What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a form of natural health care that focuses on the integrity of your nervous system. The brain, spinal cord and the rest of your nerves control every aspect of your body.  Interference with the vital nerve links between your brain and your body and poor health can result.  One form of such interference is caused by misalignments in the spine called subluxations.  These subluxations can cause pressure on the nerves resulting in numbness, weakness, and/or reduced function of body tissues and organs.  Rather than treat the symptoms of the nerve interference chiropractic looks to correct the cause.  For example if a person has a subluxation in their upper neck causing headaches, all the aspirin in the world won’t correct the cause of the headache, the subluxation, but instead will simply lessen the pain or symptoms caused by the subluxation.  The intent of chiropractic is to restore optimal function to your nervous system and thereby restore your body’s ability to heal itself without drugs or surgery.

Who can chiropractic help?
Improved nerve function can help everyone.  Most people think chiropractic is just for back and neck pain but chiropractors treat many conditions.  People of all ages have been benefiting from chiropractic for over a hundred years.  Modified techniques can be used to treat children, the elderly, pregnant patients, and others with special needs.

How long will it take?
Since each patient is unique results can vary from patient to patient.  Some patients will notice significant changes in just a few days or weeks while others may take weeks to months before showing significant progress.  Long-standing or neglected problems may require longer periods of treatment.  Just as you wouldn't expect to go to the gym and see results after one workout, you shouldn't expect to be completely better after one or two adjustments.  While some patients seek care only when they are in pain, this approach is often time consuming, costly and uncomfortable.  Most patients find the best results come from a regular maintenance program with periodic chiropractic checkups.  We suggest that you discuss your expectations for care with the doctor so that he can offer suggestions and options.  The final decision on your care is always yours.

Will I have to go for the rest of my life?
Some patients choose to continue with some form of maintenance program of care.  These patients show up for their appointments feeling great.  Their goal is to maintain optimal nerve function in order to maintain wellness and help prevent injury.  We understand that each individual will have different goals and as with any form of health care the final decision is yours.

What is a subluxation?
A subluxation is the name given to a bone in the spine that is not moving correctly or is stuck.  A subluxation can cause irritation to a nerve.  This irritation can interfere with the function of that nerve.

How do you get subluxations?
There are three basic causes of subluxations.  Physical stress  includes falls, lifting, and improper posture.  The second type is emotional stress which includes everyday stress from work and family as well as other emotions such as anger, anxiety, and fear.
The final cause is chemical.  These include improper nutrition, drugs and alcohol, and exposure to pollution.  All three of these factors take a toll on your body and can contribute to subluxations in your body.

How do I know if I have Subluxation?
Many people will have subluxations and never know it until they have symptoms associated with them.  However lack of symptoms does not mean lack of subluxations.  Just like a cavity in a tooth may not hurt until it has become advanced, many subluxations will not produce pain until they have been present for some time.  An exam performed by your chiropractor can determine if and where subluxations are present.

Can Subluxations go away on their own?
Occasionally subluxations will clear up on their own.  Our body is an amazing thing and shows a remarkable ability to heal and correct problems on its own.  Sometimes through stretching and movement the body will correct some of these subluxations.  If however stretching and rest do not resolve the problem you will need to see a chiropractor.

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