Frequently Asked Questions

Chiropractic is one of the western world's three major healing professions. The other two are medicine and osteopathy. Chiropractors specialize in the neuromuscular skeletal systems (nerves, muscles, and bone), detecting and correcting vertebral misalignments of the spine which can adversely affect the nervous system and cause “dis-ease” within the body. Many chiropractic techniques involve the use of the hands in gently restoring the vertebrae to their proper alignment and motion. Chiropractic is a lifestyle that more and more people are choosing for the rest of their life. Many parents are discovering that their children are healthier and happier when they receive regular chiropractic care.

A chiropractic adjustment is the art of introducing a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a vertebra that is out of place. The Chiropractor identifies the location of the misalignment, determines the exact direction and the best way to correct the positioning. The adjustment itself is a movement of the spine that is done either by hand or with an instrument. The movement may be quick or may be undetectable with low force techniques. The adjustment assists the vertebra back into normal alignment and restores proper motion in order to relieve nerve interference.

ABSOLUTELY! During pregnancy most women experience pain and discomfort as their bodies adapt to the many changes taking place inside. These changes not only include hormonal changes but biomechanical changes as the body deals with extra weight and changes to posture. Such changes can affect the spine ultimately leading to complications with nerves, joints, connective tissue, ligaments, posture and stability. Being free from subluxations allows you and your body to function optimally. Pregnant mothers free from subluxations experience greater comfort, less pain, shorter labor and delivery times. As a whole these mothers experience vitality and health throughout their pregnancy and are better prepared to deal with the stress that childbirth can provide.

Chiropractic adjustments do not harm the pregnant mother or her unborn child. In fact, maintaining a healthy spine and nervous system throughout pregnancy can prevent further postural problems that might occur during and following childbirth.

Chiropractic care benefits all aspects of your body's ability to be healthy. This is accomplished by working with the nervous system--the communication system between your brain and body. Doctors of Chiropractic work to correct spinal, pelvic and cranial misalignments. When misaligned, these structures create an imbalance in surrounding muscles and ligaments. Sacral misalignment causes the tightening and torsion of specific pelvic muscles and ligaments. It is these tense muscles and ligaments and their constraining effect on the uterus which prevents the baby from comfortably assuming the best possible position for birth. The Webster Technique is defined as a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and facilitates biomechanical balance in pelvic structures, muscles and ligaments. This has been shown to reduce the effects of intrauterine constraint, allowing the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.

Yes! Specific chiropractic adjustments are very safe since care is individually based after a complete health history and chiropractic examination has been performed. Then, depending on the state of health and age of the child, an appropriate technique will be utilized.

In the pediatric population a peer reviewed study of the literature (Pistolese R. JVSR 2(2) 1998) was performed from 1977 to 1998 and found the risk to neurological or vascular complications from chiropractic care to be 1/250 million. It is important to compare this with something like the risk of serious adverse injury from taking an aspirin at 4/1000.

A New Zealand government study found that adjustments are remarkably safe. By avoiding drugs and risky surgery, chiropractic enjoys an excellent track record. In the adult population, unfortunately anyone who manipulates and injures a patient gets lumped in as a "chiropractic" statistic versus keeping professions as separate populations. This poses a problem for the chiropractors who perform specific chiropractic adjustments. Presently the cumulative risk from the professions who manipulate and adjust is approximated at between 1/3 million to 1/500,000.

There are three basic causes of subluxations: physical, emotional, and toxic traumas. Physical causes could include the birth process, slips, falls, accidents, repetitive motions and improper lifting. Emotions such as grief, anger and fear can cause subluxations. Toxic or chemical causes could include alcohol, drugs, pollution, vaccines, and poor diet.