About Chiropractic
Refer to this list of frequently asked questions for answers to common chiropractic questions.
What is Chiropractic?- What is "The Wellness Approach?"
- What is a subluxation?
- What is an adjustment?
- What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy?
- Should a newborn be checked by a chiropractor?
- Should children have chiropractic care?
- Am I sick or healthy?
- Why is chiropractic care important to the nervous system?
- What are the benefits of chiropractic care for athletes?
A. Chiropractic is more than simply a means of relieving pain. The goal of the chiropractic treatment is to restore the body to its natural state of optimal health. Since the body has a remarkable ability to heal itself and to maintain its own health, the primary focus is simply to remove those things which interfere with the body's normal healing ability.
Q. What is "The Wellness Approach?"
A. The National Wellness Institute definition is: "Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward more successful existence." Wellness is the interaction of the body, mind and spirit- the appreciation that everything we do, think, feel and believe has an impact on our state of health.
A. A subluxation is a slight misalignment of the spine and causes improper function by altering the normal transmission of nerve impulses. Subluxations can be the root of causes such as fatigue, poor concentration, frequent illness and problems with digestion and circulation.
A. An adjustment is an intervention with the intent of facilitating the body's ability to "right" itself and function more normally. The chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust applied to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement or both.
Q. What are the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy?
A. Chiropractic care is not only for the infant and child but also for the mother before, during and after her pregnancy. It benefits the mother by allowing her to be more comfortable and in a higher state of health, which directly affects the condition of the child. Chiropractic has been shown to aid the mother's back and pelvic structures in preparing for the stresses of labor and birth as well as to help ease back pain during gestation.
Q. Should a newborn be checked by a chiropractor?
A. Many issues arise from the birthing process. The movement through the birth canal can be a traumatic experience. A child can spend hours stuck in one position. A difficult delivery puts stress on an infant's
immature nervous system.
Listed are conditions that may be reduced or avoided from chiropractic care:
- excessive crying
- asthma and allergies
- sleeping disturbances
- vomiting after feedings
- gas or colic
Q. Should children have chiropractic care?
A. If you as a parent want your child to thrive mentally and physically to his or her greatest potential, then chiropractic is not an option; it is an essential component to your child's life. Many parents are concerned about the safety of a child being adjusted. It is extremely safe and beneficial to treat their spine. When adjusting a pediatric patient, Dr. Amy uses a very specific, small force to treat their spine.
Q. Am I sick or healthy?
A. It's important to understand how the body works to heal itself. Most people think when they have a fever that they are sick. But this is actually a HEALTHY reaction to an illness. Your body is trying to turn up the heat and kill the bacteria that has invaded your body.
Q. Why is chiropractic care important to the nervous system?
A. Your nervous system is the master and controller of your body. Right now your heart is beating, kidneys are working, liver is functioning, brain chemicals are flowing all without you having to think about it. This is because your nervous system is making it all happen. What would happen if there was interference with the function of your nervous system? It would affect your body's ability to heal itself.
Q. What are the benefits of chiropractic care for athletes?
A. Whether it's during the season or in the off season, chiropractic care is becoming the competitive advantage that many athletes are now seeking. What if you discovered that you could substantially improve your athletic capabilities with one simple step that could eliminate pain, improve your performance, and make your training a breeze? Millions of today's recreational and professional athletes are adding chiropractic adjustments to their workout regimen to help them accomplish their goals. Chiropractic can increase your athletic performance naturally. By increasing your biomechanical and musculoskeletal strength, decreasing muscular tension, and speeding your recovery time, performance will be enhanced and injuries reduced.