending upon the kind of pain or injury. It is a manual therapy wherein a sudden and controlled force is applied to a joint. Chiropractic adjustment or manual manipulation helps improve functionality, reducing nerve ability and restoring the motion in the back.

Chiropractors can also educate you on the ways to take care of health via exercise, therapies and ergonomics. The search for an efficient chiropractor can be a bit daunting task. There are certain points that needs to be given due consideration to ensure that you are being diagnosed properly and receiving correct treatment.

You can consult your physician who can recommend you some experienced chiropractors who can offer you an effective treatment. Recommendations can also be taken from friends, family, colleagues or neighbours. It is always advisable to get multiple references that can help you to be assured about the competency of a particular chiropractor. It is also important to be assured of the qualifications and treatment style before you make a visit for consultation. You can also check information about the various chiropractors working in your area either in yellow pages or online. You can make a call and fix an appointment for consultation. By consulting you can get a fair bit of idea about whether you want to start treatment with the chiropractor or not. Also make sure to ask if they accept insurance in case you have any.

The increasing popularity of chiropractic treatment can be attributed to its non dependency on medications or surgical treatments. It can not only treat your back issues but will also assure that with proper care and prevention, spinal problems in future can be avoided. Seeing a chiropractor is a healthy and affordable way to be relieved from pain and stress.

Numbness Or Pain of the Arms Or Hands - How Does Chiropractic Help?

When numbness or pain down the arms or hands occurs, it can be a serious problem to deal with since we use those body parts for a lot of things. Psychologically, it can also be distressing knowing that a part of your body is not working although it should be.

In your arm, there are 30 bones, over 40 muscles and 14 major nerves which make your arm more diligent, dexterous and adaptable than any tool a man can imitate. In your hand, there are many different bones, muscles, and ligaments that allow for a large amount of movement and dexterity.

Some of the causes of numbness or pain in the arms or hands are arthritis, silent injuries (such as bone fractures, ligament tears, and joint strains), constant overuse, improper posture, neck pain, heart problems, nerve problems, spine problems, other diseases (such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and cancer), and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Patients with numbness or pain in their arms or hands are commonly misdiagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome where the problem originates from a pinched nerve or cervical spine sublaxation. Misdiagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome happens if there are no real examinations or tests performed to determine where the problem is coming from.

Many people with arm or hand problems seek chiropractic treatment to help relieve their pain. They get proper diagnosis which is the first key to a complete and effective treatment. Pain or numbness in the arm or hand can be likely to be a cause of problems in the neck. The nerves that control the arms and hands actually come from the neck.

An efficient chiropractor will always examine a patient from neck to fingertips on both sides to determine the cause of problem. In most cases the problem is the result of either subluxations or misalignments of the bones. There are also cases that the problem comes from the muscles that tighten the nerves.

Once the origin of pain or numbness in the arm or hand is determined, the chiropractor goes to the affected part using natural methods and adjusts the spine to be able to relax the muscles especially the muscles that are overactive. By gently adjusting the cervical and upper thoracic vertebrae, the pressure to the affected nerves is reduced. This restores the normal nerve impulses. The chiropractor then works on the nerves to be able to function correctly until the numbness or pain goes away.

Some of the most common approaches chiropractors use in treating numbness or pain in the arm or hand are soft tissue therapy, joint manipulation, Trigger Point therapy and other soft tissue therapies. The chiropractor may also give a patient some appropriate exercises to help strengthen the muscles to be able to keep the vertebrae in their proper positions.

Usually, the arm or hand will heal quickly while others may take time to heal. It just depends on the nature of the problem. Chiropractic treatment really helps. Seeing a chiropractor is a very good option if you want to get rid of the pain or numbness in your arm or hand.

Chiropractic Paperless Office Software Solution

In today's technologically driven computer and internet world, all health-care professionals are looking for a paperless office software solution. Even your family chiropractor, who has kept you almost pain-free, is looking for his or her own chiropractic paperless office software solution. If we are honest about the computer and business world we live in, then we must confess that we are going in a paperless office direction. Going paperless in your office does have its advantages and a disadvantage or two.

One of your most performed job duties as a chiropractor is the making of very detailed SOAP notes on each patient. This is a must, and this 'must' comes at a hefty price right? Yes, such prices as; the space to keep organized and stored all those thousands of notes on your thousands of patients. Not to mention the manpower to work with them and the cost of paper to record them on and well, shelves, file cabinets, you get the idea.

Therefore, since this duty is so repetitiously performed, the Chiropractic Paperless Office Software Solution or fulfillment of this is that it must record and store a paperless note fast. We are talking in seconds and not minutes, if you cannot record a SOAP note on an established patient in 15 seconds or less, what good will the software do for you? None. So speed is definitely a big advantage.

What good is speed if the notes which are created are not detailed enough? No advantage at all and is a detriment turning into more of a hindrance than a help. Ideally the speed should help you create a SOAP note with more detail or equal to your current software.

A big advantage to the perfect Chiropractic Paperless Office Software Solution would be ease of use. This is where a touch screen technology would fit in because a touch screen is so much faster and easier to use than a keyboard with a mouse. There just is no real comparison and this alone makes the whole operation of your software for all your daily duties faster and not only for the note creation.

I am sure that you would have more peace in buying software if perhaps it was designed by a fellow practicing chiropractor. A DC who preferably has been in business for himself for enough time to 'know the ropes' in your field. They would know what you need and what to just trash and not have any extra features that would just be taking up hard-drive space. I know I would be.

Why would I want to buy software from a computer expert who has no personal knowledge of your software needs? I would most likely not buy from them. A good analogy would be to ask myself 'why would I buy health care software from an auto parts store?' Go to an expert in the field.

iPad compatibility would be a big plus. This feature, when combined with the touch screen would enable you to just carry your iPad from room to room. The portability of it cuts down on the cost of needing a separate unit in each room. Whereas this is not a requirement or need to demand, it sure puts the power into your hands, literally. This advantage should be looked for also in the Chiropractic Paperless Office Software Solution you choose.

One disadvantage, not related directly to the software package you choose will be the switch over to a paperless office. The process of going from an office that uses, handles, sends, and stores paper in all business activities to one that is paperless, is quite a change. Although, it may seem a steep hill to climb, it is climbable if you look at this challenge, one step at a time.

As the owner of your business finding the perfect Chiropractic Paperless Office Software Solution to fit your needs and practice. Which at the same time must be powerful, fast, and easy to use enough to be a tool that will pay you back in money saved. While weighing the advantages and disadvantages is what all offices have to deal with. In the long run the savings are substantial and save trees in the process. That is always good.

How Much to Prepare For Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is by and large cost-effective and very affordable. You will see that it is better when equated with a number of other medical measures that last for several years. The fees will change depending on your condition, the professional and duration of treatment. It is recommended that you compare different sources first, to work out how much you actually need.

The Average Costs

A normal chiropractic session in general costs around $65 for general vertebrae adjustment, as reported by one survey in a chiropractic magazine. Sessions usually range anywhere between $35 and $105, dependent on the patient's location, requirements for examinations and the regions of the spine that will be treated. Usually, rates are most expensive in southern areas of the United States, averaging around $70 per session. The Midwest has the lowest rates at around $60.

During your first visits, you ought to expect to pay slightly beyond the typical, at around $60 to $160, since you will require overall health consultation. Additional fees may be charged by professionals for X-ray during diagnostics and evaluation too, priced at about $44 to $160. A great deal of health insurance cover plans will look after certain chiropractic care levels, with remedies turning into a tax-deductible expense. Most chiropractors will take payment plans or insurance.

What to Expect

During each session, you should anticipate to have adjustment of the vertebrae, wherein the chiropractor uses his or her arms and hands, to provide force to the neck and back, thereby realigning joints and relief pain and pressure. The regularity and duration of session will rely upon the actual condition of the patient, as well as patient's a reaction to therapy.

