About Chiropractic

What is chiropractic care?
There's nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It's a natural method of health care that focuses on correcting the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful truth. With a normally functioning spine, a healthy nervous system and good healthy habits, your body is better able to heal itself. That's because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling, movement, and all other bodily functions.

How does chiropractic work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your body's natural ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health and move toward optimal function. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and remove interferences (subluxations, misaligned vertebrae) to your nervous system. With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health through specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body to heal itself naturally. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health!

What type of education do chiropractic doctors receive?
Doctors of Chiropractic are highly educated. Chiropractic education and medical education are similar in many ways and different in others because chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral subluxations. Arizona Chiropractors typically have 7-8 years of College before gaining a license to practice. Each chiropractor must have at least an associates degree in “pre-med” course work followed by a four year Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) Degree. Each chiropractor then passes the demanding four part National Board Examinations. Doctors of Chiropractic then apply to a governmental licensing board before being granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractor's education, however, never ends. Doctors of chiropractic complete regular postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest research and advances in the profession.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is not moving properly. The purpose of this procedure is to eliminate interference to the nervous system, increase range of motion, reduce pain, and improve spinal function and overall health.

Can I tell if I have a subluxation?
A spinal subluxation is like a cavity in your tooth, you may have one for a long time before symptoms appear. That's why periodic spinal checkups are so important. Although it may be possible to know you have a subluxation, it is rarely possible to be sure you don't. Regular spinal checkups are always a good idea, and they promote good health from the inside out.

Do children need chiropractic care?
Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as "growing pains" can be traced to imbalances or subluxations in the spine. Having early chiropractic evaluation may prevent health problems that emerge in adulthood. Many parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers.

Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No. The doctor evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience. Each patient's care is uniquely different from every other patient.

Is chiropractic safe?
Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative and natural approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. As proof, one merely has to compare malpractice rates between chiropractors and other health care professionals. Chiropractors' malpractice premiums are a small fraction of those for medical doctors. For more information about the safety of chiropractic, click here.

Is chiropractic care addictive?
No. If only it were, there would be more healthy people around and chiropractors would not get patients who last saw a chiropractor a few years ago when their back went out. It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more energetic as a result of regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive; good health is.

What causes the “popping” during an adjustment?
Actually, adjustments do not always produce a sound. Often, however, adjustments do create a "cavitation" or "popping" sound. The sound is caused by gas rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. This sound is painless and totally harmless.

Can I adjust myself?
No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a "popping" sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs or those with limited training.

Is it okay to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient's size, weight, age, and condition of health.

Can a person who has had back surgery see a chiropractor?
Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who have had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is known as "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care is initially utilized back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.

Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems?
No. However, chiropractic care is successful with a very wide variety of health problems not necessarily considered "back" problems because of improved nerve system function. With a normal nerve supply the body's natural healing capacity can improve a variety of health problems.

What is the difference between a chiropractor and an osteopath?
Chiropractors base their care on the detection, correction, and prevention of vertebral subluxations (spinal misalignments) and improving a patients overall health through natural means. We use specific spinal adjustments to correct the spine, to improve nerve system function and reduce nerve interference, as well as consulting with patients about nutrition, exercise and wellness. Osteopaths are no different than Medical doctors. They use drugs, surgery, and other traditional medical therapies and occasionally use manipulative procedures to increase joint flexibility.

Why do chiropractors take x-rays?
Chiropractors take x-rays to reveal the internal structure and alignment of the spine. We are also concerned about underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine such as spinal deterioration, arthritis of the spine, abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors and spinal curvature. Additionally, X-rays provide a blueprint for correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment.

Is a good workout the same as getting adjusted?
No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet without normal spinal function a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints, ultimately resulting in more problems.