Frequently Asked Chiropractic Questions

Do you suffer from neck or back pain? Headaches? Tingling in the arms or hands? Chronic pain or fatigue? Sports injuries? TRY CHIROPRACTIC!

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts focused on human health and disease processes. Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) consider people as an integrated being and give special attention to the physiological and biochemical aspects, including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular, nutritional, and emotional environmental relationships.

The practice and procedures that chiropractic doctors may employ are based on the academic and clinical training received in and through accredited chiropractic colleges and included but are not limited to the use of current diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Such procedures specifically include the adjustment and manipulation of the articulations and adjacent tissues of the human body, specifically the spinal column. Included is the treatment of abnormalities to address functional disorders.

Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical science and does not include pharmaceuticals or surgery. Chiropractic manipulation is one of several established forms of treatment used for back problems. With today's growing emphasis on treatment options, manipulation is receiving much more widespread attention. Chiropractic manipulation, also frequently called the chiropractic adjustment, is the form of manipulation that has been most extensively used. DCs are uniquely trained and experienced in diagnosing back problems and are the doctors most skilled in using manipulation to treat back pain and related disorders (source: American Chiropractic Association).

Your mother always said, "Don't crack your knuckles – you'll get arthritis." Well, she was dead wrong.

The new findings show that cracking your joints is not detrimental to bone health. On the contrary, it may help ward off joint trouble.

Dr. Tyler Cymet and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore determined osteoarthritis in 100 men and women whose average age was 59. They compared the incidence in those who cracked their joints and those who didn't.

Osteoarthritis occurred significantly more often in those who said they never cracked their joints. "People who said they cracked their neck, or their back, hips or knees, had less osteoarthritis than those who didn't," Cymet told Reuters Health.

Cymet said this is the second observational study he's conducted on joint cracking and osteoarthritis. The results are the same – osteoarthritis was more common in those who never cracked their joints.

"There is no evidence," he concludes, "that cracking your joints does any damage," and it may be protective.

Cracking may be a little bit like stretching, Cymet said. In a pilot study of 10 patients, he took X-rays of the joints before and after cracking, and "it looks like the joint space decreases after cracking, you have more motion, and you're able to function a little bit better."

The study also revealed an age-related pattern to joint cracking. "We found that people crack their joints, usually between 18 and 45, and then stop. Less active people tend to crack their joints less often than active people."

"If you are not active, then you are going to lose the ability to use the joints, and the people who tended to crack more were the ones that were more active," Cymet noted. "So the thinking is — if you use your joints well, that will protect them."

There are a lot of theories about what makes the popping or cracking sound in joints. Cymet thinks its fluid breaking the surface tension with gas. "So if you pull gas into a joint by squeezing everything together, you hear a pop or crack, and that's the fluid release," he explained.

Once a joint is cracked, it usually takes up to 20 minutes to crack that same joint again, Cymet noted, "Because it takes that long for the fluid to come out of suspension and create the gas again."

Chiropractic: More Cost-Effective Than Medicine Under Managed Care

Researchers discovered that chiropractic care in the managed care setting was more cost-effective on many levels.

A study of chiropractic utilization in managed health plans was among several groundbreaking papers presented at the Research Agenda Conference (RAC) in March 2003. The study conducted by researchers from American Specialty Health and Health Benchmarks, Inc. was headed by Doug Metz, DC, chief health services officer, Craig Nelson, CD, MS, senior health services research scientist.

The four-year study compared the experiences of 1.7 million patients in a California managed care plan: 1 million members without chiropractic coverage and 700,000 with chiropractic coverage. Patients were divided into six groups, based on whether they enjoyed chiropractic coverage and whether they received chiropractic or medical care for their neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) conditions.

The researchers discovered that chiropractic care in the managed care setting was more cost-effective on several levels.

Total healthcare costs – Patients with chiropractic coverage experienced 12 percent lower costs than care provided to patients without chiropractic coverage. Much of this reduction was attributable to favorable patient selection.

Low-back pain treatment episodes – Patients with chiropractic coverage experienced 28% lower costs than patients without chiropractic coverage.

Fewer inpatient stays – Patients with chiropractic coverage experienced 9.3 stays per 1,000 patients versus 15.6 stays per 1,000 patients for those without chiropractic coverage.

