What is Chiropractic? Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism, controlled by the brain, spinal cord and nerves of the body. The vertebrae, which protects the brain and nervous system, when misaligned or subluxated, cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body. Chiropractic is based on a vitalistic philosophy and backed by science since its discovery over 105 years ago by Daniel David (D.D.) Palmer. How Does Chiropractic Work? Chiropractic works by restoring your own God-given 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. The Chiropractic objective is to locate these vertebral subluxations, analyze and deduce the gentlest way to help the body correct them using a Chiropractic Adjustment; thus releasing the pressure on the spinal cord and nerves involved restoring healthy communication between the brain and the body. Renewed health is the natural result as the body returns to a more optimal state of performance. Your chiropractor will place their hands on the patient's spine, directly over the subluxation, and apply a gentle direct force. This does NOT "put the bone back into place"; but rather unlocks jammed or fixated vertebrae from its position and permits it to move where the body needs it to go. Only the body's innate wisdom knows exactly where the vertebra should go. Is Chiropractic Safe? In the last year in Canada, much media attention has been drawn to the safety of chiropractic, especially the risk of stroke with adjustments to the neck. A review of the most recent scientific literature shows chiropractic to be far safer than medical treatment (drugs or surgery) for the same conditions which causes someone to seek chiropractic care. Following is a list of medical procedures and the risks associated with them: Procedure Complication Rate Carotid artery surgery stroke or death - 100,000 per million Neurosurgery for neck paralysis - 15,000 per million Daily use of aspirin to prevent strokes and heart stroke - 7000 per million Chiropractic adjustment to the neck - stroke: 1 per million Following is a list of activities and the risks associated with them - Risk of dying from smoking from cigarettes before age 35 - 1:600 - Risk of eventually developing some form of cancer - 3:10 - Annual risk of being injured in a car crash - 1:75 - Risk of dying as a result of a bicycle accident - 1:88,000 - Risk of developing a stroke from an adjustment - 1:1,000,000 Bear in mind that every year, 148,000 people die from properly prescribed, properly taken medication, a number which does not take into account deaths from over-the-counter drugs, or improperly prescribed or taken medication. The form of stroke said to be associated with chiropractic (a tear in the wall of the vertebral artery) is rare, about one tenth of a per cent of all forms of stroke. And most of these developed after everyday activities (coughing, walking, golfing, household chores) or no apparent reason at all. The bottom line on stroke associated with chiropractic adjustments is that they are very rare occurrences, and that chiropractic is safer than any medical alternative, including over the counter pain killers. Truly, the odds are one in a million. Who needs Chiropractic Care? Anyone who wants to have optimal health, and a way to get there. Just like anyone with teeth should see a dentist; infants, children, seniors, and everyone with a spine should see a chiropractor. What to expect on your Initial Visit to our Office? The first thing you'll be asked to do is to complete your “Personal Health History Questionnaire”. During your consultation, we will ask questions regarding your present health concern as well as your overall past and present health stresses, which may have caused Vertebral Subluxations. Once the doctor has acquired all necessary information, he will explain to you exactly what will follow in the examination. He will educate you on exactly what he is looking for, why he is looking for Vertebral Subluxations, how they are possibly related to your health concerns and any follow up procedures if Vertebral Subluxations are found. Your consultation will be followed by a complete chiropractic examination. This will include, but not limited to, Thermography (the latest in Chiropractic technology), Postural Evaluation, and Spinal Examination. If any of the above reveal the presence of Vertebral Subluxations, Dr. Jeff may recommend a x-ray series be taken of your spine. Dr. Jeff only recommends x-rays if he feels they are absolutely necessary. Dr. Jeff will need time to review the x-rays and compare them to the chiropractic examination findings. The staff will schedule you for your personal “Report of Findings”, as soon as possible. The fee for this follow up visit is included in your examination fee. At your Report of Findings (ROF), Dr. Jeff will explain to you where he has found nerve interference, Vertebral Subluxations, and how severe the situation is. He will outline a course of action, BASED ON YOUR NEEDS, which may include, but not limited to, Spinal Adjustments, exercises and lifestyle recommendations. What is a Subluxation? How do you get them? Subluxation is a misalignment of the spinal bones that result in nerves getting choked or irritated and cause your body to mal-function. Subluxations have a multitude of causes. From the moment we are born we are subjected to a wider variety of physical, chemical and mental stressors. The first subluxation can occur as early as the birth process or very early in life. As a newborn infant is pulled from the birth canal, tremendous strain and traction is placed on the delicate structures of the spine in the neck as it is stretched and twisted. This can be one of the first causes of early vertebral subluxation. Other causes include poor sleeping habits, poor posture, strenuous exercise, sports injuries, stress, tension & anxiety, chemical exposure (i.e. drugs and medications), injuries at work, automobile accidents, and stumbles and falls. How do I know if I have a Subluxation? You can have several but never know it. Like the early stages of tooth decay, heart disease, or cancer, subluxations can be present before warning signs appear. Your body only can sense 10% of any pain you have, so when you feel pain that is warning you that something is wrong, the subluxation itself may have been there a long time. For example, you may feel pain in your back today, but after getting