Additional services and modalities can also be given by chiropractors to alleviate tension and stress, as well as treat chronic problems. During a survey of 365 chiropractors, about 48% offer massage services, while 15% offer acupuncture or acupressure. A rub down therapy session by a chiropractor will cost about $40.

Pressure will be put on to the soft tissues and muscles. Acupuncture is the procedure of inserting needles into pressure points in your body to control the correct flow of energy. Each session will cost about $100 to $150, including consultation services. Follow up visits will cost about $65.

Getting Discounts

Some pros who only accept cash usually charge less, at around $55 per session. These physicians are not concerned about the reimbursement percentage that they can get from insurance agencies. Chiropractors with single practice offers usually give discounts, with the whole price average about $63 per session, when equated with physicians belonging in a medical group, with an average charge of about $70.

More Costs

Majority of clinics will require you to go through thorough physical assessment, to work out the right sort of therapy and regions that should be provided attention. Spinal X-Ray, MRI and thermal scan are just a few of the various diagnostic procedures that will be added to your overall costs. You can visit other cheaper places to have these results too, then bring them to your chiropractor to review.

If you are recommended to undergo treatment for several months, expect that costs per session will bit by bit decrease. Some professionals also provide package deals that last for a couple of months, to help patients deal with financial constraints more efficiently.

Quickly learn how to shop for the right professional and compare the rates before picking out.

Chiropractic Facts and Myths - What You Need to Know About Chiropractic

Chiropractic myths have been into existence for many years. For those who are yet unfamiliar with chiropractic care, these myths have caused them confusion. For them to understand what chiropractic really is, here are some of the well-known myths about chiropractic and the facts that can dispel them.

Myth: Chiropractors are false doctors.

Fact: Chiropractors are recognized by health care legislation as legitimate doctors. Although chiropractors do not prescribe medicines nor perform surgery, they are qualified to treat patients using holistic health methods.

Myth: Chiropractors never underwent real education or training.

Fact: Just like any other type of doctor, chiropractic students are required to attend years of schooling to obtain their license to practice. They are also required to complete rigorous National and State Board examinations to obtain license. Chiropractic programs focus on basic sciences, adjustive techniques, principles and practice of chiropractic, physiologic therapeutics, and biomechanics.

Myth: Once you see a chiropractor, you have to continue chiropractic treatment for the rest of your life.

Fact: When a chiropractor recommends regular spinal care, it is no different from returning to a dentist to adjust braces until teeth are properly aligned. When you start seeing your chiropractor, you will not need to keep going forever. You will just go on a regular basis until the problem is gone.

Myth: Chiropractic adjustments are painful.

Fact: Spinal adjustment is not painful. Contrary to the myth, getting adjustments are quite pleasant. Many people feel relief after their spine has been adjusted. If your spine is misaligned, that is when you feel pain and you may get some other health problems.

Myth: Chiropractic adjustments are dangerous.

Fact: Having a spinal adjustment is something that is not dangerous at all. It is very safe when performed by a chiropractor. You naturally get improvement with overall health of your body. People commonly rely on medication for pain relief, however chemicals in these drugs are far more dangerous.

Myth: Something is being damaged when you hear cracking sound during adjustment.

Fact: The cracking sound you hear during adjustment does not indicate anything harmful. Often it is due to the release of gas in the joint space. The synovial fluid which acts as a lubricant in your joints contains oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. When a joint produces popping or cracking sound, it is when the joint capsule expands and the gas is rapidly released.

Myth: Chiropractors only treat back pain

Fact: It is not just back pain chiropractors can treat. They focus on the spine, which is responsible for every function in the body. Nerves travel along the spine and transmit sensory and motor information to all the body organs. What chiropractors do is to remove interferences along the nerves to restore communication from the brain to the rest of the body, allowing every part of the body to function properly.

Myth: Adjustments in the neck can cause stroke

Fact: Although a 2003 study claims that neck adjustment led to a type of stroke called vertebral artery dissection (VAD), American Chiropractic Association (ACA) stated that the study is filled with design flaws. VAD is rare and it is associated with common activities such as talking on the telephone, hair shampooing, and even sleeping. Currently, there are several valid scientific evidences that support the safety and efficacy of neck adjustments. Chiropractic is non-invasive, hence it has an extremely low risk for serious adverse effects.

Myth: Medical doctors do not recommend patients to visit chiropractic doctors

Fact: Between people of different professions, mistrust may be possible. However, many of the chiropractors and medical doctors work together. In fact, many medical doctors are having chiropractic treatment every year and some chiropractors even work full time at hospitals and other health care facilities.

Myth: You can adjust yourself

Fact: When you try to adjust your own spine by moving your back or neck around until you hear some cracks, it is actually harmful. You are only causing instability to your joints instead of addressing the problem of your stiffness. Only dysfunctional joints should be adjusted and should be done by a chiropractic professional only.

More and more people turn to chiropractic care, which only shows that the chiropractic facts are beginning to weigh more than the myths. The success of chiropractic leads to more popularity. In terms of patient satisfaction, chiropractic leads among other forms of health care. Chiropractic care has been proven to enhance general health and wellness of human body.

Chiropractic Coaching Fraud Alert

When I've spoken at chiropractor seminars or homecomings, especially within the last two years, I've encountered loads of veteran doctors and recent graduates that have been victims of chiropractic coaching scams and bad practice management consulting. Usually, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. I find that many DC's join these companies simply out of fear of failure. What I don't like, is the manipulation that sometimes occurs with desperate chiropractors and the "sharks" that take advantage of them.

If you join a consulting group, make sure they have plenty of value to provide to you rather than just empty promises. Personally, I feel than many are overpriced and are just out to make a buck and could care less about the average chiropractor. I say this because some chiropractic practice consulting groups are using marketing tactics and strategies that died in the 1970's. The world changes periodically, not to mention the people in it, so it's important to find a company that's adaptable to the new ways of marketing and doing business in today's high-tech age.

Do an intense evaluation from inside out with your chiropractic practice, finding those areas that you need help with. Even in this sagging economy, many DC's are doing very well. I typically find that the marketing and new patient acquisition aspects of most practices is what chiropractors want to substantially ramp-up. If you need new patients, you should first seek out forms of marketing and advertising that are free. Believe it or not, the best advertising is free in today's time. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. For example, did you know you can use YouTube and create videos to bring patients into the office and dominate the competition and search engines? Did you know you could use Myspace or Facebook to connect with local people in your area and brand yourself and your office?

In times of economic uncertainty, more innovative and strategic methods like the ones mentioned above are needed to make your office recession-proof. However, there isn't a single chiropractic consultant that teaches these tactics, though. Reason being, most have not been adaptable and are still stuck in the past. A word of advice, if you encounter a chiropractic coaching firm that claims to know it all and does not have to learn more, stay away!

Here are a few tips to consider when choosing a practice management company. Make sure they have real-life testimonials from previous clients. Secondly, see if they specialize in what you are looking for. You don't want a "jack of all trades, master of none" chiropractic coaching group. If you want to market your practice via the internet, don't choose someone that focuses on screenings are dinner-talks. Lastly, make sure they are adaptable and staying abreast of new trends in the internet and the world. Not only that, be clear that they have an exact, proven strategy to implement them within your practice.

To get you started on some free chiropractic marketing and advertising for your office, here are a few sites that you want to be on and continuously contribute content to:

YouTube.com
Myspace.com
Wordpress.com
Facebook.com
Digg.com
EzineArticles.com
Free-Press-Release.com
Twitter.com

Now, I could've mentioned about a hundred more, but begin with these ones first. These Web 2.0 sites are free to use and can bring you truckloads of new patients and other sources of income if you learn the basic and advanced strategies of how to harness them. I've noticed that about 95% of the chiropractic profession is still in the dark about how to use social media to blow the doors of their offices.

Just so it is understood, not all chiropractic coaching groups are frauds. There are a select few good ones that have proven themselves and have gained trust and credibility within the profession. Ask around to other colleagues to get honest opinions before you pick a firm. This is a big decision and has the potential to give your practice an incredible jump-start.

