Frequently Asked Questions

What Conditions do Chiropractors Treat?

 

Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) care for patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. DCs are especially well known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain and headaches, particularly with their highly skilled manipulations or chiropractic adjustments. They also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, involving the muscles, ligaments and joints. These painful conditions often involve or impact the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction distant to the region of injury. The benefits of chiropractic care extend to general health issues, as well, since our body structure affects our overall function. DCs also counsel patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.


Does Chiropractic Treatment Require a Referral from an MD?

 

No - a referral is usually not needed to see a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC); however, your health plan may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your employer’s human resources department—or the insurance plan directly—to find out if there are any referral requirements. Most plans allow you to just call and schedule an appointment with a DC.


Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?

 

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.


Is Chiropractic Care Appropriate for Children?

 

Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and especially in the case of children, very gentle.


If I Visit a Chiropractor Once, Will I Have to Keep Going Indefinitely?

 

No, but you may want to!  At our office, we often compare chiropractic care with going to the gym.  If you go to the gym once, you certainly don't have to return, but you won't see changes in your body that way.  At both our office and the gym you will receive the best results as each session builds on the last. 

Since chiropractic care is hands-on and involves making physical changes to your body, often from issues that have been growing over a long period of time, it does take multiple visits to experience complete relief for most patients.  As you are feeling better, your treatment frequency will decrease and we will suggest that you take a more active role by making changes to your lifestyle (exercises, bending properly, etc.), that will keep you feeling good long-term.  When your treatment plan is complete, you may want to return on occasion to prevent issues from returning.