Do I need to wear special clothing to my appointment?

Loose or comfortable clothing is best, but not necessary. If you have a knee that needs to be examined or taped, you can bring a pair of shorts. A tank top is best if you are a woman with a shoulder injury.

What type of education and training do chiropractors have?

Becoming a Chiropractor requires a minimum of eight years of highly specialized training. Today’s Doctor of Chiropractic must complete 4,485 hours of classroom instruction and must pass rigorous chiropractic board examinations before earning a license. Continuing educational seminars are compulsory for annual license renewal. Educational requirements for Chiropractors are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

What is an adjustment?

A gentle, specific “thrust” delivered by hand. The purpose of the adjustment is to correct your spinal or other bone subluxation(s) thus removing the nerve interference in your body.

Does it hurt to get adjusted?

No. I am confident that once you begin receiving your adjustments, you will begin to look forward to them. When you allow the vertebrae to return to its proper position, you will have much less stress, tension and pain.

Is chiropractic care safe?

Yes. Statistics show that chiropractic care is one of the safest forms of health care in the world.

When comparing malpractice insurance premiums paid by chiropractors to those paid by medical doctors, chiropractic physicians pay only a small fraction (approx. 1/20) of the price medical doctors pay. In fact, drug reactions are the third leading cause of death in the United States (The Journal of The American Medical Association, JAMA; Vol.284, July 26, 2000).

Chiropractic is a safe alternative to conventional medicine and continues to become a preferred treatment option for many conditions.

Once you see a chiropractor, do you have to go for the rest of your life?

No. You need to remain subluxation free for life. Chiropractic care, when needed, can help you with those goals.

What causes the sound made during a chiropractic adjustment?

That sound is not your spine “cracking” or “popping” like most people think. That sound is created by gas (in this case, nitrogen) rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. Another example of this phenomenon would be the “pop” sound you hear when the cork is taken out of a champagne bottle. Not all chiropractic adjusting techniques produce this noise. In fact, some adjusting techniques use little force and thus produce no noise at all.

What is Kinesio Taping?

The Kinesio Taping Method involves taping over and around muscles in order to assist and give support or to prevent over-contraction. There are two techniques. The first technique allows for support while maintaining full range of motion. This enables the individual to participate in normal physical activity with functional assistance. The second technique, which is most commonly used in the acute stage of rehabilitation, helps prevent overuse or over-contraction and helps provide facilitation of lymph flow.