Chiropractic Postcards for Building a Chiropractic Practice

Since chiropractic postcards are so small, so inexpensive and so easy to use, many chiropractors overlook this simple and significant way of building their chiropractic practice. Here are some simple suggestions that you can implement to put this powerful marketing tool to work in your practice.

If you do a great job helping patients, as most chiropractors do, a trusted marketing adage comes into play here: the patients most likely to come to your practice are the ones who have already been to your practice. A postcard reminder is the perfect way to tap into this rule of thumb.

Since many chiropractic patients discontinue their care as soon as they feel better, they subject themselves to a likely relapse. And most patients would rather return to familiar surroundings and procedures than begin care again elsewhere. Thus, what most chiropractic patients need is a low confrontational nudge; a suggestion or reminder to return for a chiropractic checkup.

Naturally, the first thing you'll need in your patient reactivation strategy are some chiropractic postcards! There are many suppliers from which to choose.

Choosing Your Chiropractic Postcards

Chiropractic postcards come in two main flavors: playful and serious.

You can recognize the playful chiropractic postcards because they typically feature cartoon characters licensed by the various syndicates or other, more lighthearted images. This approach is often believed to make the reactivation overture seem less confrontational and friendlier. And it may. However, it may do so at the risk of minimizing the image of the chiropractor and reducing the importance of their health.

The other approach is to use photographs and images that can serve to educate and enlighten patients about attending to their spinal health. Symbols and metaphors are used to advance chiropractic principles and explain the value of regular chiropractic checkups.

Choose the style that best represents the "tone" of your practice and the image you wish to project among your inactive patients.

What to Write on Chiropractic Postcards

Many chiropractic postcards aren't sent simply because the chiropractor or the front desk staff who are usually tasked with this responsibility, are unsure of what to write! Let's put an end to this constraint right now!

Rule Number One. Do not mention their admitting complaint or reason for originally consulting your practice. This is a needless infraction of HIPAA guidelines and is inappropriate for a postcard. Plus, inactive patients don't need to be reminded of a previous episode.

Rule Number Two. Make your message short and breezy. Perhaps something like, "Remember to drink lots of water as it heats up this summer!" Or "Time for a stress-relieving chiropractic adjustment? Give us a call." Or "Hope your adjustments are still holding. If not, give us a call." And "We hope all is well. If not, give us a call."

The mission is to present you and your practice as a memory jogger, trusting that if patients sense the need for a visit or two, they'll give you a call.

The Metaphysics of Chiropractic Postcards

The chiropractic postcards you send to inactive patients represent a form of energy. Besides being authentically interested in the patient's health, the postcards you send are a tangible representation of your motives, intentions and the way you think of patients. To some, these suggestions may seem subtle and worth ignoring. But do so at your own peril.

Chiropractor vs. chiropractic assistant. Since the chiropractor/patient relationship is between the chiropractor and the patient, it's optimal that the chiropractor handwrites the personal message. If that's simply out of the question, having a staff member write the message is better than no postcard at all.

Hand addressing vs. printed labels. If the chiropractor is writing the short, personal message, it's probably best to apply a crisply printed address label. Most practice management software will allow a list export or have label printing capabilities built in to them.

Postage stamp vs. postage meter. While a postage meter (if you have one) is more convenient, individually applied postage stamps are perceived as more personal and the preferred choice. This shouldn't be burdensome if you're simply dropping 5-6 chiropractic postcards in the mail each day.

Say a prayer. Imbue each postcard with a blessing directed to the receiver. Ideally, have the postcard written, stamped or addressed by someone who can visualize the patient and extend a wish for health and well-being to each recipient. Ignore this nuance and your postcard overture is mechanical and self-serving.

Chiropractic postcards are the ideal way to grow a chiropractic practice. They are used by the busiest chiropractors, and those who want to be.

Chiropractic For Treating Headaches - Does It Work?

An aspirin is something we often turn to during a headache, but an aspirin merely works to mask the pain. The pain does not go away; it is still there. While an aspirin may be an effective way for some to treat headaches, for other popping pills just doesn't cut it... so they turn to chiropractic. But does chiropractic work for treating headaches?

What Does The Research Say?

In 2001, researchers at the Duke University Evidence-Based Practice Center in Durham, North Carolina noticed the patients who had undergone chiropractic treatment felt relief significantly faster after undergoing spinal adjustment, the primary technique used in chiropractic. Also, a 1995 study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics shows that people who had received chiropractic care but had stopped still showed tremendous benefits four weeks after stopping treatment. This is largely different from pill-based treatment, which requires the patient to take in a suggested dose on a regular basis to mask the pain.

Chiropractic and Headaches Resulting from Muscular Tension

Tension headaches are usually caused by muscle contractions in the head, neck, and shoulder muscles. They are one of the most common headaches experienced by most Americans and are often caused by emotional stress that lead to stiffness in the muscles and joints. Tension headaches, if not properly treated, can lead to a vicious circle of more muscular tension leading to more intense headaches. Chiropractic adjustment, along with other natural therapies such as trigger point therapy, massage therapy, and other relaxation techniques, can be employed to treat tension headaches because it restores the proper alignment of the spine at the same time releases the built-up tension in the muscles.

Chiropractic and Headaches Resulting from Vascular Problems

Headaches that arise due to abnormalities in the vascular system are more commonly known as migraines. Although many Americans experience at least one migraine over the course of their lives, nobody knows the exact reason why they exist. Medical studies have shown that migraines are triggered by a change in the hormones arising from exposure to food, smells, changes in the weather, and even emotional stress. Exactly why these factors cause a hormonal change is yet to be studied, though.

When these changes in the body's hormone levels occur, the blood vessels located in the head dilate, causing other symptoms like nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and visual auras, followed by a severe headache that cannot be treated effectively or even disguised by aspirin and other over-the-counter medications. Here comes the role of chiropractic adjustment, which is also well-known to be an effective neurological release therapy because the adjustments in the spinal vertebrae frees up more space for the nervous system to flow through the body without restraint. Thus, through spinal manipulation combined with other therapies, migraine headaches can be treated and even prevented effectively.

Benefits of Going to the Chiropractor

Going to the chiropractor for treatment can give you various immediate benefits you won't normally get right after you visit a regular doctor. Although chiropractic care is considered by many as alternative medicine, it can provide immediate relief for your musculoskeletal problems. In Canada, specifically in Oakville, you'll find a number of chiropractic clinics that can help improve your general health through manipulation of your spine and joints.

Back and neck problems are the usual complaints of patients who go to chiropractors, and pain relief is the immediate result they get after a chiropractor visit. However besides the immediate pain relief, a lot of chiropractic patients observe other improvements in their health, specifically in the pulmonary system (i.e. it's now easier to breathe), gastrointestinal system, cardiac/circulation system, and vision.

Chiropractors claim that their treatments can result in a lot of other benefits as well. According to them, chiropractic care corrects the cause rather than treats symptoms resulting in improved immunity, increased energy, and restored mobility. These benefits apply to all kinds of patients including pregnant women, who would have easier delivery if they receive chiropractic treatment; babies, who would have improved developmental abilities and less chances of having a scoliosis; and adults, who would have more energy and increased productivity.

If you wish to prevent diseases such as asthma from affecting your kids, you can bring them to an Oakville massage therapy clinic to improve their health condition. Ear infection can also be prevented with chiropractic care. With chiropractic treatment, your kids can enjoy better posture, improved athletic performance and restored normal nerve supply.

SEO Google Services

Every SEO developer want to get in bed with Google, but that's not necessary, just use their tools, follow their guide lines and you will do well. An untapped market for SEO developers is just the businesses and websites who need a hand understanding all the tools and options Google offers. Businesses and websites know Google's out there and their importance; they just don't have time to tackle it all.

As a SEO developer I have to diversify in a SEO saturated market, especially here in Phoenix, Arizona, where anybody who's copied and pasted Google's Analytics code between the header tags on an index page now feels qualified to be a SEO developer. Vital Computer Services of crack pot specialists (no that's not a typo, you have to be a little crazy in this business), have learned the hard way with getting results using or not using Google's tools.