Fewer MRIs – Patients with chiropractic coverage experienced 43.2 MRIs per 1,000 patients, versus 68.9 MRIs per 1,000 for those without chiropractic coverage.

Fewer low-back surgeries – Patients with chiropractic coverage experienced 3.3 low-back surgeries per 1,000 patients, versus 4.3 surgeries per 1,000 patients for those without chiropractic coverage.

Fewer radiographs – Patients with chiropractic coverage experienced 17.5 radiographs per 1,000 patients versus 22.7 radiographs per 1,000 patients for those without chiropractic coverage.

According to Dr. Nelson, these findings could translate into a $47.5 million savings over four years for the managed care plan, if all 1.7 million members were provided with chiropractic coverage.

While the paper has not yet been published, the results were also presented at the World Federation of Chiropractic 7th Biennial Congress in Orlando, Florida, at the beginning of May. Although chiropractors tend to be critical of managed health care, this study provides us with the best rationale yet for the inclusion of a chiropractic benefit in a health plan. The study reached these conclusions:

The inclusion of chiropractic benefits attracts slightly younger and slightly healthier subscribers. Most of the chiropractic care provided is a direct substitution for medical care. The costs per chiropractic episode are for back pain, and neck pain is much lower than for medical care. Overall, the inclusion of chiropractic benefits results in a much more conservative management profile of back pain (less surgery, inpatient care, and advanced imaging) than in groups without a chiropractic benefit.

It is particularly important to note the substitution effect. In the current uncertain economic climate, it is doubtful employers or health plans are eager to add benefits that will increase costs. This study shows that adding a chiropractic benefit does not add to the total amount of care (and therefore costs), but provides a lower-cost alternative for patients.

Therefore, the chiropractic benefit's overall effect was a favorable selection effect; according to the study, if chiropractic care is substituted for medical care, that care will be less costly and less invasive for back pain, and fewer invasive and expensive procedures will need to be performed. The net effect of these factors is a significant reduction in overall healthcare costs.

Conversely, it is entirely legitimate to conclude from this study that not having chiropractic benefits will add to total healthcare costs.

Initially, this study will likely affect the decisions of healthcare plans that have yet to offer chiropractic benefits to their patients. However, the study should also assist the chiropractic profession in a number of other ways, particularly in discussions with the US Congressional Budget Office, which historically has refused to consider the cost-savings benefits that can be gained by including chiropractic.

References for the article:

1. Dynamic Chiropractic, May 19, 2003
2. Effects of Inclusion of a Chiropractic Benefit on the Utilization of Health Care Resources in a Managed Health Care Plan. Authors: C.F. Nelson; A. Legoretta, T. LaBrot

Chiropractors are trained to ensure your nervous system is free of spinal nerve interference. They believe in whole-body wellness. Wellness is the state of health where your body is free of spinal nerve interference, allowing you to enjoy life.

Your chiropractor will discover any spinal nerve interference within your spinal column and, with specific chiropractic adjustments, will correct them. Your body will then be free to heal itself, express itself, and function at an optimal level.

Chiropractors teach you how you can live "subluxation-free." This is achieved through better posture, diet, attitude, exercise, and rest, leading to a higher quality of life.

The body depends on the free flow of nerve communication from the brain, through the spinal column, to every part of the body. When any of these nerves become twisted, the vital communication system is interrupted. These neurological interruptions are called subluxations.

What causes vertebral subluxations?

With children, subluxations often occur during the birth process. All of the pullings, pushing, and twisting on the newborn's neck and spine during the birth process often cause one or more vertebra to be pushed out of place, resulting in subluxations. As we grow up, subluxations are caused daily by falls, sports activities, accidents/injuries, bad posture, physical and emotional stress, and many other things. By having a chiropractor correct these subluxations throughout your childhood and the rest of your life, your family can achieve an improved quality of life.

What are some of the warning signs of subluxations?

Subluxations can cause pain and muscle spasms. However, most of the time, you will not experience any symptoms. Often symptoms such as headaches, back pain, neck stiffness, pain in your shoulders, arms or legs, numbness in your hands and feet, and various other symptoms can be signs of subluxations.

How are subluxations corrected?