examined by a chiropractor you may see in your x-ray that you have had subluxations since an injury when you were younger. Can Subluxations clear up on their own? The body is always trying to heal itself, but in today's hectic lifestyles there is a constant source of subluxations. Fortunately, our bodies have the ability to self-correct many of these problems as we bend and stretch, or when we sleep at night. When subluxations don't resolve themselves a chiropractor is needed to correct the subluxation and give the body a better chance to heal itself. Unfortunately, we cannot tell if we are subluxated by how we feel, we need to get checked for subluxations regularly by a chiropractor. Even Dr. Jeff has his own chiropractor that checks his spine regularly. What is an Adjustment? Chiropractic adjustments usually involve a gentle but quick thrust that helps add motion to spinal joints that aren't moving right. Some methods use the doctor's hands, an instrument, a special table or the force of gravity. There are many ways to adjust the spine and they vary for infants to adults to seniors. What is the sound I hear during an Adjustment? Lubricating fluids separate the bones of each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound when the gas (mostly nitrogen) and fluids in the joint shift. It's much like opening a bottle of champagne or removing a suction cup. The sound is interesting, but it isn't a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment. Can I adjust myself? NO, some people can make their joints "pop", but that's not an adjustment! Worse, damage can occur by mobilizing a joint with weakened muscles and ligaments. Adjustments are specific skills that take years to master and only a licensed chiropractor can perform a specific chiropractic adjustment. Even your chiropractic doctor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care. Why does it seem that medical doctors don't like to refer patients to Chiropractors? That's changing. Years of prejudice and bias are giving way to research showing the benefits of chiropractic care. Attitudes are slow to change. However, as the public demands alternatives to drugs and surgery, more and more medical practitioners are referring their patients to seek chiropractic care. Are Drugs or Medications involved? No. Chiropractic doctors don't dispense drugs, because we rely on natural methods. Drugs and medications usually band-aid the symptom but don't really help heal or fix the problem. There are also dangerous side-effects with medications. That is where chiropractic comes in. Chiropractors find the source of your problem and work on helping your body to return to being able to repair itself. Why Do Children Need Chiropractic Care? If you understand how we get subluxations, you will realize that it can take years to repair damages that you received as a child. So if children are checked regularly further damage can be avoided and health maintained. Think of how many falls and bumps and stumbles children receive. About 4000 by their 4th birthday! Each can cause a subluxation that if not treated will only grow worse. A recent study by Nilsson in Denmark reports that children under chiropractic care are healthier than other children, miss less school, are more attentive and have less need for drugs. Children with conditions such as earaches, colic, bed wetting, scoliosis, "growing pains", torticollis, and asthma respond wonderfully to chiropractic care. Click here for more information on children and infants and chiropractic care. Can I have Chiropractic Care After Back Surgery? Yes. Rest assured that your chiropractic doctor will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved level. These areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care. Can Patients With Osteoporosis receive Chiropractic Care? Of course. When developing a care plan, your chiropractic doctor considers the unique circumstances of each patient. There are many gentle ways to adjust the spine. The method selected will be best suited to your age, size and condition. (This is for every patient). How Long Until I'll Feel Better? Some patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take many weeks or months. Many factors can affect the healing process. How long have you had your problem? Are you keeping your appointments? Are you getting the proper rest, exercise and nutrition? Do you smoke? Are you in otherwise good condition? Within a short period of time, most patients sense enough progress to fully carry out their doctor's recommendations? How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care? Depending on the degree of damage in your spine there may be weeks to months to years of corrective care to correct the cause of the underlying muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes. This is followed up by wellness or maintenance care. Similar to brushing teeth, tuning up your car or regularly visiting a dentist, wellness care is important for maintaining optimal health, saving money, and enjoying a healthy lifestyle. How long you decide to benefit from Chiropractic is always up to you. What Type of Education Do Chiropractors Get? Today's Doctor of Chiropractic is well educated with an educational curriculum similar to medical school. Special emphasis is placed on anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, nutrition, x-ray, physiology, diagnosis, and spinal adjusting. Post graduate education totals 7 years and demanding national and provincial board examinations must be passed. A chiropractor is a specialist in your spine and nervous system and subluxations - something no other health practitioner is trained in. How much do visits cost? As every person may require different durations and frequencies of care, a specialized program of care is designed for each patient as well as an affordable payment plan. All fees are discussed prior to any services being provided. As our office sees patients of all backgrounds, including retired seniors to unemployed individuals, no patient is ever turned away because of their financial situation, as long as their health is their priority. Do I Need a Referral to Visit a Chiropractor? Absolutely not! A Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary contact provider, meaning you do not need a referral. If yours is not a Chiropractic case, the doctor will refer you to the appropriate health care provider.