FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest non-invasive forms of healthcare for the treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is free from the potential of adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic are minimal, especially compared with other forms of treatment. Patients often experience immediate relief following a chiropractic adjustment, but some may experience mild soreness or stiffness, similar to what one would feel after exercising. Most of this increased soreness and stiffness typically fades within 24-48 hours.

Some reports have associated neck adjustments with a rare form of stroke, known as a vertebral artery dissection (VAD). However, evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often occurs spontaneously in individuals who have pre-existing arterial disease. Dissections of the vertebral artery have been associated with normal activities of daily living such looking over one's shoulder(s) while driving, swimming, and having your hair washed at the hair salon. Individuals with this condition may experience neck pain and headaches that prompts them to seek the care of a chiropractor or a family physician, but that care is not the cause of the injury. The best evidence available suggests that the incidence of vertebral artery dissections associated with chiropractic neck adjustments is extremely rare, occurring in about one out of every 100,000 patients. This is similar to the incidence of stroke occurring among the general population.

Doctors of chiropractic are trained to identify patients who have special risk factors and ensure that they receive the safest and most appropriate care, even if that requires referral to a different medical specialist.

The most important job of the spine is to protect the spinal cord. If the spine is not functioning properly it can cause interference within the nervous system and affect your brain's ability to communicate with the rest of your body. You may not realize this, but your spine is affected by the daily stressors of life. Physical, chemical, and emotional stress can affect the function of the spine and thus the function of the nervous system. These daily stressors for children can include falls, sports injuries, playground bumps, heavy school bags, and prolonged sitting in classrooms.

Long before you are introduced to these common daily stressors your body can be introduced to stressors in the womb. Awkward positioning, restriction of movement, and exposure to some of the daily stressors that mom encounters (food choices, hydration, exposure to toxins and chemicals, etc). Furthermore, spinal and nerve function can be affected by birth complications such as long labors, fast labors, and/or forceps and caesarean delivery.

Since spinal trauma can occur at or prior to birth, many parents elect to have their newborn's spine checked right after birth. Many developmental milestones, including holding the head up, sitting upright, crawling, and walking are all affected by spinal alignment and are important times to have a child checked by a chiropractor.

Additionally, a healthy spine and nervous system can improve issues with bed-wetting and sleep, digestive problems, behavioral disorders, difficulty concentrating, allergies, and colic, strengthen the immune system to reduce the incidence of colds, ear-aches, and general illness and encourage proper brain and nerve development.

Your child's health is their greatest asset. We encourage you to explore all possibilities you have to improve your child's health, including chiropractic care!

Many of the joints in your body (including your spinal joints) are protected by a layer of articular cartilage that covers the ends of the bones and a joint capsule that contains synovial fluid. Synovial fluid acts as a lubricant, protecting the cartilage from wearing out due to friction, or rubbing together of the two bones that form the joint. When an adjustment or manipulation is performed on a joint, it causes a pressure change within the joint resulting in the release of gas bubbles within the synovial fluid. This causes the popping sound that is often heard following an adjustment. The same phenomenon occurs when you "crack" your knuckles.

It is advisable to contact your employer's human resources department or your insurance carrier to find out if there are specific referral requirements for your particular insurance policy. However, most insurance policies allow you to directly contact a Doctor of Chiropractic and schedule an appointment without a referral.