Doctors of chiropractic are specifically trained to detect and correct vertebral subluxations. Your chiropractor will perform specific tests and utilize palpation and possibly X-rays to determine if and where you are subluxated. They will then deliver a particular chiropractic adjustment.

A chiropractic adjustment is an art of introducing a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a vertebra that is subluxated. Using the bony processes of the vertebra, it is mostly characterized by a dynamic thrust of controlled amplitude. The adjustment releases the vertebra back into its normal position along the spine, allowing proper nerve flow to and from the brain. There are numerous ways to adjust the spine. Each of the various techniques requires a specific force and line of drive. The adjustment is delivered either by the doctor's hands or a specially designed instrument. Some of the adjusting techniques are quick, while others require a slow constant pressure.

No. A chiropractic adjustment is a specific force applied in a particular direction to a specific vertebra, and it is impossible to adjust yourself. When you or a friend crack or pop your back and neck, it will give temporary relief, but you have not adjusted the subluxation, and it could be very dangerous.

Chiropractic patients are very comfortable and relaxed while getting adjusted. An adjustment should not be painful.

Are all patients adjusted the same way?

No. Your chiropractor will take a case history and perform specific chiropractic tests to decide if you are subluxated and what technique they will utilize. There are numerous techniques taught in chiropractic colleges throughout the world. Your chiropractor is trained in several different methods and will choose the way that is best for you.

No. Chiropractic adjustments feel great. When you allow the vertebra in your spine to return to their normal position, there is less stress and tension on your muscles and ligaments.

Once you get adjusted, do you have to keep getting adjusted forever?

No, but it would be advantageous for you to speak with your chiropractor about lifetime wellness care.

Once your symptoms disappear, you might be tempted to quit care. It is important to understand that just because your symptoms are gone temporarily does not mean your spinal problems are corrected. The symptoms are often the first things to disappear. Many spinal subluxations have been neglected since early childhood. These longstanding problems usually involve soft tissue damage, muscle weakness, and degenerative changes in the spine. In these cases, ongoing corrective care will help your spine reach optimal health.

If you continue chiropractic care, it is ultimately up to you. However, periodic chiropractic checkups will allow your body to fight off sickness and encourage health.

Yes. Chiropractic care is one of the safest types of health care. Without the use of drugs or surgery, chiropractors utilize a conservative approach when correcting vertebral subluxations. One needs to compare the malpractice premiums paid by chiropractors to that paid by medical doctors. Chiropractic premiums are approximately 1/20 the price of the premium medical doctors' pay.

Chiropractic care is beneficial to every man, woman, child, and animal that has a spine. Understanding that the brain and spinal cord make up your nervous system, one can know that chiropractic care works by restoring balance to the body, giving it a better chance to heal itself.

Everyone needs proper nerve function. Chiropractic care provides your body with a more significant potential to defend itself against germs and infection. You and your family should be checked regularly for spinal nerve interference.

Typically, you will fill out a complete health history detailing past injuries or problems and present symptoms on the first visit.

Remember, your chiropractor is not asking you about your symptoms because he/she is going to treat them. The symptoms help the chiropractor determine where you are subluxated and what technique to use.

Your chiropractor will then review your case history with you and discuss how you may be helped through chiropractic care. Your chiropractor will then give you a complete examination, consisting of various testing procedures to determine where you are subluxated.

The chiropractor will then discuss the report of findings with you. These are the results of the examination. Your chiropractor will then recommend a specific course of care for you.

How many people are currently seeking care from chiropractors?

Over 25 million people have experienced the remarkable results of chiropractic care. This number continues to grow as more people take responsibility for their health care and choose noninvasive, drug-free health care. Chiropractic care is about one-half of the cost of medical care.

When should I be adjusted?

Every man, woman, and child needs to make an appointment with a chiropractor to regularly have their spine checked. Like your scheduled dental appointments for proper dental hygiene, you need to have your spine checked regularly.

You should also see a chiropractor if you have any symptoms which make it hard to cope day in and day out. If you have been involved in an accident, you should make an appointment with a chiropractic doctor.

Remember, chiropractic care is not for the relief of symptoms, conditions, or disease. It is essential to correct subluxations so that you continue to function and perform at your highest potential.