Consulting is a crazy business to begin with but being a SEO Consultant takes special craziness, you run into many clients who think the validity of such a career is the same as what people thought of being a Chiropractor was 20 years ago. Although you can get a certificate in SEO nowadays many SEO developers don't have one.

That's not to say they're not qualified, this is a field that a lot of people who were once in Marketing and liked to dabble in computers got into, or a programmer who decides to take another route (like moi-m礙me), just the same without some type of background in marketing and or computers one would have a lot of home work to do.

Personally I have over 20 years in Digital Marketing, from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois working for many companies. So I come well equipped in the SEO field with some albeit old school ideas, but proven techniques just the same. I use this experience and apply it to my SEO skills and trial by error learning as of late. Google's Analytics is my favorite tool, because it has many of the sub tools on the very first page like - site usage, visitor's overview, traffic sources overview, content overview and more...

I also use Goals and incorporate Adsense into my Analytics, this helps when presenting reports to clients. Google's Google Local and places are great tools to developing a relationship and becoming part of the Google family, getting your business with its own map and Google AD (optional) is great PR. Google places offer special AD's, a good one is a monthly for about $25.00, which is pretty reasonable, and a great thing about Google is they let you put any amount of funds you can afford, when this runs out they don't continue the ad without your Ok, meaning if you have used a credit or Bank Card, they don't assume and just start taking fund from, you have to give them your Ok.

Anyway getting back to SEO and Google Services, having extensive knowledge and experience with Google is a very Google thing, this Internet is turning into a Google experience, I figure after they buy the internet and Microsoft (He he) having the knowledge I have I can aspire to be a Google Representative, this would be a nice position to retire from, great benefits, Google is know to treat their employees very well, Google is green as it gets and planet friendly, and we all know Google University is right around the corner where your kids will get their Google Diploma's.

We already have Google Television, what happen to Google radio I don't know, and I might be sounding a bit facetious but none of this sounds that bad, so I say lets get on board!

Note: Vital Computer Services was started by Michael Robert Cummings in 1998 before Google became so popular and recognizes Google as being a leader and a good example of what a large corporation can do to enhance the internet experience into a very positive one.

How to Spot a Bad Chiropractor

There are a good deal of people who will visit a chiropractor so that they can fix any problems they are having in a way that medicine is not able to. While this is becoming quite popular with a great deal of individuals there are still some individuals who think that this kind of health care is not comprehensive enough to cure complex conditions in the body. It is true that a few of these doctors will not do what is necessary for their patient and believe that they can heal anything.

That is why it is essential to do some research and find somebody who has a good reputation. The first place you need to go to the FCLB website. This will allow you to learn more about the physicians in your area and any critiques they have concerning them. This will cost you some money - but it is well worth it.

If your insurance provider will cover this kind of healthare than you need to speak with them about the physicians in the area. Try to narrow the list down by asking about any complaints that have been made and why.

Another web site you can visit is the World Chiropractic Alliance. Click on your state and look through the state's Board of Examiners. This will let you to report any problems or to ask questions concerning the credentials of the doctor you want to utilize. The certifications will tell you if anyone has filed a charge against them.

One of the better ways to pick out a bad chiropractor is to look at how he acts with you and other patients. He must be professional in how he speaks with you, analyze your problem close, and take steps to making you better. The best chiropractor will admit when the problem is too much to handle and will refer you to someone who can help.

Scare Tactics In Healthcare and Chiropractic?

While it is not my interest or intent to throw specific chiropractors "under the bus," I find it necessary to talk in generalities about a certain trend in our profession that I, as a chiropractor, am becoming more and more uncomfortable with.

I am referring to a trend that involves a patient being required to sign contracts with chiropractors for a year or more and pay for that treatment up front before any treatment is administered. Every one of the chiropractors that I have had discussions with concerning this behavior find this to be an unethical practice. Accepting payment for services not rendered in the healthcare field is questionable at best.

Conversations with my patients that have been taken advantage of in this manner inform me that this is accomplished through a very hard sell and through various scare tactics. The original patient is forced to bring their spouse to a mass "patient education" session. I can only assume this is because the uninvolved spouse would think their partner had gone crazy if they were not in the middle of the same hard sell. Paying $1500-$2500 up front for a year of treatment? It's a contract and they can't get the money back. I would think my spouse was off of her rocker too!

A chiropractor that I am aware of utilizing these tactics has even gone so far as to encourage a prospective patient to sell her car because, "Surely your health is more important than the car." The same chiropractor, when told that another prospective patient could not afford his contract, encouraged her to make him and his family dinner once a week to fulfill the terms of the contract. Then another local chiropractor that uses the same tactics told a friend of mine that he could fix his 7 year old daughter's headaches but it would take a year and that it would be $3000. They paid it. I will let my readers make their own minds up here. As for me, I can only guess that these "chiropractors" must be tired all of the time since I see no way that they sleep at night.

Simply put, as in any business, it comes down to respect, treating your patients the way you would want to be treated, and not taking advantage of people and their understandable fears. If your chiro is not affecting your condition in the first 5 visits or so, he should be trying to find you someone that can. If you are being scared or pressured into a treatment plan that you are uncomfortable with, or know deep down is wrong, then you should shop elsewhere.

Do Chiropractors Really Work?

Lisa said, "All I did was bend over to pick my baby girl up from the floor. Immediately I felt a spike of lower back pain. It was so bad that I couldn't even stand up straight. I just wanted to cry!"

I too have been suffering from lower back pain for quite some time now. It is because of this lower back pain that I started to learn about my options. I live in Owings Mills, Maryland so I have plenty of options when it comes to Chiropractors in my area. A quick Google search for 'Baltimore chiropractic', 'Owings Mills chiropractic', or 'Pikesville chiropractor' reveals lots of chiropractic clinics in the area.

Baltimore Maryland Chiropractors and chiropractors all over the world hear stories just like Lisa's and mine. Sudden back pain brings lots of people every day into Chiropractic clinics across the world.

Why is it that trained weight lifters are able to pick up hundreds of pounds and not experience any lower back pain, yet without any previous signs of problems, someone like Lisa has a sudden onset of pain from just bending over?

If the lower back muscles have weakened or the spine is out of alignment, something as simple as picking up you baby, reaching for laundry, or bending down to feed the cat can cause a lower back injury.

Chiropractic clinics don't just work with sports injuries, and victims of auto accidents. People from all walks of life who suffer with back pain from everyday common events are flocking to Chiropractic centers for Spinal Adjustments and relief from back pain. Many techniques are used including Spinal decompression to stabilize the spine and reduce nerve pressure from joint degeneration and disc injuries.

The medical term for the most common and widespread cause of mechanical lower back pain is subluxation. I spoke with an Owings Mills Chiropractor who defined subluxation as "a condition where adjacent spinal bones are out of alignment with each other." Nerve fibers run between each of the vertebrae. A subluxation can cause a pinched nerve producing pain and reduced function of our bodies.

What causes subluxation to occur? In one word, the answer is stress. This could be emotional stress, physical stress, or chemical stress. Sometimes the stress is physical as in an injury or trauma. Often however, the stress is a result of everyday bending, lifting or stooping. Poor posture, poor support when sitting at work, and other daily activities can cause subluxation. Even emotional stress and tension and cause the muscles to pull on the vertebra.

Your local Baltimore Maryland Chiropractic Center can teach you more about the causes of lower back pain and how to avoid them in the future.

So anyways, back to my own back pain. What I learned from talking to local family chiropractors is that I should have what is called a chiropractic adjustment. This is also known as a spinal adjustment. This is exactly what it sounds like. The chiropractor uses various techniques, depending on the patient, to adjust the spine. Typically it is a gentle force or thrusting movement that moves the spine or joint within its normal range of motion. This will increase the range of motion and help to ease the pain.

