• What is a chiropractic adjustment? 
• Does an adjustment hurt? 
• What is a vertebral subluxation? 
• Why do children need chiropractic? 
• Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy? 
• Once you go to the chiropractor, do you have to go for the rest of your life? 
• Does insurance cover chiropractic?

What is a chiropractic adjustment? 

The chiropractic adjustment is a high velocity, low amplitude thrust given to a specific vertebra in order to remove nerve pressure while restoring normal spinal motion and position. It is performed to correct what is known as the "vertebral subluxation complex":

• Vertebral, meaning the bones of the spine,
• Subluxation, meaning less than a total dislocation,
• Complex, meaning consisting of more than one part. 

Does an adjustment hurt? 

No, not usually. Many patients experience quick and sometimes immediate relief. However, the adjustment can sometimes cause minor discomfort, but it is not usually painful. Most of the discomfort will go away after the adjustment is performed several times. It is true that several adjustments may be necessary before total relief is experienced and certainly necessary if the problem is to be corrected. 

The discomfort one might experience is often related to how long one waits before seeking care for their health problem or illness. The sooner we begin care after onset, the less discomfort one might experience and the fewer adjustments one might need to completely heal. 

What is a vertebral subluxation?  

A vertebral subluxation is a condition of biomechanical dysfunction in the spinal column that also results in dysfunction of the nervous system (i.e. spinal cord and/or spinal nerve). As such, this condition interferes with the communication between the brain and the rest of the body. A subluxation may or may not produce pain or tenderness in that particular part of the spine, but they do always produce an undesirable change in the life flow along the involved nerves. If the subluxation remains uncorrected, the resulting nerve interference can lead to dysfunction and even structural impairment in any organ or tissue supplied by the nerves involved. 

The vertebral subluxation's disruption of the body's spinal biomechanics impairs the spine's ability to function properly. This aspect of the subluxation usually manifests itself structurally as a slight but nonetheless very significant misalignment of a vertebra in relation to either the one below or above it. A subluxation also can be primarily characterized by either an increase or a decrease in motion of that vertebra in relation to the vertebrae adjacent to it.  

Uncorrected subluxations have been found to produce many other problems in addition to the site of the subluxation itself. These include harmful changes not only in the spinal structures, themselves, but also very unfavorable "domino-effect" changes throughout the body. A subluxation, therefore, can lead to the total-body impact of an impaired organ (such as the heart or liver) or an abnormal gait or a reduced range of motion of an effected limb or joint. 

Subluxations are serious! Though not always immediately or obviously symptomatic, they can produce intense and even disabling pain not only at the site of the subluxation itself, but also along the entire course of the involved spinal nerve (for example, sciatic nerve pain down the leg in addition to the low-back pain of the lumbar problem which caused it). Left uncorrected long enough, subluxations can lead to serious and eventually chronic health problems (such as faulty function of the stomach or intestines). Since not all subluxations are symptomatic, they have been described as the most common silent killer. As such, they often take their terrible toll until one's health has been destroyed. 

Probably the most common cause of the vertebral subluxation is the stress and strain of daily life and the resulting emotional and psychological states. The body tends to express those negative states as subluxations. Other frequent causes of vertebral subluxations are poor diet, poor posture, the fatigue of a chronic sleep deficit, and impact or trauma injuries (many of which go unnoticed---including the "microtraumas" or less obvious injuries from automobile accidents). 

The doctor of chiropractic (D.C.) is the only health care professional trained specifically to detect and correct subluxations. He does not treat diseases as such, for this legally is the exclusive purview of the M.D. Rather, the chiropractor has as his goal the restoration and maintenance of health through chiropractic care with the confidence that to the degree he/she is successful, the body will heal itself of most of its ailments. With that perspective, it hopefully is now clear how a regimen of chiropractic care can favorably influence a broad array of diseases and other human ailments, without labeling them, through the correction of subluxations. Many illnesses can also be prevented by encouraging patients to adopt more responsible and health-protective lifestyles. 

Why do children need chiropractic? 

The answer is quite simple really. A child is just as likely to develop a vertebral subluxation as we are since they too possess a spine and nervous system that should be cared for. In fact, many of us received our first subluxation at birth. It is true that the birth process, even under natural and controlled conditions, is potentially traumatic.  

During the pushing stage of labor, the spine, particularly the neck, may be injured as the baby is compressed and pushed down the birth canal. As the baby is compressed, the small bones of the spine may be pushed out of their natural alignment causing the nerves housed within to become stretched and twisted resulting in disrupted communication between the brain and the rest of the body. This is especially true of difficult births involving forceps, vacuum extraction and C-section.  

Complications of uncorrected subluxations may be serious, resulting in respiratory depression, and in some cases SIDS. Even when obvious symptoms do not present, the effects of subluxation may be far-reaching and not manifest themselves for years. A child's ability to fight against disease may become compromised. Colds, ear infections, fever, colic and other illnesses may result. The literature indicates that the body's immune response in the production of anti-viral and anti-bacterial agents to fight infection is greatly compromised due to vertebral subluxation. In addition, subluxations may interfere with internal organ function, resulting in the inability to regulate temperature. 

Is chiropractic care safe during pregnancy? 

Yes. It is gentle and safe. In fact, because of hormones produced during pregnancy which relax the ligaments, much less force is needed when performing the adjustment.  

Chiropractic care can help you and your baby achieve a healthier pregnancy and delivery. In fact, research shows that women who received chiropractic adjustments in their third trimester of pregnancy were able to carry and deliver children with more comfort. The best time to be checked for subluxations is before you would like to become pregnant. This will ensure proper pelvic and spinal alignment. If you are already pregnant, chiropractic adjustments can be given throughout your pregnancy and directly after your labor and delivery. 

Is it true that once you go to the chiropractor, you have to go for the rest of your life? 

No. Your health is your responsibility. As doctors, our responsibility is to teach, to educate you about health and chiropractic so that you can make the choice that is right for you. The choice to go to a chiropractor for a long time or for the rest of your life is your choice. 

This said, you should understand that chiropractic offers three types of care: 

1. Acute or relief care - the objective of this type of care is simply to relieve your symptoms. Depending on the severity of your condition, this may take just a few visits or it may take several visits over weeks or even months.
2. Corrective or stabilization care - the objective of this type of care is to stabilize the spine and nervous system by correcting the vertebral subluxation complex. This type of care seeks to optimize the structure and function of the spine in order to minimize interference to the nervous system (i.e. spinal cord and spinal nerves). This type of care may take months or even years depending on the condition of the spine and nervous system.
3. Maintenance or wellness care - the objective of this type of care is to maintain the correction achieved during corrective care. After all, once you have regained your health, doesn't it make sense to insure it in the future? 

Your body was created to be healthy. The power to express that health resides within. Without nervous system interference, your body will express itself at an optimal level. This is the gift of lifetime chiropractic care. It is certainly our choice and we are healthier for it. 

Regardless of which type of care is right for you, we will support you in that decision. 

Does insurance cover chiropractic? 

Most insurance policies cover chiropractic care. For example, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, as well as Medicare, have covered chiropractic care for years. Many HMO's and PPO's also offer chiropractic care to their subscribers. In addition, injuries resulting from auto accidents and work injuries are covered 100% by auto and worker's compensation insurance, respectively.  

To obtain information on chiropractic coverage by your insurance company, call our office anytime.