4 Red Flags of a Chiropractic Practice

1. They don’t do an a assessment or initial visit

Chiropractors are legally responsible for gathering your health information and assessing you before starting care. This means you should fill out paperwork, sit down and have some form of a discussion pertaining to why you are there before the adjustment occurs.

2. The chiropractor does everything but adjust you

The main job of a chiropractor is to find interference in the nervous system and adjust it based on your diagnostic findings. If you go to the chiropractor and they are stretching, massaging, taping, etc, but no actually adjusting occurs you should be concerned. All of these modalities are great in conjunct with chiropractic, but adjusting is what Chiropractors are trained to do.

3. Your chiropractor is ONLY concerned with getting you out of pain

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because it is one of the main reasons people go see a chiropractor. It does however show the chiropractor is either not aware of or choses not to focus on the importance of solving the problem for what got you in this situation to begin with. Usually, it can be structural but it’s also important to look at work and life habits to begin to solve the problem and ask the question “Why did this happen now”. During your care, your chiropractor should discuss health/life goals you are looking to achieve. This is important because your chiropractor should have the tools or resources available to help you achieve health goals, other than just getting out of pain.

4. Your chiropractor doesn’t track your progress

If you have been getting consistent care your chiropractor should have performed a Progress Examination. This is where they can see how you are progressing and share the results with you. This is important because if the care is not working, another technique, chiropractor, or professional should be implemented.

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10 Signs You Need to See a Chiropractor

10 Signs You Need to See a Chiropractor

1. You notice postural imbalances in your body

These asymmetries can show up as one shoulder being higher than the other, rotated hips or even a crooked nose. Chiropractors are trained in seeing misalignments in the body and work to restore balance in the structure.

2. Your body feels like it is not running at it’s best

A less than optimally functioning nervous system can be one cause of fatigue, aches and pain, headaches, etc. A goal of most chiropractors is to help remove nerve interference to the
nervous system, and in turn increase the function of the body.

3. You sit often

Sitting can put a lot of abnormal stress on our bodies. A chiropractor can help unwind this tension and some can provide exercises/stretches to do throughout the day.

4. The soles of your shoes wear out differently

One heel might be more worn than the other, or at an angle. This is a tell tell sign that some-thing in the structure of your body is off.

5. You have limited range of motion

If you have trouble bending or experience tightness during stretching a chiropractor may be able to help. Sometimes this is due to a structural misalignment leading to tight muscles.

6. You are active

If you run a lot, or want to maintain an active lifestyle, getting adjusted is an important way to make sure your body is moving properly.

7. You have had physical trauma

Whether you got in a car crash, or have played sport, both micro and macro trauma adds up in the body. This trauma can lead to structural imbalances and degenerative conditions.

8. You want to live a more health conscious life

Chiropractors are full of knowledge of how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Most of them are vitalistically minded, meaning they recognize the bodies ability to heal and work to help the body express the innate potential within.

9. You experience tingling in an arm or leg

A lot of times this can be contributed to a pinched nerve. A chiropractor is trained in finding the root cause and addressing it.

10. You have a lot of stress

Chiropractors can help stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for relaxation and reducing stress.

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Best Ways to Minimize Back Pain at Work

Best Ways to Minimize Back Pain at Work

Have you ever heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking”? Well it is true, humans sit more than ever. Our bodies were made to move, not to live in stagnation. Most of us work a desk job sitting for 7+ hours. This posture can lead to a variety of abnormalities which eventually can be a cause of pain in the back.

When seated our hip flexors are in a contracted state, there is usually forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and tense low back muscles. There are several different exercises, postural awareness, and ergonomics changes that can be implemented to prevent, manage, and improve pain from chronic sitting.