I will soon be contacting my local Baltimore Maryland Chiropractor to set up an appointment. I will be sure to write a follow-up article telling you how it goes. From what I am learning a Chiropractor is just what I need to get rid of this annoying lower back pain.

Can Chiropractors Cure Headaches?

If you suffer from chronic headaches, such as stress headaches and fatigue headaches, the best place to go is chiropractic clinics. Chiropractic clinics will provide you with relief from these types of headaches through a variety of different methods, but the most popular method is by realigning your body.

One thing that you need to be aware of when it comes to chronic headaches is the cause of the headaches. Chronic headaches can be caused by not getting enough rest, but they can also be caused by stress and allergies. Chiropractors can help cure most of these types of headaches better than a regular doctor can because they will get to the root of the problem.

If you go and visit a regular doctor the most that they can do for curing your headaches is prescribe you with prescription painkillers, which can cause some serious side effects. Some doctors will try to find out the cause of the headaches, but more often than not, they can't so they simply label them migraines and call it good.

A chiropractor can help find the cause of chronic headaches because most often these headaches are caused by poor posture or by stress. A chiropractor can adjust your body to help relieve any pressure that is being caused by improper posture, but the adjustments can also help reduce the buildup of scar tissue. The scar tissue can cause headaches because the scar tissue reduces the amount of blood that is carried to your brain because the scar tissue constricts your blood vessels.

Another method that a chiropractor can use to help eliminate chronic headaches is a massage, especially a deep tissue massage. The deep tissue massages helps relieve any tension in your muscles, which can help improve blood flow throughout your body. Improving your blood circulation can also increase how much oxygen is traveling to your brain, which can help to reduce the number of headaches you are experiencing.

Sports Injuries and the Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Playing sports is one of the activities liked by many. Aside from being a fun activity, it offers several health benefits which contribute to an individual's physical and mental well-being. But comes along with the benefits are the incidence of injuries. Some are minor, some are serious, and some result in lifelong problems. While definitely many of these injuries are traumatic, it has been estimated that close to half of these injuries are overuse in nature.

Sporting activities play an important part in the society today. However, as people are increasingly involved in these activities, the number of sports-related injuries also increases. Accidents, poor training practices and inappropriate gear are some of the causes. Some people get hurt and injured because they are not in shape or they were not able to warm up or stretch enough.

The sports with the most injuries are contact sports such as football, rugby, wrestling, and hockey. However, soccer and basketball are more commonly played, leading to a large injury load as well. Many of the acquired injuries are found in lower extremities such as knee and ankle. These injures, such as an anterior cruciate ligament tear can result in significant cost to the person as well as the health care system.

The most common sports injuries are: sprains and strains, knee injuries, swollen muscles, Achilles tendon injuries, pain along the shin bone, fractures, and dislocations. When a person gets hurt, he/she should stop playing. Continuing to play or exercise while injured can cause more harm. RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) method is used as an initial treatment to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed up healing.

Chiropractic care offers a balanced approach to the treatment and healing of sports injuries. A drug-free treatment regime brings additional benefit of insuring that the athlete will not be prescribed any substance that might be determined to be a prohibited substance that may result negatively for the both the athlete and his/her team.

Because chiropractics is a drug-free science, surgeries are not being used to correct ailments. Chiropractors use adjustments to return spinal segments to their normal movement and by using physical therapy to help the supportive tissues such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Many athletes have been receiving benefit from chiropractic adjustments as a part of a comprehensive treatment plan.

Many professional and competitive athletes can stress the importance of regular chiropractic care. Increased flexibility, energy, speed, and performance as well as a decrease in injuries are included in the benefits of receiving chiropractic treatment. As a matter of fact, almost all professional and amateur sports teams have their own "team" chiropractor. Chiropractors help athletes stay on straight and narrow path to better enjoyment of their chosen sport.

How Chiropractors Can Develop Patient Leads

One of the largest issues for any chiropractor is developing leads. In fact lead generation is extremely important to building a sustainable business. However, more than 17% of (2009 Research Study) chiropractors spend time on developing and nurturing leads. In addition, with throngs of students graduating each year from chiropractic programs competition increases.

To help decrease competitive forces it is typically best to develop a niche. Niches enable chiropractors to develop cache by building vast communities within a specified target. Developing a deep base creates community. When target markets develop viral marketing begins which helps to downplay labor thereby increasing marketing attraction. Leads come to you!

New Horizons
Currently one of the most flourishing niches is small business. In 2008, there were 29.6 million businesses in the United States, according to Office of Advocacy estimates employing over 60 million people. Moreover, with the increasing economic pressure many who had issues finding work have begun their own business providing a 60% increase in the sector. These developments create new marketing opportunities for those smart chiropractic marketers.

Barring the political ramifications of healthcare reform, positive aspects can be found. The increased aging population, heart risks and obesity plague American business. Large and small organizations must pay higher premiums impacting the bottom line. However, a healthy workforce lowers premiums while increasing productivity. Yes, healthy people work better. The time is ripe for chiropractors to expand their importance!

Now is the time to create this niche and expand your business. Most important, the expansion to small business creates access to multiple individuals. Imagine lowering labor while increasing profits from one visit!

Discover and Focus on Paramount
The first step is identifying those businesses you believe might resonant with the holistic measure of chiropractics. In addition, one of the best places to seek these businesses is not only within proximity of your office but they are free. Most local libraries carry a list of databases that include local business. Sorkins, Hoovers and InfoUSA are just a few of the prevalent. Each source includes a business profile featuring the type, the size and company officers including contact information. This makes it easier to discover and speak directly with the economic buyer.

The second locations to discover small business prospects are local Chambers of Commerce. Each month local communities host networking events that enable business leaders to meet and exchange information. The key here is to be an aggressive networker, being a wallflower is not an option.

Why Me, Why Now, Why Chiropractics
As you develop your small business niche, it is imperative to provide an audio logo that depicts reasons for choosing chiropractics. It is prudent to develop a succinct statement that illustrates the value and measurements for success. You might state, "I work with organizations that desire to lower health premiums and increase productivity". The statement produces an allure for small business professionals, this explains why they must listen.

It is imperative that when engaged in conversations with these business leaders benefits are exemplified. Marketing today requires the abandonment of data. Consumers make emotional decisions. All dialogue must be placed on output and deliverables that owners receive. See issues from their view and talk to them from their perspective. This allows you to prove your value and hone in on their specific issues.

What Do I Do After Hello
Once the door opens it is important to remain. It is prudent to remain in the moment by offering marketing services. Skimp on rote examples such as marketing collateral, pamphlets etc. Offer concepts to small business owners that establish your proficiency. Suggest multiple onsite therapy sessions for all employees. It is best to conduct these sessions during lunch or days end. Albeit, your schedule is imperative, however, onsite presentations afford low barriers to entry, multiple customers, high visibility and higher margins.

Your new audience gets to experience your work without highly impacting productivity. Most important, tracking patient improvement data immediately illustrates the rapid returns for entrepreneurs. Revealing health returns while minimizing risks, especially for small manufacturing firms concerned with workers compensation, resonates with owners. Owners desire proof of your therapy. Proving this accomplishes tremendous gains in your marketing efforts.

Finally, a simple concept often forgotten by chiropractors is the art of referral. When value is illustrated and returns present; business owners inform others about your services. Imagine the acclaim of your value prominently announced to others. Print advertisements, websites and community luncheons do not pay high returns like referrals. Referrals are the easier gateway to success. The exuberance of happy clients eclipses any rote marketing principles. Customer to customer influences is far more important.

Moreover, your acclaim with the owner is not limited. The ability to service groups of individuals increases your circle of influence. The chiropractic practice grows exponentially. There is benefit in six or more individuals speaking of the practices success against singular. One small business client might reap huge benefits for patient acquisition.

