If there is anything you'd like to know about chiropractic, or any aspect of the office, please don't hesitate to ask.  We are commited to making our practice members as comfortable and confident about the care they'll recieve in the office as we can.   For your convenience, some of the more common questions asked by practice members can be found here:

 

What does a chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is a specialized health care provider who focuses on the detection, analysis and correction of subluxations.  They use a health history, detailed physical examination, and possibly

x-rays​ to analyze the spine and find any areas of concern.  If a subluxation is found, the chiropractor will deliver a specific "adjustment" to that joint in an attempt to restore motion, remove nerve interference and reduce pain.  

 

What is a subluxation?

A subluxation is when a joint in the spine (or an extremity, like an arm or leg) has 1) abnormal motion  2) abnormal position and/or 3) degeneration that causes an impairment to the adjacent nerves.  This interference of nerve flow can lead to dysfunction within the nervous system, muscles, organs and tissues.  Normal communication between the brain/nerves and all of the systems of the body is essential for health and essential for life. Removing interference cause by subluxation will allow for the body to function at its fullest potential.

 

How safe is chiropractic adjusting?

Chiropractors have an extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, and take great care to use their knowledge of the body's biomechanics and diagnostic findings from your examination and analysis to correct subluxations in the most specific and effective way possible. 

 

If it is any indication of the safety of chiropractic adjusting, our malpractice insurance averages $1,200-$1,700 a year.  A midwife's malpractice can range from $7,000-$30,000 a year, and medical doctors are between $20,000-$200,000 and up (depending on their specialty).  If chiropractic were truly unsafe, as is a common misconception to those who haven't been properly introduced to chiropractic, the malpractice insurance would be much higher.

 

Why do children need a chiropractor?

Chiropractic is not just for adults who have neck and back pain...it's so much more than that.  Everyone that has a spine should have it checked for signs of subluxation.  Because subluxations can be the result of trauma, toxins or stress (and we all know that kids have a lot of "incidents", and are constantly being exposed to chemical insults), they are often perfect candidates for chiropractic care.  It is far better to start off right in the beginning with chiropractic care in an attempt to avoid spinal degeneration and neurological complications later in life. 

 

Why do I need to be checked if I'm not in pain?

Pain is often the last to show up to the "party".  Symptoms are the result of disease, not the cause.  Once a symptom shows up, damage has already started to happen within the body.  Chiropractic analysis can detect abnormalities in the body's biomechanical processes, as well as abnormal nervous system function.  With early detection and correction of subluxations, most ( if not all) symptoms that would have occurred can be avoided.

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Here are some frequent questions asked by practice members

Why do you take x-rays?

Taking x-rays is a great way to get a look inside your body and see what is really happening in the spine and joints.  It can not only help us detect subluxations, but it can also give us clues to other things that may be happening within your body that you don't know about.  Sometimes we will find what is called a congenital anomaly, which is often a minor abnormality that has no medical or cosmetic impact on a person.  Other times, x-rays will reveal old fractures or injuries that you didn't even know happened.  In rare cases, x-rays can show us that there is a pathology present, such as bone disease or cancer.  In this instance, you will be given a referral to a specialist that can assist you with your condition. 

 

What is the "clicky thing" you use sometimes?

This instrument is called an Activator, and it is a tool that can help assist with your adjustments.  It may be small, but it can deliver a very quick and gentle adjustment and is good for patients of all ages and conditions, from fragile newborns to mature adults.  For more information about Activator, including research information, please go to http://www.activator.com/research/.

 

What makes the popping sound?

The popping sound is called a cavitation.  A cavitation is the sound made when a joint is moved and allows gas (usually carbon dioxide) inside the synovial cavity to be released into the surrounding tissue. 

 

What does an adjustment feel like?

The answer is truly different for everyone.  Some individuals find great relief following an adjustment.  For others, the anticipation creates some anxiety and muscles will tighten up, which can make adjusting more difficult.  There may or may not be a pop (crack) at the level of the adjustment, and depending on an individual's perception, it might feel good and it might not.  Is it painful?  It really shouldn't be, but on occassion there is a lot of "tightness" surrounding the area of the adjustment which can cause mild discomfort.  Any uncomfortable feelings directly following an adjustment should be short lived.  Also, there are multiple techniques of adjusting that can be used to make the patient comfortable with the adjustment. 

 

What kind of education does a chiropractor have?

In North Carolina, a licensed chiropractor is required to have a Bachelor's degree, have obtained their Doctorate of Chiropractic from an accredited chiropractic school (a 4 year degree with internship/externship), passed parts 1-4 and the physiotherapy test of the National Board examinations and passed the state jurisprudence exam.

An example of the contents of a typical chiropractic curriculum can be found >here<