First, it is important to become aware of how one is seated. Making sure to keep your shoulders back and head in line with your shoulders. Often times, people are slouched over which can be a possible cause of headaches. It is also important to not sit on a wallet or have crossed legs. Over time, this can lead to one hip being higher than the other which can put pressure on the nerves of the low back and lead to pain. Muscles that most likely need stretched are hip flexors, pec major, and SCM all of which stretches can be googled for. Muscles that possibly need strengthened are are glutes, and rhomboids. Be sure to check in with your chiropractor/healthcare provider before implementing any new exercises or stretches. If the office space allows, it is also helpful to get a standing desk or to sit on an exercise ball. Take walks during breaks, get outside, stretch every 30 minutes and take deep breathes. All of these things can help rewire and reignite the brain/ body.

Remember our bodies are designed to move. A healthy spine leads to a healthy life. Get up, move your body, go see a chiropractor, get some sunshine, and the conquer the day!

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Can You Only See a Chiropractor for Back Pain?

Can you only see a chiropractor for back pain?

Back pain is one of the main reasons someone may think to go to the chiropractor, but is not the only thing chiropractic can improve. Chiropractic helps remove interference from the nervous system, allowing it to function better. The nervous system innervates, skin, muscle, joints, organs, everything in the body to be exact. Without this communication from the brain through the nerves, to the rest of the body we would not function. Removing the interference from the nervous system and improving its function can in turn help a wide array of issues. These issues can include but are not limited to, migraines, thoracic outlet syndrome, carpal tunnel, and sciatica. Chiropractors can also adjust more than just the spine. Anywhere on the body that has a moveable joint can be adjusted. This means chiropractors can adjust feet, ankles. knees, elbows, etc. There are even chiropractors who adjust the sutures of the skull.

There can be a lot of secondary benefits of chiropractic due to the stimulation of the nervous system. For example, patients sometimes see a decrease in anxiety. This is due to the fact that certain adjustments can stimulate what is known as the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for putting the body in a relaxed state. Each segment of the spine has nerves that come out and control certain areas of the body. For example, one of the vertebrae in the top of the spine can help the sinuses drain if you have allergies or a cold. Removal of nerve interference is essential to make sure the body is functioning at it’s best.

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How often should you go to a chiropractor?

How often should you go to a chiropractor?

The frequency of visits is going to depend from person to person. This will depend on a couple factors such as: severity of condition, amount of time the condition has been present, and how well the body responds to adjustments. Each person requires a specific care plan and therefore the amount of visit and frequency will vary anywhere from twice a week, every other week, once a month, etc.

The severity of a condition refers to what state the body is in? Has the patient had many injuries? Do they have neurological findings? Is there degeneration or change in the tissue? All of these different factors, and more must be considered to determine how severe a condition is. Usually the more severe, the greater amount of visits are required.

Another consideration is how long has the condition been present. It is important to realize as we age we experience various traumas through our life. No matter how big or small our nervous system keeps records of them. These traumas can add up and outwardly express as postural imbalances, neurological deficiencies, muscular tightness, etc.

Finally, how well a patient responds to adjustments is another determining factor in frequency of visits. This can be effected by stress, hydration, medications, and joint mobility.

As a patient progresses through stages of care and achieves specific outcomes the frequency of visits will change. How long this takes again varies from patient to patient. The number of visits can also increase if someone has a major change in their life such as an accident or large stressor. The good thing is after receiving consistent chiropractic care people usually tend to bounce back to their precious state faster after an injury or trauma.

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Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Kids?

Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Kids?

Most people have seen a chiropractic adjustment performed on an adult, consisting of pops and cracks. An adjustment on a child often looks much different. Most pediatric adjustments have no more force than what it takes to bruise a peach. The adjustment also will not usually cause a popping sound. Infants and most children under the age of 3 do not need a physical force to be adjusted.