Numerous uncontrollable environmental issues negatively impact practice management success. Should a chiropractor lack a solid pipeline for securing leads, these factors might seriously impact revenue. There is only one method to economic success for any chiropractor- solid lead management. During any economic time the road to success requires building community, which creates, allure. With many chiropractors struggling to produce attraction while also operating a practice, it is more prudent to lessen labor and struggle. Targeting niche markets in a growth area such as small business will reap huge benefits. Similar to finding bullion in a small pale, the small business sector with its large growth rates, and deep demographics is not to be ignored. Next time you look at your waiting room decide whether dire or dense.

Some Useful Methods to Get Relief From Back Pain

If you are a person, who is suffering from back discomfort and looking for a treatment option, this content will be very useful for you. This article will give you vital information about the different types of treatment options that will help you to get relieved from the back pain problems. However, before opting for a treatment program, it is very important to know the fact that, back pain problems vary from one person to another. Therefore, before you start the treatment, you should consult a good physician and know the root cause of the problem. Moreover, apart from the home therapies and medication, it is very important to look out for alternative therapies.

Even though bed rest will help you to get some temporary relieve from the back pain, it will not work for people who are suffering from chronic pains, which usually requires long-term treatments.

Below listed are some of the useful methods that can give you some relieved from the pains:

Heat as well as ice treatment:

If you are a person who experience lower back pain, using an ice pack for soothing the sore muscles could be a good option. For this process, you just have to use a cold compress some times a day. You should also ensure that you are taking at least twenty minutes for each treatment. Using a heating pad will also help you to get some relief from the pain, as it will loosen your body muscles and increases the blood flow.

Chiropractic care:

Some researches done of the back pain relief has proved that the chiropractic manipulation is an effective pain relief solution for certain patients. However, if you are planning to practice a chiropractic medication, make sure you will do it under the assistance of an expert.

There are also many other simple treatment programs for back pain relief.

Can Chiropractors Help With Shoulder Pain?

Chiropractors are known for their abilities in helping people with neck and back pain. The most common reason why someone even considers seeing a chiropractor is for back pain, specifically low back pain. Research and studies and the general consensus is that we can help in this area. What about shoulder pain? Is there anything a chiropractor can do to help shoulder pain?

You can certainly have a chiropractor take a look at and evaluate your shoulder problem. While the spine is most commonly adjusted, the chiropractic adjustment can be performed at any joint. A joint is anywhere two bones meet. In the case of the shoulder, we'll be looking at three different areas; the clavicle (collarbone), the humerus (upper arm), and the scapula (the shoulder blade).

Any of these joints can move out of their normal position with extended use in the wrong way. Stress and poor posture in the upper back can lead the shoulder blade to become stuck and fixated in the wrong position. The chiropractor can adjust this area and work with the muscles to get things moving again.

The same principles apply to the humerus and the clavicle. There are certain movements in which each bone will take on a more primary role. The chiropractor can feel with his hand if the right areas are moving or not. If the joint is not moving, this means it is likely not functioning correctly. This is where the chiropractor's expertise can be of most use.

The first evaluation of the shoulder is really to see if any of the muscles, ligaments, or tendons have torn. Depending on the severity of the tear, you may need an immediate referral for an MRI and a visit to an orthopedic specialist. You don't want someone moving your bones around if you have a tear, and the chiropractor doesn't want to do that either.

If you haven't had any trauma to the shoulder joint and the pain has just come on gradually over the years. The chiropractor can take a look and provide adjustments and work to the muscles that can make a world of difference.

Chiropractic Care - Its Unlimited Benefits

The purpose of chiropractic care is to treat disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system with the aim to improve health. It may be classified as an alternative medicine therapy and uses manual treatment like spinal adjustment and other joint manipulation. It is based on the concept that spinal joint dysfunction can interfere with the proper functioning of the nervous system and thus deteriorate a person's health. Chiropractic care will use a combination of treatments according to the needs of the patient, including spinal adjustments, exercise and health and lifestyle counseling.

Experts believe that lowered resistance power of the body facilitate the progress of disease. Chiropractic therapy believes in using natural methods in aiding the body to strengthen its efforts to fight disease. Chiropractic care primarily uses manipulation rather than medications and surgery. Very often medicines and drugs have their own side effects, which may increase the complication rather than cure the disease. Our body has the gift of naturally healing itself. Chiropractic care emphasizes patient's inherent recuperative abilities. A chiropractor gives us the tools and the means to understand our body to promote natural healing.

Medical practitioners will prescribe drugs and medication to cure the disease. These prescriptions may provide instant relief but may also have disastrous side effects. Chiropractors, on the other hand use a combination of alternative treatment methods, which help to resolve the medical issue. They believe that if the spine is properly aligned, then the overall health will be properly restored, because the spine and health are related in an important and fundamental way through the nervous system.

Although there is still debate about the effectiveness of chiropractic care for the variety of conditions in which it is applied, chiropractic seems to be most effective for treating acute low back pain and tension headaches. Studies have shown that upper cervical spinal manipulation may be beneficial in certain types of hypertension.

However, if the patient is suffering from a life threatening disease like cancer or heart failure, it is best to use allopathic medicine for treatment. A chiropractor may assist such patients to ease the discomfort by educating them in exercise, relaxation techniques and nutrition plans, thus complementing the medical treatment. The best approach would be to consult the doctor and take his advice on whether chiropractic care would benefit the patient in any way.

Chiropractic care is a form of alternative medicine and it can be successfully used as a preventive measure to avoid disease and maintain overall good health. It can benefit the individual because it is a non-invasive procedure. Chiropractors emphasize the importance of healthy lifestyles and do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery; therefore, chiropractic care is appealing to many health-conscious individuals. Research has shown that the major savings from chiropractic care are due to fewer and lower costs of auxiliary services, fewer hospitalizations, and a highly significant reduction in chronic problems, as well as in levels and duration of disability. Chiropractic treatment of the back, neck, extremities, and joints is therefore becoming an increasingly accepted form of therapy.

Chiropractic Care - History and Origin

Most people would probably think that the chiropractic field is a relatively new method of health treatment compared with conventional medicine. Very few know the actual history of chiropractic, but the truth is that it began long ago and has been successful in improving patients' ailments for thousands of years.

Definition of Chiropractic Care
The term chiropractic comes from the Greek "chiro" meaning hand, and "practic" referring to practice or operation. And in its early days and still today much of chiropractic care involves "hand treatments" to manipulate the spine back into its proper position.

Chiropractors focus on the connection between the alignment of the spine and the functioning of the surrounding muscles and nerves. They emphasize the practice of only noninvasive and natural health care methods.

The Ancient Days
Using the hands and other methods to manipulate the spine dates back all the way to ancient China and Greece. During the time period of 2700 B.C. To 1500 B.C., records were made documenting the use of such chiropractic care by physicians of the day.

And later, around 400 B.C., two Greek contemporaries, Hippocrates and Herodutus both employed the practice to cure their patients. In some of his writings, Hippocrates said, "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases."

Daniel David Palmer
Little was heard of chiropractic care in the Western world until 1895, when a man named Daniel David Palmer founded the modern chiropractic profession in Iowa. Palmer had been in the business of magnetic healing until September of 1895 when he had an interesting encounter with a janitor at his office.

The janitor had been deaf for several years. He told Mr Palmer that his hearing loss occurred suddenly one day after he had bent down in an awkward position, and heard a "pop" in his back. Palmer felt the man's back and found a vertebra grossly out of position.

"I reasoned that if that vertebra was replaced, the man's hearing should be restored," Palmer recorded in his notes."With this object in view, a half hour's talk persuaded Mr. Lillard to allow me to replace it. I racked it into position by using the spinous process as a lever, and soon the man could hear as before."

Soon after this "miraculous" success, Palmer took on a new role, as the first American chiropractor, using spinal realignment techniques to improve everything from the flu to migraine headaches to epilepsy to heart problems.

Palmer once said of his discovery, "I am not the first person to replace subluxated vertebrae, but I do claim to be the first person to replace displaced vertebrae by using the spinous and transverse processes as levers... and to develop the philosophy and science of chiropractic adjustments."

