Chiropractors are highly skilled in the hands-on art of spinal adjustment. An adjustment involves applying a specific force in a precise direction to a joint that is troublesome (for instance, it may be locked-up or not moving properly). The purpose of the adjustment is to help restore a more normal position or motion, often relieving pain.

Chiropractic treatment involves the manipulation of joints, with the goal of decreasing pain by improving movement and function within that joint. When a joint is adjusted (moved), there is a natural change in the internal pressure of that joint. This change results in the release of gas normally dissolved in the fluid which lubricates the joint. The release of this gas may produce a “crack” or “pop” sound similar to that produced when you open a can of soda.

Research continues to support the safety and efficacy of chiropractic treatment. Chiropractors do not use drugs or surgery, which have their place but may produce side effects and complications. As each patient is unique, each treatment and each adjustment is unique as well. Your age, size, and individual problem will determine which technique(s) will best put you on the road to feeling better.

Chiropractors treat problems of the musculoskeletal system. This includes lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, disk herniations, plantar fasciitis, jaw problems, muscle strains and sciatica. You do not always have to be in pain to consult a Chiropractor. You may be interested in prevention of a problem. You may want to learn more about your body. You may want to improve your quality of life. These are all good reasons to consider consulting a Chiropractor.

Chiropractic care is defined as a non-invasive and hands-on health care discipline that focuses primarily on the issues involved with the musculoskeletal system (the pelvis, spine, nervous system and joints). Chiropractors will use a series of treatments catered specifically to the unique needs of each individual patient. The treatment plan gets carried out after an examination/diagnosis. Essentially, chiropractic care involves helping out with the neck pain, back pain and other types of joint pain by realigning the spine to help the function of the nervous system and help the body function at the optimum level.

Chiropractors use hand-on and non-invasive techniques such as spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments – IFC, laser therapy, and myofascial therapy to restore optimal function of of body’s musculoskeletal structure). This spinal re-alignment is done without any medication or surgical intervention. Chiropractors typically do treatment on those who have injuries caused by any traumatic events, or on those who endure repeated stress to their body (such as sitting and improper posture).

We help decide what type of therapy is a great fit for you, and the best way for us to help you decide is to make sure you understand how chiropractic care differs from other treatments. Chiropractic care focuses solely on body as whole and targets muscles, joints and nerves by helping re-align the spine. Chiropractic care mainly uses manipulation, mobilization techniques to relive pain and help your body return to optimal function.

It’s common to have some questions regarding your first chiropractic visit, so we decided to give you a rough outline of what to expect to alleviate some questions or concerns. Depending on the severity of your injury or condition, the initial visit can last from 45 to 60 minutes (following visits will likely be shorter once the problem has been identified). The initial visit usually consists of getting to know one another, and involve a comprehensive assessment that will help in identifying the cause of the injury or condition and coming up with a proposed treatment plan to resolve the issue. Some questions asked will be about personal/family medical history, any experiences with major illnesses, your diet and exercise habits, daily activities etc.

No, you do not need a referral from your medical doctor in order to see a chiropractor. You are entitled to chiropractic care without a medical prescription/referral. However, even so, some health care plans might require that you have a referral from your medical doctor in order to cover the expenses of your visit.

During your initial visit, a proper evaluations and assessment of your condition is made, and a proposed therapeutic treatment plan gets established to provide a rough guideline of how to treat your injury. Each case we receive is individual and there are many variables that will determine how well an individual will heal – so the number of adjustments vary on the patient.

Likely, when you come in, your condition/injury is already causing some discomfort, so it is standard that any work done on the location of your injury might cause some pain. The reason for this is because the tissue and nerves in the location are already irritated and may become sensitive to pressure and movement. While there is discomfort, the goal is to reduce the discomfort and eliminate the source of the pain.

This can be difficult to determine, but the best way to determine if whether or not you’ve healed enough for a chiropractic adjustment is to consult your surgeon before undergoing any chiropractic treatment. Make sure to keep your chiropractor up to date on all your medical conditions and procedures you’ve done so that they can make the best decision for your health and safety.

Spinal adjustments help with correcting any vertebral dysfunction. Correcting these dysfunctions will reduce a number of things such as: pain and inflammation, muscle spasm and tension as well as eliminate any nerve irritation. When it comes to vertebral dysfunction, only a chiropractic spinal adjustment can help treat them.

In addition to the spine, other joints in the body can be adjusted by a chiropractor. This will include the joints of the wrists, ankles, hands, feet, elbows, knees, shoulders, hips, ribs and jaw. This is done because like the spine, if subject to stress, the joints in the body can become misaligned, causing discomfort and pain to the recipient. These non-spinal adjustments can help restore and enhance the joints so they can be optimally used.

Typically, each consultation/session will take about 20 minutes to an hour. However, with the combination of correct techniques, proper positioning of the patient and the right amount of force, a chiropractic adjustment can be as short as few minutes. However, depending on the severity of the condition and/or injury, a chiropractic adjustment can take as long as an hour. In summary, the length of chiropractic adjustment varies on each individual and the extent of the injuries that they have.