Why might a child need to get adjusted? The first and the most important reason is to make sure their nervous system is free and clear from any interference. A lot of times childbirth can be traumatic and cause various misalignments in the child’s body. For example, if the child was forcefully removed from the vaginal canal with forceps it can be very traumatic to the neck. It has been found that ear infections could possibly be correlated to this type of birth. This is why it is important to have a baby checked by a chiropractor as soon after birth as possible. There are various research articles and case studies mentioning how chiropractic can help with a variety of childhood issues such as colic, constipation, breast feeding, ADHD, sleeping through the night, developmental delays and much more.

There are many different chiropractic techniques with various research and case studies correlating to them. Some of the techniques include: ICPA, network spinal, craniosacral, Webster, and activator. All of these techniques are low force and some even use a handheld instrument. It can be helpful to check into what technique a chiropractor uses or find a pediatric specific chiropractor. Making sure a child’s nervous system is clear of interference gives them the best chance at growing up disease free!

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Is Chiropractic Care Unsafe?

Is Chiropractic Care Unsafe?

The fear of chiropractic being potentially dangerous is common among people. Most people fear being paralyzed, or having a stroke. Chiropractic has been around for more than a hundred years and the documented cases of a chiropractic injury have been extremely low, especially when compared to the number medical injuries. One study showed for patients aged 66-99 with “risk for a neuromusculoskeletal problem, risk of injury to the head, neck or trunk within 7 days was 76% lower among subjects with a chiropractic office visit as com-pared to those who saw a primary care physician” (Whedon).

Chiropractic is a gentle, natural way to improve nervous system function. When done properly, an adjustment should not take much force. In fact, one study showed the force it takes to sever the spinal cord is equivalent to the impact created by a 500-pound car crash-ing into a wall at 30 miles per hour (Pbs). Therefore the likeliness of a chiropractor hurting your spine and causing paralysis is very unlikely.

There are only a couple different scenarios when someone should not be adjusted. These include certain spinal injuries, severe degeneration, certain grade herniations. It is important that the chiropractor takes certain precautions with these patients such as X-rays and low force adjusting techniques. Another population that some may think can not go to the chiropractor are pediatrics and pregnant women. Kids can be adjusted as early as birth and it is extremely important to their wellbeing to do so. Pregnant women are also encouraged to get care throughout the entire pregnancy. In most cases, this helps the birth process and overall pregnancy go much smoother. Both of these populations are safe to receive low force adjustments.

Stay informed, do your research, and realize there are many false claims about every profession. When preparing to go to your chiropractor, make sure to tell them about any previous injuries, car accidents, surgeries, or conditions. You could even ask to observe an adjustment before receiving yours to help calm any nerves.

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Whedon JM, Mackenzie TA, Phillips RB, Lurie JD. Risk of traumatic injury associated with chiropractic spinal manipulation in Medicare Part B beneficiaries aged 66 to 99 years. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2015 Feb 15;40(4):264-70. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0000000000000725. PMID: 25494315; PMCID: PMC4326543.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/take-sever-human-spine

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What is the Average Cost of a Chiropractor?

What is the average cost of a chiropractor?

Chiropractic can range anywhere from twenty dollars to hundreds per visit. The reason for such a large scale of pricing can be due to a lot of different factors. These differences include, time spent with patient, extra modalities, value of care, office perks such as coffee, X-rays, etc. As the saying goes, sometimes you pay for what you get.

Of course, not all chiropractors who charge less means they’re bad. It is important however, that the doctor is providing quality care. You should feel comfortable not only during the adjustment, but in the office space as well. A quality office should provide you with a roadmap in order to gage where you’re starting from and headed with care. Quality of care can often times drive the price of care up. Quality is valuable and can make all the difference in one’s experience.

There are several different costs one might encounter while at a chiropractor. The first is usually the initial visit. This ranges from 50 dollars to 150. Fluctuation of this cost results from whether or not the doctor uses any analysis equipment such as X-rays or thermal scans. Some offices provide extra services such as massage, or acupuncture. Extra charges may also accrue if services such as exercises, nutrition counseling, or supplements are provided.