In 1898, he began the Palmer School & Infirmary of Chiropractic to help others take on the role of chiropractor. Since that time, chiropractic care has become one of the largest branches of the medical field with hundreds of new chiropractors graduating each year from accredited colleges and universities.

The Role of a Chiropractor in Health Care

The vast majority of people in the United States have heard about the Chiropractic profession, as it has been in existence for over one hundred years. However, many people still do not know exactly what Chiropractic is, or what a chiropractor does. Chiropractic is a form of health care that helps the body restore nervous system function, biomechanical structure, postural correction, by correcting misalignment of the spinal column.

The essential aspect of the Chiropractic professional is correcting spinal misalignment, also known as the vertebral subluxation complex or subluxations. Chiropractors correct these subluxations to restore nerve communication between the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves in order to help relieve symptoms and eliminate the root cause of dysfunction. The most important concept that Chiropractic brings to the table is the natural restoration of health from within the body's own mechanisms through the Chiropractic adjustment. These adjustments have been proven to give therapeutic relief for people who are suffering from musculo-skeletal and nervous system problems.

The term Chiropractic is derived from two separate Greek words. The words cheir and praxis mean delivered by hand, or an action done by hand. So a Doctor of Chiropractic is one who helps restore nervous system function by delivering an adjustment with his or her hand. Understanding this concept is vital in knowing the role of a Chiropractor, as many do their utmost to prevent surgery and other invasive medical practices, by allowing the body to take over the healing process when applicable.

Dr. D.D. Palmer is the founder of Chiropractic, and was the first to put it into practice when he adjusted Harvey Lillard at the Ryan Building in Davenport, IA in 1895. The profession itself is practiced throughout the world, and is licensed in all 50 states in the U.S., and all provinces in Canada.

The medical establishment has put Chiropractic into the realm of complimentary alternative medicine, and while true it is an alternative to traditional western medicine, each Chiropractor is a primary care provider. The Chiropractic profession is heavily regulated in the United States and Canada, but the terminology of what a Chiropractor is called can vary in each area. In Washington State the typical terms are Doctor of Chiropractic or Chiropractor, but some states insist on the name Chiropractic Physician.

The requirements to become a licensed Chiropractor are stringent, consisting of at least three years of pre-professional study in college prior to a four year education at an accredited college of Chiropractic. As of today, the United States has 17 accredited chiropractic colleges in the United States. The accreditation of chiropractic schools is given by the Council on Chiropractic Education(CCE) that is certified by the U.S. Department of Education.

Following graduation, a Chiropractor must pass the necessary National and State board examinations which can are requited in both the U.S. and Canada. Once licensed, continuing education credits are required each year in order to make sure the Doctor of Chiropractic is keeping up with the latest in technique, education, and philosophy.

There are approximately 70,000 chiropractors practicing in the United States and Canada. Due to the ever changing climate of health insurance, HMO's, PPO's, and socialized medicine, it is best to check if Chiropractic care is covered by your plan. The vast majority do take insurance and are covered, but it is always best to know in advance.

One of the best things about Chiropractic is the ability to find a Chiropractor who uses a certain technique that is right for that person. Since each Chiropractor learns a variety of ways to adjust a person, depending on their specific needs, the variety of practice styles can vary. However, this variety makes sure there is the right fit for everyone who seeks care.

Another great thing about Chiropractic are the continued scientific studies proving the safety and effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments on a persons health and nervous system. Staying on the cutting edge of science, it is a great time to be a Chiropractor.

Since graduation I have been fortunate enough to learn even more about the effects of Chiropractic care on the body via private practice at Queen Anne Chiropractic Center in downtown Seattle.

No Wonder We Are Spending $2 Trillion on Health Care

The cost of health care is on everyone's mind. The debate has proceeded around how we can get people covered and not about why the costs are so high. I recently came across an interesting piece of research that may illustrate why we spend so much for health care. The pain medication Vioxx was taken off of the market because it increased the likelihood of heart attacks. Vioxx was an anti-inflammatory drug known as a cox-2 inhibitor. It is named for the enzyme it suppresses. The cox-2 inhibitors were popular because they offer effective pain relief without creating the problems with GI irritation caused by other types of pain reliever. Celecoxib (sold under the brand name Celebrex), which is also a cox-2 inhibitor, also increases the risk for a heart attack. Research appearing in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (March 3, 2006) showed that celecoxib can increase the risk of a heart attack by two fold.

Celebrex is commonly prescribed to old folks with arthritis. It makes you wonder if the cost of a trip to the emergency room and some time in CCU may be due to the fact that this drug is still being prescribed.

Our heath care costs are high for many reasons. The system exists to provide a profitable business for drug companies, medical equipment producers, and insurance companies. Care is secondary to these companies making money. Drug companies control a lot of the information received by doctors. Face it, all of the medical journals sell ads to drug companies. One sure way to corrupt your findings is to get money involved. This may be the reason a lot of effective, inexpensive natural therapies are ignored. A lot of the activity that passes for health care is for profit and neither is healthy nor provides care.

As long as we continue along this path, it will not matter whether the government pays the bill or we pay it out of pocket-it will still continue to cripple our economy.

Chiropractic and Protein Problems in Babies

When a baby arrives there is so much joy, but with all the joy and excitement comes an incredible responsibility to care for the helpless little child who has just started life.

Nature has prepared well for the new arrival, and the new baby, usually within minutes of being born, begins to suckle mum's breast. Mum's breast milk is the perfect food for the newborn.

In some babies, however, there is intolerance to the proteins that are contained in cow's milk and sometimes there is even an allergic reaction. If you drink cow's milk or eat dairy products while breastfeeding, the milk proteins are passed on to your baby through your milk.

Proteins from cow's milk are also the ingredients in most artificial baby formulas making these products inappropriate for babies with intolerance or allergy problems.

Babies that suffer from these conditions experience distressing symptoms and in turn are very unsettled and irritable, making the whole parenting experience stressful and tiring. Allergy and intolerance is not the same thing but are often confused.

Cow's milk protein allergy is a true allergy that can be detected by a blood test and/or by a simple procedure called a skin prick test. Normally, milk protein poses no problems to a baby's health or digestive system, but in allergic children the typical symptoms may include any combination of the following;

• Irritability
  
  
• Fussy feeding pattern including nipple attachment problems
  
  
• Hives
  
  
• Vomiting
  
  
• Disturbed sleep pattern
  
  
• Swelling of the face, tongue, mouth, or throat
  
  
• Abdominal pain
  
  
• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or asthma
  
  
• Diarrhoea
  
  
• Spotty red skin rash

True allergy is a serious condition, the management of which is based around the necessity to keep the baby free from all exposure to the offending proteins. Cow's milk protein intolerance (or sensitivity as it is sometimes termed) is not a true allergy and will not give a positive result in a blood test or skin prick test.

The symptoms the baby experiences generally include a combination of the following;

• Irritability
  
  
• Fussy feeding pattern including nipple attachment problems
  
  
• Vomiting
  
  
• Disturbed sleep pattern
  
  
• Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or asthma
  
  
• Diarrhoea
  
  
• Abdominal pain
  
  
• Spotty red skin rash

While fussy irritable babies generally respond very well to gentle, safe chiropractic care, those babies who have intolerance or allergic problems require special attention from your chiropractor who is well aware of these problems.

When you first visit your chiropractor with your baby, a very careful clinical history will be taken from you and the detail you give at this time will pretty much tell your chiropractor there is an intolerance or allergic problem. A physical examination will usually confirm this.

Once it has been determined that your child is not reacting well to cow's milk proteins, your chiropractor will, in addition to giving chiropractic treatment, advise you on how best to feed your baby to avoid contact with the proteins that are causing the problems. This advice may require you to change your diet if you are breastfeeding, or change baby's formula if you are bottle-feeding.

There are a number of other alternative formulas and your chiropractor will be able to advise you as to which of these may be best in your particular case. There may be occasions when your baby needs to see a medical practitioner to have some appropriate tests done.

