- What is chiropractic?
- How does chiropractic work?
- What type of education do chiropractors get?
- Is chiropractic safe?
- Is chiropractic scientific?
- Why should I consult a Doctor of Chiropractic?
- Why do children need chiropractic care?
- How long will I need chiropractic?
- Do I need a referral to visit a chiropractor?
- How does acupuncture work?
- Is acupuncture safe?
- What sensations will I experience during treatment?
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 protect the nervous system, when misaligned or lose its normal motion, causes malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body.
Chiropractic helps to remove postural imbalances and structural misalignments that can accumulate in our bodies over time. Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. For your body to remain healthy, your nervous system must function well. For your nervous system to function well it must be free of interference. By restoring spinal function with Chiropractic adjustments, nerve interference by misaligned vertebrae is removed, thus allowing optimal nervous system function and improved health.
The customized care you receive from your chiropractor may help to improve your posture, muscle balance and mobility. It can also restore the integrity of your nervous system and get rid of pain quickly, so you can get back to feeling good…today!
What type of education do chiropractors get?
Today’s Doctor of Chiropractic is well educated with an education curriculum similar to medical school. Special emphasis is placed on anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, nutrition, x-ray, physiology, diagnosis, and spinal adjusting.
Post secondary education totals 8-9 years. Chiropractors undergo rigorous training not only in the classroom but also during their 1 1/2 years of clinical experience. They must also pass demanding national and provincial boards in order to practice chiropractic medicine.
In the words of the New Zealand government’s inquiry, Chiropractic care is “…remarkably safe.” It is safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers, and even aspirin. All ages from babies to the elderly enjoy safe, effective care.
Research from New Zealand, Australia, the United States, England, Denmark and Canada have validated Chiropractic. Recently, the “Manga Report” produced at the University of Ottawa has validated Chiropractic for its safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness for Chiropractic and low back pain. On-going research is now validating Chiropractic and headaches, asthma, whiplash, and pre-menstrual syndromes to name a few.
Why should I consult a Doctor of Chiropractic?
From professional athletes to homemakers, engineers to electricians, infants to seniors, chiropractic care has been the answer to optimum health. Many people see a Doctor of Chiropractic for back, neck or joint problems, while others may seek relief from the discomfort caused by headaches, high blood pressure, asthma or other conditions. Still others find that regular visits to their chiropractor keep them in peakcondition.
Regularly a dentist checks our teeth, an optometrist checks our eyes and a medical doctor checks our blood pressure and heart. Yet, we take the spine – a crucial component of our body – for granted. Call your family doctor of Chiropractic today because regular checkups of your spine can help you maintain better health.
Why do children need chiropractic care?
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.
How long will I need chiropractic?
There are 3 types of care in Chiropractic:
1. Initial care to remove symptoms
2. Corrective care to remedy the cause of the problem
3. Wellness
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 life-style. How long you decide to benefit from Chiropractic is always up to you.
Do I need a referral to visit a chiropractor?
Absolutely not! A Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary contact physician, meaning you do not need a referral. If yours is not a Chiropractic case, a responsible Chiropractor will refer you to the appropriate health care provider.
Acupuncture is a therapy that uses the insertion of tiny thread-like needles to specific points on the body along meridians (energy channels of the body) that cross the body. As long as the energy flows freely through these pathways, health is maintained. When the flow of energy is disturbed for any reason, there is disruption in health, resulting in pain or illness. By stimulating appropriate acupuncture points along these meridians, the energy is regulated, and health is restored.
One of the great advantages of acupuncture is the absence of side effects. Needles generally cause no bleeding or pain, and most practitioners today use the disposable kind. Acupuncturists are trained in exact location, angle as well as depth of insertion of the acupuncture needle to avoid any injuries.
What sensations will I experience during treatment?
Usually, there is a pleasant state of calm, which develops during the treatment and may persist for some time. You may even fall nearly asleep during the session. You may find that the pain or discomfort of the condition may be reduced by 20 or 30% or even completely eliminated.
Frequently, the relief will persist, though in some situations the pain will return after a few hours or days to its former level. In certain conditions, a worsening of pain is to be expected before improvement is seen. For some disorders, no effect is noticed immediately and the condition takes a few days or a series of treatments to respond.
