Some Common Questions About Your Adjustments

What does a Chiropractor do? Chiropractors remove a serious interference to your health and life referred to as a “Subluxation”. Subluxations interfere with the nervous systems ability to communicate and control the function of the body’s cells, tissues, organs and glands, thus preventing optimal health and well-being. Over time Subluxations, if left undetected and corrected, can lead to serious health problems. Chiropractor’s use what is called an “Adjustment” to remove nerve interference found during routine visits.

What is a “Chiropractic Adjustment”? A Chiropractic adjustment is a highly specialized procedure used over the course of time to gently correct, stabilize and free your body of the serious interference to the nervous system caused by Subluxations. At the moment an adjustment is given, this gentle but precise force, unlocks the nerve interference and hundreds of bodily functions are positively affected. Instantly the flow of nerve impulses over the spinal cord and nerves are improved and your body initiates tissue growth and repair. Adjustments have also shown to help reduce, slow down and halt the progression of spinal disc disease and related joint degeneration and improve organ and gland function.

How Should I Feel After An Adjustment? The adjustment releases the Innate or Inborn healing power of your body which begins the healing process. At the moment of an adjustment, thousands, if not millions, of body functions and activities are affected. The flow of nerve impulses over your brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves connecting to your internal organs and tissues are more balanced. Your body begins to restore, renew and rebuild itself.

Chiropractic effects more than the physical well-being. Many patients have told us they get a relaxed feeling or a feeling of sleepiness after an adjustment. Others report a heat sensation flowing through their body. Some have reported feeling lighter or more open, and many report increased energy. A number of Chiropractic patients find that the problems that brought them to their Chiropractor soon begin to lessen after their first few visits, although some people feel no difference at the beginning. This does not necessarily mean that they are not receiving any benefit. For most people healing takes time, and during the onset of care healing may be occurring under the surface. Occasionally a person may initially feel muscle soreness or some other uncomfortable feeling after an adjustment. This is most commonly the feeling of stiff and tightened muscles and ligaments being worked on.

Does the adjustment put the bone back into place? NO! The adjustment is directed toward restoring its normal nerve function and natural movement. It is unnatural for the spine to be under stress and tension. It is natural for it to be released, allowing for normal nerve function and moving the way it is designed to move. When Subluxated, nerve function is impaired, affecting cells, tissues and organs. The muscles and ligaments surrounding the area get tight, stiff and if left uncorrected, scar tissue can develop in surrounding muscles and ligaments. We as Chiropractors don’t actually put the bone back into place; rather our goal, through a gentle but precise force, is to release the bones from being restricted and improve neurological function so your body can heal naturally.

Is Chiropractic safe? YES! Chiropractic is among the safest of the healing arts. Chiropractors maintain some of the lowest malpractice insurance rates of any primary health care professional in the world, which is a tremendous credit to the safety record throughout the entire Chiropractic profession. Chiropractor’s malpractice rates are a small fraction of those for medical doctors, especially orthopedists and surgeons.

Is it bad to “crack” your neck or back a lot? The desire to “crack” or “pop” the neck or back is caused by a buildup of tension that usually comes from jammed or fixated vertebrae. When one area of the body is locked up another part may compensate by moving too much and “popping” or clicking a lot. The jammed part should be adjusted by a Chiropractor so that the rest of the body will balance and stop being so movable and noisy.

Is exercising the same as getting adjusted? NO! Although exercising for health and for strengthening the spinal and surrounding areas is good, exercising is not the same as getting adjusted. Exercises do not replace the adjustment.

How often should I get a Chiropractic adjustment? The answer is “as soon as you develop Subluxations.” But since Subluxations are often painless, it’s good to get regular periodic Chiropractic checkups, just as you get your teeth checked periodically for “painless” cavities or your blood pressure checked for painless high blood pressure, etc. Periodic checkups are based on the how well your body can “hold” an adjustment.

Will I always have to see a Chiropractor? NO!  But since the stressors of life; physical, chemical, emotional and technological stress are the causes of Subluxation and poor health, everyone should get periodic check-ups for early detection of Subluxations.

If I feel sick, have the flu or some other illness, should I get adjusted? Absolutely!! Your immune system is linked to the nervous system and studies demonstrate improvement in immune system strength and function with Chiropractic adjustments. We encourage you to call our office for an appointment if you are feeling run down. Some people are concerned they will infect others. If this is you, call us and we will schedule you outside normal adjusting times.