Your chiropractor is trained to recognize the conditions under which a referral to a medical practitioner is required and will not hesitate to do so. The best care for your baby will always be uppermost in 'your chiropractors mind.

Is your baby fussy and irritable? Are you having difficulty getting your baby to feed and sleep well? Why not see your chiropractor today and give your baby the benefits of gentle safe and effective health care the chiropractic way - naturally!

Trivia

1 in 50 infants are affected by cow's milk allergy, making it one

of the most common food allergies in children. Most children outgrow the allergy by the age of 4 years. Most people with cow's milk allergy will also react to sheep, goat and horse milk.

Did You Know?

Excess mucus, a runny nose and coughing are not symptoms of cow's milk allergy or intolerance. In fact, these common reactions to dairy products have recently been shown to be a perception only. The thick texture of milk produces a short lived feeling of extra mucus production, but does not actually cause extra mucus production.

Massage Therapy and Chiropractic Care

Massage therapy complements the therapeutic effects of spinal adjustments performed by a Chiropractor by relieving habitual patterns of tension in the soft tissue surrounding and supporting the skeleton. These patterns of tension are sometimes referred to as "muscle memory." To achieve more lasting results from a chiropractic adjustment, it is helpful to address symptoms of stress and injury found throughout the body that may be contributing to the problem. Licensed Massage Therapists (LMTs) are trained to identify problem areas and relieve symptoms with a variety of massage techniques.

Soft tissue is composed of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and a thin sheath of connective tissue called fascia. Techniques employed by an LMT to address soft tissue tension or injury may range from gentle relaxation massage to more deep tissue work designed to break up scarring and adhesions. The benefits massage can achieve include the following:

• alleviate pain caused by tension


• soften and relax injured, tired, and overused muscles


• reduce muscle spasms


• increase joint flexibility


• improve range of motion


• improve circulation and the body's natural cleansing mechanisms


• enhance immune response by stimulating the lymph system


• provide pain relief from the physical stress of pregnancy, labor and birth


• loosen tissue adhesions caused by surgery or trauma to the body


• help the body recover from strenuous exercise


• relieve migraine headaches


• release endorphins and create a sense of well being.

The following describes some of the most common therapeutic massage techniques:

Swedish Massage - This is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to help relax and energize you.

Deep-Tissue Massage - This massage technique uses slower, more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It is commonly used to help with muscle damage from injuries and chronic patterns of tension.

Sports Massage - This is similar to Swedish massage but is geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.

Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy - The word myofascial means muscle tissue (myo) and the connective tissue in and around it (fascia). When stressed or injured, muscles form trigger points, like contracted knots, that cause pain and tightness. This massage focuses on releasing tension held in these sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers that often cause radiating or referred pain.

Rolfing 簧 Structural Integration - Dr. Ida P. Rolf, a biochemist and Rockefeller University fellow, developed a system of soft tissue manipulation and movement education designed to organize the whole body to function optimally. A series of 10 sessions is typically recommended to achieve lasting changes in posture and structure by manipulating the body's myofascial system.

Active Release Techniques 簧 - ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART.

Thai Massage - This type of massage involves stretching and deep massage. This form of bodywork is usually performed on the floor, and the client wears comfortable clothes that allow for movement. No oils are used in Thai massage.

Receiving massage therapy before or after a chiropractic manipulation helps the body release soft tissue tension that can either be caused by skeletal misalignment or may, by contracting and pulling on the skeletal system, be the cause of it. While caution must be taken to avoid overstimulating areas of inflammation, another benefit of massage is to encourage lymphatic drainage, which assists the body's own efforts to heal itself.

Personality Traits of a Great Chiropractor

Chiropractors are alternative health care practitioners who have become more widely accepted into the mainstream. These professionals work with the body's alignment in order to treat many different health maladies. Some examples of cures that they offer include back pain relief, headache alleviation, clearing of asthma, earaches, colic and attention deficit disorder.

These doctors are a bit different from your average MD in that they take a more holistic approach. They believe that many ills stem from a misalignment in the spinal column. Their philosophy is that one's nervous system is adversely affected by skeletal misalignment which in turn may turn into illness and pain.
Certain personality types are drawn to certain professions and for good reason. Aptitude plays a key as well as temperament. Here are some traits to look for in a great chiropractor:

- Intelligence: The smarter, the better, of course. In order to be a great care provider, these professionals must complete rigorous training and education. Before entering college to become a DC, which stands for Doctor of Chiropractic, a candidate must have completed many undergraduate training courses in science and math based studies. Some examples include human anatomy, physiology, and chemistry. The higher their GPA in undergraduate studies, the more likely they are to be admitted into Chiropractic College.

- Intuitive: No medical fields are exact sciences. In order to have good diagnostic abilities, one must have a strong base of factual knowledge along with strong intuition.

- Good listener: A great DC is one that listens to his or her patients. It is important to hear all about the whole person, not just look at x-rays in order to make a decision.

- Good with their hands: This is a hands-on occupation. Strong and capable hands will be able to maneuver, feel, and handle problem areas with care.

- Sensitivity: A good DC must be sensitive to his or her patient's needs and feelings. An emotional bulldozer will not be capable of having a sensitive bedside manner.

- Strong: Many chiropractic maneuvers require a great deal of physical strength. This is not a job for a physically weak person. It also requires a good amount of time spent standing on one's feet.

- Outside the box thinker: This is an alternative field of medicine. In order to be a progressive practitioner, one must be open to new ideas and information. Medical outcomes and ideas change all the time as research constantly provides new information. In order to be a progressive healer, one must think and look outside the box.

- Reliable: Nothing is worse than a doctor who doesn't show up or cancels appointments at the last minute. Reliability is an important trait.

- Punctuality: Adhering to the schedule will make everyone's day go smoother. Chiropractic medicine often requires frequent office visits. Punctually kept appointment slots will keep patients on time for the rest of their lives, as well.

- Communication skills: The ability to listen to others and speak in a manner that patients can understand is evidence of an excellent chiropractor.

To find a great chiropractor, look for one with these personality traits.

How to Find a Good, Honest and Ethical Chiropractor

I've practiced in many different ways with many styles and have learned from my experience what is right for a patient that walks into my office and what is just plain unethical and wrong. I wanted to take some time this morning to let you know how to choose a Chiropractor that is right for your particular needs whether it be back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder pain, etc.

How to choose a chiropractor... What to be careful of:

1. When the chiropractor says yes, "I can definitely help you with your problem" before even examining you. The truth is that it's just like taking your car to the mechanic, we have no idea if we can help you until we run the proper diagnostic tests.

2. The doctor just wants to talk about chiropractic and doesn't seem to be too interested in what your actual problem is.

3. The doctor recommends a lot of care up front and asks you to pay up front for like a year of care. The truth is... and I have seen this with literally thousands of patients... is that responses to care vary so widely that treatment plans should be customized to each individual and progress monitored closely.

4. The doctor wants to educate the heck out of you about chiropractic, but never even asks you about how your problem and how your progressing.

5. The doctor never offers you exercises to do at home so your spine can hold your adjustments.

As with any healthcare profession, it is very hard to know exactly what is right and what is wrong regarding patient care, however there are ethical and unethical business practices.

Here's what I have come to learn is the most honest, ethical way to address and manage patient care: customize everything (number of initial visits, exercises, etc.) for each individual patient, help people get out of pain as quickly and affordably as possible, go from exam to exam and don't over recommend care that is usually unneeded and excessive, teach people what they can do at home to avoid further injury.

Chiropractic is a great health care service and really helps a lot of people get out of severe pain situations including chronic neck and back pain. Unfortunately we get a bad rap sometimes because people have tarnished by the upfront hard sell that some docs use as a means to grow the business.

Watch out for this approach because the truth is none of us chiropractors really now how you are going to respond until we have started treatment.

Hope this helps you find a great chiropractor!

Yours in health,

Dr. Sandy A. Bell, D.C.