Do Adjustments Hurt?
Depending on the situation, most adjustments do not hurt. If the joint is inflamed and sensitive then there may be some short-term discomfort. We tend to use a gentle adjustment to make the correction as painless as possible.
What is a typical Chiropractic treatment?
A typical treatment consists of palpation (feeling) of the spine to find the subluxations (misalignments), and then an adjustment to re-align the joints. If needed, physiotherapy may be applied.
What kind of training is required to become a Chiropractor?
First, a chiropractor has to do 120 hours of prerequisites from an undergraduate college. Then, the student has to be accepted to a chiropractic college. Once at chiropractic college, it takes 10 trimesters to graduate (about 4 years). Finally, the student must pass 4 different national board examinations covering all topics, including neurology, pathology, microbiology, nutrition, and techniques.
Will this cure my back/neck pain or headaches?
The goal of chiropractic care is to get the joint stable. It depends on the severity and duration of the problem as to the prognosis of care.
What is that cracking sound?
The cracking sound is called a “cavitation”. The sound occurs in a joint, in our case the spine, when bone surfaces are separated to create a vacuum. The creation of the space pulls in nitrogen gas causing a “cracking” or “popping” sound. However, the joint doesn’t always make a sound when it is adjusted.
Do I have to keep coming back forever?
In the beginning, we state that the type of care they want is entirely up to you. It is your body and are going to have it for the rest of their life. As chiropractors, we always give a treatment plan that is going to help out in the long run. We always tell our patients it is good to get a check-up every couple of months to make sure things are still going well, so no problems occur down the road. Chiropractors are similar to Dentists in that we do routine check-ups to prevent problems before they occur.
How long will each appointment take?
The amount of time typically depends on what the problem is. The first visit takes about 30 minutes to talk about the issue and do a through exam. The second visit takes about 20 minutes talk about the exam findings and x-rays (if taken). After that, most visits in the office take about 10 minutes.
Will my insurance cover an office visit?
We accept most insurance plans at the office. Most insurance companies have co-pays that the patient is responsible for. We always contact the insurance company first and find out if the patient is covered and what the co-pay will be. For more details on which plans we take, look at our First Visit information.
Can I just drop in without a scheduled appointment?
You can drop in any time to get adjusted, but there may be a wait. We always advise patients to schedule appointments in advance to reduce waiting times.