Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a form of manual medicine based on the scientific, biological fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism, controlled by the nervous system. The vertebrae and cranium house the brain, spinal cord and nerves cells of the body, and thereby protect the brain and nervous system. When the vertebrae are misaligned, this can cause dis-ease.
How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. By restoring spinal function with Chiropractic adjustments, nerve interference by misaligned vertebrae is removed, thus allowing optimal nervous system function and normal health.
What Type of Education Do Chiropractors Get?
Today's Doctor of Chiropractic is well educated with an education curriculum similar to medical school. After pre-medical basic science coursework, special emphasis is placed on anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, clinical nutrition, x-ray radiology, physiology, diagnosis, and spinal adjusting. Chiropractic professional education at the university level totals between 5-9 years and demanding qualifying board exams must be passed.
Is Chiropractic Expensive?
Research has repeatedly demonstrated that chiropractic significantly improves the recovery time, and reduces 'sick' days and offers cost savings to the NHS.
Is Chiropractic Safe?
Chiropractic care is "...remarkably safe", in the words of the New Zealand government's inquiry. It is safer than back surgery, muscle relaxants, and even aspirin. All ages from babies to the elderly enjoy safe, effective care around the world.
Is Chiropractic Scientific?
Research from Australia, New Zealand, England, Denmark, America, and Canada have validated Chiropractic. The "Manga Report" produced in Ottawa, Canada has validated Chiropractic for its safety and effectiveness, and cost-efficiency regarding Chiropractic treatment and low back pain. On-going research is now validating Chiropractic treatment and headaches, asthma, whiplash, and neck pain just to name a few.
I thought my pain was muscular
More often than not it is an underlying joint that is causing the problem. A painful joint will trigger a muscle spasm around it, and since a muscle receives it's nerve supply from a branch of the spinal nerve, muscular pain may be part of the problem. But without addressing the joint, many people find they only have limited success when only the muscular side of the problem is addressed.
I have arthritis. Can I be adjusted?
Although chiropractic certainly is not a cure for arthritis, some individuals find that regular chiropractic care helps to reduce their pain and stiffness.
Why Do Children Need Chiropractic Care?
A recent study in Denmark by Nilsson, et. al., reports that children under Chiropractic care have fewer absences from school, are more attentive, and need less drugs. Children with a wide variety of needs have responded exceptionally well to Chiropractic Care.
Reference: Factors influencing parents' decisions to choose chiropractic care for their children in the UK. Clinical Chiropractic, Vol 12, Issue 1, pp 11-22. P. Carlton, I. Johnson, C. Cunliffe.
How Long Will I Need Chiropractic?
A growing proportion of our practice comprises people who want to stay as healthy as they can. They attend regularly for spinal check ups (wellness care) to keep their spine healthy in a similar way to brushing their teeth, tuning up their car or regularly visiting a dentist. Wellness care is important for maintaining and increasing optimal health, saving money, and enjoying a healthy life-style.
The three types of care in Chiropractic are: Initial acute care to remove symptoms; Corrective care to correct the cause of the underlying ligament, soft tissue, and spinal degenerative changes; and Maintenance/Wellness care. How long you decide to benefit from Chiropractic is always up to you.
Do I Need a Referral to Visit a Chiropractor?
No. A Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary contact provider, meaning you do not need a referral. Doctors of Chiropractic are regulated by law, and provide a package of care that can work independently, or alongside treatment prescribed by NHS doctors and other health care professionals. If yours is not a Chiropractic case, a responsible Chiropractor will refer you to the appropriate health care provider.
Will I be sore after my chiropractic adjustments?
The overall goal is to optimise your spinal alignment and weight bearing curve and associated joint function and overall optimal nervous system health - not just pain relief. Most people experience some relief of symptoms in the first few weeks and some in even a shorter period of time.
However a good chiropractor will tell you in advance that some post-adjustment soreness is normal, especially at first. If you refer to the
x-ray page
here on our website, each bony process on the x-ray demonstrates areas of muscle attachments. When the joint is adjusted it affects the alignment of the spine, as well as the length of the muscle that is attached to that joint.
This repositioning can be experienced temporarily as soreness, though it is rare to be very sore. However, that depends on the nature of your condition when you first present to your chiropractor, but most people remark that it was not nearly as bad as they thought or imagined it would be. The best way to avoid extreme reactions is to maintain your spinal health through prevention.
Regards to post-adjustment soreness, it is common for chiropractic adjustments, and soft tissue work to result in a temporary increase in soreness in the treatment area(s). This is nearly always a temporary symptom that occurs while your body is undergoing therapeutic change.
It is not dangerous, but please do tell your chiropractor about it. Do not hesitate to discuss uncommon symptoms with your chiropractor. Leah Remeika-Dugan re-evaluates patients each time they come in and directs all patients to give written and verbal feedback on how they feel their progress is going.
Can I Get More Information?
If you have questions, or comments, please e-mail at
Cool Green Planet Chiropractic Cafe, Leah Remeika Dugan, Registered Chiropractor
Qualified and Experienced Back Pain Surgery
