What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. At Lake Tahoe Wellness Center, we believe every body has an innate ability to heal itself, and one strategy for optimal health is through regular chiropractic adjustments.
The brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body (the Nervous System) control our most important functions of the body. The vertebral spine houses and protects the core of the nervous system. When this system is working at its maximum effectiveness, it allows the body to maintain health through effective communication with every section of the body. Misaligned vertebra, known as “subluxations”, can put pressure on the spinal nerves, decreasing proper nerve function. This in turn can cause something as unnoticeable as a slight dysfunction in the body's functioning, or something more serious like pain, dis-ease and sickness.
Chiropractic is the Science, Art and Philosophy that concerns itself with the restoration of good health by restoring and maintaining a properly functioning nervous system, without the use of drugs or surgery.
What is it that Doctors of Chiropractic do?
Chiropractors restore proper motion to joints that are not moving correctly, causing nerve impingements, joint grinding and other body issues. Helping to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system function begins with a detailed overview of your individual body mechanics and case history. Your case history is vital as it reveals the background about your health, such as surgeries, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details which brought you into the office.
After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopedic, neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed. X-ray may be taken which will help uncover structural and functional problems.
What Type of Education do Doctors of Chiropractic get?
The science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques and related subjects. This demanding curriculum prepares chiropractic doctors to locate the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and help correct the resulting nervous system dysfunction.
Before beginning Chiropractic school, chiropractic students need to complete 3 years of undergraduate education to obtain the necessary prerequisites. A chiropractic student then completes 4 years of graduate school to receive a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. However the testing is not done. Each candidate must then pass both National and State board examinations in order to receive a license to practice chiropractic. After undergraduate studies, today's chiropractic doctor completes an additional four-year curriculum of over 4,500 classroom hours of health sciences. It takes about 7 years of post-secondary schooling to learn how to be a chiropractor!
Also, a chiropractic education never ends. Most doctors continue to educate themselves by taking postgraduate courses on specialties and staying current by reading the latest scientific research.
What is an Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific isolated movement in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, 'locked up,' or not moving properly. An adjustment adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The purpose of this safe and deliberate procedure is improved skeletal function, improved nervous system function and improved health.
There are hundreds of ways to adjust the spine. Usually the doctor's hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief and highly accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow constant pressure. After years of training and clinical experience, each chiropractic doctor becomes highly skilled in the delivery of a variety of adjusting approaches: allowing them to use the technique that will provide you with the best results.
Do I Have a Pinched Nerve?
Many patients consult a doctor of chiropractic because they think they have a pinched nerve. While commonly associated with the spine, a pinched nerve is actually rare. Research suggests that only 10%-15% of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on a nerve. Typically a 'pinched nerve' will result in numbness, burning, or a 'pins and needles' feeling. When a bone pushes on a nerve, this is a serious condition that requires immediate attention, and chiropractic can help!
Several other possibilities exist that can also cause numbness and/or a burning sensation. Nerves are more commonly stretched or irritated, which will produce a numbness feeling. If you have numbness, see your chiropractor for a detailed and thorough examination.
Do I Have a Slipped Disc?
No, it is not possible for discs to slip; however, if damaged they can leak or rupture. The disc is a pad-like tissue located between two vertebrae, which acts as shock absorber for the spine. The center of the disc is made of a fluid, soft, 'jelly-like' substance. When discs become damaged, tears can occur through which the soft center can leak out and push on the nerves. This is know as a ruptured or herniated disc and is extremely painful.
While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by choosing chiropractic care for their disc-related problems.
Are All Patients Adjusted the Same Way?
Each patient is adjusted according to their unique requirements. Your chiropractor will determine the best way to adjust your spine after completing a detailed examination.
Many chiropractors will adjust your entire spine, even though you don't have pain in that area. Pain is a poor indicator of problems as many problems cause pain in other connected areas. For examples: some patients who complain of headaches may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in their fingers when the actual problem is in the neck.
While visits may seem similar, each visit builds on the one before. Chiropractic care is customized to each patient’s age, condition, specific spinal problems, and overall health goals.
Can I Adjust Myself?
Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific joint, it is impossible to adjust oneself properly; and also dangerous. Spinal adjusting may look easy when done by an experienced chiropractor, but it has taken several years to master - just as a gymnast makes walking on a balance beam look easy.
Turning and twisting your back and neck may create a ‘popping’ sound, however this action increases instability in the spine, resulting in a hypermobile spine which cannot effectively protect the spinal cord. Remember the goal of the adjustment is to get joints moving that are not moving normally, twisting your back will cause unstable joints to become more unstable. Spinal adjusting is not for amateurs!
The best way to enjoy the healthful benefits of chiropractic is to receive adjustments from a Doctor of Chiropractic. Even your doctor must seek out the services of another colleague to help restore and maintain proper spinal function for themselves.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health that is proven safe and effective. There are thousands of published scientific studies supporting and proving chiropractic’s safety and effectiveness. Modern Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. In fact, chiropractic adjustments are safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers and even aspirin!
What Can I do to Help My Healing After an Injury?
There are a lot of steps you can take to give yourself the best chance for a quick recovery from an injury. Learn proper sitting and lifting methods. Specific exercises may be suggested to help retrain the muscles that support the spine. Proper rest is an important aspect of the healing process, too. Get the appropriate amount of rest your body needs and avoid sleeping on your stomach.
During the healing process, proper nutrition is more important than ever. Make sure you eat balanced meals, sourcing seasonal ingredients. If you are overweight, there are many effective, natural ways to improve your body's compostition. Reducing weight stress on your spine can help promote a faster recovery after injury.
Perhaps most important of all, maintain routine chiropractic care and follow your chiropractic doctor’s recommendations for optimum results!
Do Children Need To Be Adjusted?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their new-borns checked by their chiropractor.
Learning to walk, riding a bicycle, and other childhood activities can cause spinal problems, and the unseen damage to the child’s spine is the unique domain of a chiropractic doctor.
Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as ’growing pains’ can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic check-ups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.
Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child’s spine. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children. This improved health is due to a properly functioning spine that promotes a properly functioning immune system. This natural immunity can protect a child against common sickness that can be acquired in social settings like school or playgrounds. Chiropractic has been shown to be helpful with scoliosis, diabetes and many other so-called ‘normal’ childhood health problems.
Can I Be Too Old For A Chiropractic Adjustment?
More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, chiropractic care is growing in popularity.
Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance and appetite. Many patients report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process.
The adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum comfort and results.
As we get older and wiser, the simplicity and effectiveness of chiropractic care becomes more and more obvious.
Regardless of your age, chiropractic care can help improve mobility and maintain vitality.
How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care?
Spinal problems neglected since early childhood may require ongoing supportive care for optimum spinal function. These long-standing problems are often associated with muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine.
Most patients find that periodic chiropractic check-ups help keep them in tip-top shape. Those who are active, have stressful jobs, or want to be their very best, find that a schedule of preventive visits are helpful in the maintenance of good health.
Some patients seek chiropractic care only when their ache or pain becomes unbearable. Unfortunately this style of ‘crisis management’ is usually more costly and time-consuming in the long run. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you. Periodic chiropractic check-ups, like brushing and flossing your teeth, getting regular exercise, and eating wholesome foods is part of a healthy lifestyle that will keep most ailments at bay.
