Frequently Asked Questions at Our Office

WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
The practice of chiropractic focuses on the nervous system, the relationship between the brain and the body that communicates through the spine and spinal nerves, and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health.

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WHAT IS A SUBLUXATION?
Chiropractors look for and locate vertebral subluxations in the spine. A subluxation is a misaligned vertebra that is compressing spinal nerves. Spinal nerves send messages back and forth through our nervous system, and are how our brain and body communicate. When the spinal nerves are compressed due to the subluxation, messages are sent and/or received poorly, causing a variety of health concerns and symptoms. You can think of a subluxation similar to having poor cell phone reception…the caller on the other end of the line isn’t going to hear what you are communicating, and vice-versa.

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WHAT CONDITIONS DOES CHIROPRACTIC TREAT?
Chiropractic adjustments remove subluxations. Untreated subluxations can lead to neuromusculoskeletal complaints, such as neck & back pain, joint & extremity pain, headaches, and many other conditions. Because Chiropractic ultimately cares for the nervous system, it is not limited to these health complaints, and can be considered preventative care. Please see our services for more information.

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WHAT ARE COMMON THERAPIES USED IN CHIROPRACTIC CARE?
The most common therapeutic method performed by Chiropractors, is a “chiropractic adjustment” performed by hand.

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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT?
The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to remove subluxation and allow the nervous system to function properly; this allows healing to occur.

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WHY IS removing a subluxation IMPORTANT?
Subluxations left untreated can cause physical and chemical alterations that often cause inflammation, pain, vertebra & disc injury, and overall improper function. Adjustments remove subluxations which take pressure off the spinal nerves, and allow proper nervous system function; ultimately allowing the healing process to occur.

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DO CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS CAUSE DISCOMFORT?
Chiropractic adjustments rarely cause discomfort. After an adjustment, some patients may experience mild tenderness or aching, similar to aches that commonly occur when you begin a new exercise routine…these joints have not moved in a while and the adjustment is getting things moving, so some soreness is normal. This discomfort will usually resolve within 12 to 48 hours. Similar to massage, adjustments can release toxins that have been building up in the body. Drinking extra water to flush out these toxins will resolve discomfort faster.

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Sources: American Chiropractic Association. (2014.) What is chiropractic? www.acatoday.org & California Chiropractic Association. (2014.) Chiropractic education. www.calchiro.org