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Churchill Chiropractic Frequently
Asked Questions
| What
is chiropractic care? |
| There's nothing
mysterious about chiropractic. It's a natural method of
health care that focuses on correcting the causes of physical
problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic
is based on a simple but powerful premise. With a normally
functioning spine and healthy nerve system, your body
is better able to heal itself. That's because your spine
is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling,
movement, and all function through your body. |
| How
does chiropractic work? |
| Chiropractic
works by restoring your body's inborn ability to be healthy.
When under the proper control of your nervous system,
all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed
to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach
to better health is to locate and remove interferences
(subluxations, misaligned vertebrae) to your nervous system.
With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous
system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove
interference that may be impairing normal health through
specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body
to heal itself. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle
are your keys to optimal health! |
| What
type of education do chiropractic doctors receive? |
| Doctors of Chiropractic
are well-educated. Chiropractic education and medical
education are similar in many respects and different in
others because chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or
perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral
subluxations. After graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic
(D.C.) Degree, each candidate passes the demanding four
part National Board Examinations. Then, doctors apply
to a governmental or professional licensing board and
pass a still more difficult test before being granted
the privilege to practice. A chiropractor's education,
however, never ends. Most doctors complete regular postgraduate
instruction for license renewal and to stay current on
the latest research and adjustment techniques. |
| What
is a chiropractic adjustment? |
| A chiropractic
adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise
direction, applied to a joint that is subluxated, "locked
up," or not moving properly. The purpose of this
safe and natural procedure is to eliminate interference
to the nervous system, improving spinal function and overall
health. "Gentle spinal adjustments boosts your body's
immunity." |
| Can
I tell if I have a subluxation? |
| Not always.
A subluxation is like a dental cavity--you may have it
for a long time before symptoms appear. That's why periodic
spinal checkups are so important. Although it may be possible
to know you have a subluxation, it is rarely possible
to be sure you don't. Regular spinal checkups are always
a good idea, and they promote good health from the inside
out. |
| Do children
need chiropractic care? |
| Since significant
spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their
newborns immediately checked for vertebral subluxation.
Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are adapted
for the child's spine. Many childhood health complaints
that are brushed off can be traced to the spine. Health
problems that emerge in adulthood could often be prevented
by having your children's spine checked by a chiropractor
early. Most parents report that their children enjoy their
chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their
peers. |
| Are
all patients adjusted the same way? |
| No. The doctor
evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops
an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment
builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations
are based upon years of training and experience. Each
patient's care is uniquely different from every other
patient. |
| Is chiropractic
safe? |
| Yes. Chiropractic
has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a
conservative and natural approach to health that avoids
invasive procedures or addictive drugs. As proof, one
merely has to compare malpractice rates between chiropractors
and other health care professionals. Chiropractors' malpractice
premiums are a small fraction of those for medical doctors. |
| What
causes the sound during an adjustment? |
| Actually, adjustments
do not always produce a sound. Often, however, adjustments
do create the sound of a spinal "release", or
"popping" sound. The sound is caused by gas
rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the
joints are slightly separated. This sound is painless
and totally harmless. |
| Can
I adjust myself? |
| No. Since a
chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in
a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually
impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately.
It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways
to create a "popping" sound that sometimes accompanies
a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of
joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often
making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and
can sometimes be dangerous. Adjusting the spine is not
for amateurs! |
| Is chiropractic
care addictive? |
| No. If only
it were, there would be more healthy people around and
chiropractors would not get patients who last saw a chiropractor
a few years ago when their back went out. It is possible
to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and
more energetic as a result or regular chiropractic care.
Chiropractic is not addictive, however, good health is. |
| Can
a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor? |
| Yes. It's an
unfortunate fact that up to half of those who had spinal
surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months
or years later. They then face the prospect of additional
surgery. This too common occurrence is know as "Failed
Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent
repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care
is initially utilized back surgery can often be avoided
in the first place. |
| Does
chiropractic work for all types of health problems? |
| No, however
chiropractic care is successful with a very wide variety
of health problems not necessarily considered "back"
problems because of improved nerve system function. With
a normal nerve supply the body's natural healing capacity
can improve a variety of health problems. |
| Is it
OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant? |
| Anytime is a
good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant
mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their
pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and
their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a
patients size, weight, age, and condition of health. |
| Why
do chiropractors take x-rays? |
| Chiropractors
take x-rays to reveal the internal structure and alignment
of the spine. We are also concerned about underlying disease
processes and disorders of the spine such as spinal deterioration,
arthritis of the spine, abnormal development, bone spurs,
disc disorders, tumors and spinal curvature. X-rays also
provide a blueprint for correcting the spine back to optimal
health and alignment. |
| Is a
good work-out the same as getting adjusted? |
| No. Exercise
is an important part of good health, yet without normal
spinal function a physical workout merely puts additional
wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints. |
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Churchill Physical Health
Center, S.C.
|
101st 129 Infantry Drive, Joliet, IL 60435
|
Phone: 815-741-3200
Fax: 815-741-8131 |
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