Cost can be reduced in several instances. One being, if the office takes insurance. A lot of doctors opt out of taking insurance because in reality not many pay for chiropractic care. Another price reduction can occur if the office provides bundle plans, meaning you pay for x amount of visits upfront. Sometimes offices will offer administrative discounts on care plans or initial visits if paid for beforehand.

You can buy a cheap piece of clothing that lasts one wash, or a more expensive piece that will last a lifetime, chiropractic care can be the same. One office might not cost much and crack you, but may not spend the time to look at improving your overall health. At the end of the day, find what work best and fits into your budget.

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Does Chiropractic Hurt?

Does chiropractic hurt?

This is a common fear among many first time patients. Although an adjustment may look frightening or even sound like it, it is not painful. Many people find it relaxing and relieving. In order to ease any nerves, it is important to understand what’s going on physiologically.

So what is the popping sound during an adjustment? The pop comes from a release in gas between the joints, just like cracking your knuckles. This gas is harmless, and pain free. There are even some low force chiropractic techniques that do not involve any cracking. In addition to understanding the “pop’ there are some relaxation techniques to help the adjustment go smoothly.

These techniques allow maximal comfort and efficiency of the adjustment, by allowing the muscles and body to relax. One of the most common places people tense up is during the neck adjustment. This is completely normal since it is such an important area of the body. In order to keep the muscles of the neck relaxed, try imaging you’re laying on a pillow. People will subconsciously try and hold the weight of their head, but the more loose the neck is, the easier the adjustment will be. Typically, if you are someone who likes to be in control this can be more difficult to do.

Sometimes, there can be soreness after an adjustment, just like after a workout. The adjustment stimulates the muscles, which can lead to fatigue. Icing after an adjustment can help prevent or relieve the pain. The pain should be mild, if it is extremely intense it is recommended to contact the chiropractor. Your chiropractor should strive to provide you with ease and care during the adjustment. As the patient, do not be afraid to tell the doctor if something was uncomfortable. Once the first time adjustment jitters pass, you’ll be jumping on the table every appointment.

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Are Chiropractors Real Doctors?

Are Chiropractors Real Doctors?

First, it is important to ask yourself how you define a Doctor? According to a Google search, a doctor is someone who who holds a doctorate degree. There are many different professions that require a doctorate degree, such as a college professor or psychologist. In order to practice in the US, chiropractors must hold a doctorate of Chiropractic.

Often when someone asks if a chiropractor is a “real” doctor they are making the comparison to a medical doctor. A medical doctor is someone who goes to medical school for 4 years, and obtains a doctorate to practice medicine. “Practicing medicine” means to prescribe medications or perform surgeries, in order to treat disease. This western portrayal of a healthcare provider is the mainstream image that comes to mind when “doctor” is mentioned. There are many different types of healthcare providers, but when they do not fall under the main stream umbrella often times they can be disregarded as true professionals.

One common misconception is that chiropractors do not have as extensive of an education or training as medical doctors. Chiropractors are masters of the nervous system, and since the nervous system runs the entire body they must be well versed in how it operates and functions. They complete over 4,200 credit hours and are proficient in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, plus many more subjects pertaining to the working of the body. They do not learn surgery or pharmaceuticals, but when compared side to side to a medical doctor’s education, there is very little difference. Chiropractors have a year and a half of clinicals and even have a “residency” at the end of their schooling.

A lesser know reason to why this common misconception exists, is due to a scheme to destroy chiropractic. This is a whole other topic on its own, in short a couple of groups (one being the American Medical Association) got together and plotted against the chiropractic profession. One of their tactics was to create a stigma that chiropractors are not real doctors. The truth was revealed after a court trial between this group and chiropractors proved the plot to be real. Unfortunately, this misconception about chiropractors has remained in the public’s perception. Next time you go visit a chiropractor feel free to ask them any questions regarding the human body, you might just be surprised they know a little more than just the spine!

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