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The 411 on Chiropractic Care

The 411 on Chiropractic Care

We are going to dig into the most frequently asked questions on the chiropractic adjustment. Join the millions of Americans who have not only found relief from back pain, but also a pathway to wellness with chiropractic's natural, drug­-free approach to healthcare.

What is your spinal column?

 Your spinal column, made up of 24 independent vertebrae, is what allows your body to move, twist, and bend through every motion of your busy day. It also encases and helps protect the delicate central nervous system that controls and coordinates every muscle, tissue and organ of the body. This is why we believe the first step to an active lifestyle is a properly functioning spine.

No part of your body can escape the proper and dominant function of your nervous system. Improper function of the spine due to slight misalignments, called subluxations, can cause poor health or function, even in areas far removed from the spine and spinal cord itself. Misalignments can also reduce the ability of your body to adapt to its always changing environment. Even the slightest malfunction of your spine may alter the regular transmission of nerve impulses, preventing that portion of your body from responding optimally.  These subluxations are actually joint dysfunctions that can cause you to experience pain, discomfort, decreased mobility, or many other symptoms and conditions. Joint dysfunctions often go unnoticed and can cause miscommunication between your brain and body.

Joint Dysfunctions in the spine may eventually lead to symptoms in other parts or joints of the body as well. These symptoms are your body’s only way of letting you know something is wrong. Unfortunately, the absence of pain is not an indication of health. By the time pain and symptoms appear the problem may have been present for months, even years. The great news is that you can help prevent these types of symptoms and conditions with routine chiropractic care.

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is an all-natural form of health care that focuses on treating spinal and musculoskeletal problems, primarily through spinal adjustments to help correct misalignments and restore proper function to the nervous system. The chiropractor does not prescribe medication but relies on a variety of manual therapies including spinal manipulation, mobilization and other therapies to improve function and provide pain relief by assisting your body to recuperate on its own. Benefits of routine chiropractic care may include any of the following:

-Improved Nerve Communication in the Body

-Improved Joint Motion and Coordination

-Improved Physical Function and Performance

-Improved Posture

-Relief from Back and Neck Pain

-Relief from Leg, Knee, Foot and Ankle Pain

-Relief from Arm, Wrist, Shoulders or Elbow Pain

-Relief from Stress and Tension Disorders

-Relief from Joint Discomfort

-Relief from Bursitis

-Relief from Arthritis

-Relief from Chronic Injuries

What does Chiropractic care involve?

The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure, the spine and function of the nervous system. A full history and examination is conducted and opinions are provided for optimal personalized care. Referral is made if more specialized, concurrent or alternative treatment is warranted. Specific focus is on spinal structure and function and its effects on the other joints, nervous, muscular and general healing systems of the body. One of the most common and well known therapeutic procedures performed by doctors of chiropractic is spinal or also known as a chiropractic adjustment. Chiropractic care may also involve other natural forms of health care including stretching and exercise programs, nutritional advice, home care, ergonomic and postural advice, lifestyle and health education information.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

Also known as a spinal manipulation, the chiropractic adjustment is a procedure used by doctors of chiropractic. Chiropractors perform the adjustment with their hands or a small instrument, using a specific amount of sudden force, applied in a specific joint.

What does a chiropractic adjustment do?

The purpose of spinal manipulation/chiropractic adjustment is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile, or restricted, as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for an individual. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing tissues to heal.

What is the sound I hear?

Patients often ask, “What’s that crack or popping sound?” Sometimes, not always, the adjustment can produce a sound. When we move your joints to their end range, a little bubble of gas is released from the joint capsule. This release of gas, oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, creates the “popping” sound you hear. Often times, patients who have never experienced chiropractic are fearful of the sound and some are afraid that it is actually their bones “cracking”, however this isn’t true and the noise is nothing to be afraid of. Another way to understand the sound is when you open a can of soda, you will hear a similar noise because when opening the can, gas is released that was pressurized.

Is the Adjustment Painful?

NO, the adjustment isn’t painful. Some patients will experience some soreness or achiness after an adjustment, however this is short lived and comparable to the soreness you may feel after a workout. Often, the adjustment has the opposite effect and it will resolve the pain immediately.

Do Chiropractors only treat back problems?

Chiropractors provide effective treatment for all types of soft tissue disorders and not just back and neck ailments. This includes conditions of the joints of the extremities like the ankle, knee and shoulder. What you may not be aware of is chiropractic’s success in treating a number of non-soft tissue conditions like dysmenorrhea (painful menses), ulcers, migraine headaches, and ear infections in children. While we cannot claim to cure these conditions, we believe that many of these problems can be mimicked, aggravated and sometimes caused by disruptions in the nervous system as a result of spinal abnormalities. By correcting these spinal abnormalities like the vertebral subluxation, chiropractic has helped thousands of individuals overcome these conditions and regain control of their lives. A number of studies have also supported these findings.

What is the difference between a Medical Doctor and Chiropractor?

A chiropractor is a professional who diagnoses conditions that affect the body and musculoskeletal. In contract, a medical doctor is a medical professional who is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries of the whole body.

People are often surprised to discover that the education received at a chiropractic college is quite similar to the education received in medical school. Candidates for Chiropractic College must complete a minimum of three years of college-level courses prior to entering school, and completion of a doctor of chiropractic degree requires four to five years of professional coursework. Also, the education of a chiropractor is similar in total classroom hours to that of a medical doctor.

Doctors of chiropractic receive more training in anatomy and physiology while physicians received more training in public health. Chiropractic colleges focus on chiropractic principles, diagnosis, orthopedics, physiologic therapeutics and nutrition. Three areas— manipulative/adjustment, spinal analysis with physical and clinical laboratory diagnosis and diagnosis imaging. These classes account for more than half of the education in clinical sciences. During their internship, doctors of chiropractic complete two years of hands-on clinical experience focusing on manipulation/adjustment as the primary treatment procedure. Studies show that chiropractic students receive more training than their medical counterparts in the following areas: anatomy, physiology, bacteriology, diagnosis, X-ray and orthopedics. They also show that chiropractic institutions actually devote more time to the basic and clinical sciences than do medical schools.

At Bettendorf Chiropractic Wellness Center, we promote ongoing wellness by improving spinal and joint function often resulting in a healthier, more active lifestyle. With regular adjustments, chiropractic offers a host of preventative health benefits, and is vital for keeping your body balanced, flexible and functioning at its best. Everyone, from growing children to active seniors, can benefit from regular chiropractic care.  Bettendorf Chiropractic Wellness Center makes choosing chiropractic care for the health of you and your family has never been easier. Call today to schedule an appointment for your entire family 563-359-5600!