Got a question about chiropractic care or how it could help you? Listed below are the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) that we have received in over 100 years of practice.
If you have any other questions please contact us and we will get back to you with the answer.
A: Did you know that a child's spine grows almost 50% in length during the first year. This is equivalent to going from 5 feet to 8 feet in just 12 months! This tremendous growth and developmental change makes it necessary for every child to go through a complete chiropractic examination during their first year of life. If there is a problem, the earlier it is corrected the less likelihood there is of it becoming a chronic or more serious problem later in life. We recommend children be checked as early as possible to guarantee that there is no interference to their nervous system from as early as the birth process.
A: Chiropractic is one of the safest forms of children's health care. A chiropractor does not adjust a baby or a child the same way as he or she adjusts an adult. A baby's spine is very limber and is mostly made up of cartilage during the first few months of life, so the Doctor of Chiropractic applies only a slight and gentle pressure to make an adjustment.
A: The typical applicant for chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional graduate study are the standard. Doctors of chiropractic are educated in orthopedics, neurology, physiology, human anatomy, clinical diagnosis including laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, exercise, nutrition rehabilitation and more. Because chiropractic care includes highly skilled manipulation/adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical technique training to master these important manipulative procedures. In total, the chiropractic college curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. Graduates must also pass the four levels of National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Parts I, II, III IV – practical) exams and a physical therapy exam in order to treat patients. As part of their education, chiropractic students also complete a residency working with real patients in a clinical setting, supervised by licensed doctors of chiropractic. Once chiropractic students graduate, they have to pass four sets of national board exams as well as state board exams in the states where they want to practice.
A: Yes, Chiropractors have obtained a doctorate degree of chiropractic and have taken several national and state boards to be able to practice chiropractic. Perhaps the greatest difference between chiropractors and medical doctors lies not in their level of education, but in their preferred method of caring for people. Medical doctors are trained and specialize in the use of medication (a substance used for medical treatment, especially a medicine or drug that affects the internal biochemistry of the body) and surgery. Consequently, if you have a chemical problem, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or an infection, medical doctors can be very helpful. Chiropractors provide physical solutions -- adjustments, exercises, stretches, muscle therapy -- to help the body heal from conditions that are physical in origin, such as poor posture, back pain, muscle spasms, headaches. Another distinction is Doctors of chiropractic believe in the importance of preventative care which is preventing diseases rather than waiting until the disease (or symptoms) are occurring.
A: Chiropractors do not treat diseases, they help to correct spinal misalignments that can cause health problems. Through regular adjustments, counseling on proper nutrition, exercise, and posture, the chiropractor can help you raise a child who is structurally and functionally sound. The number one "illness" in children is everyday falls and accidents. Youngsters take numerous tumbles -- learning to ride a bike, or even just jumping and running around. If your child takes part in athletic activities, the "sack" of a quarterback could twist a young spine, pitching a ball can throw a vertebra out of alignment or falling in gymnastics or cheerleading could misalign the pelvis. These underlying injuries, if left uncorrected, can cause serious problems like spinal curvature or chronic pain as the child grows into adulthood. Doctors of chiropractic can do more than correct these problems. They can also help improve performance on and off the field by helping the body to function at its optimum level, naturally, and holistically (characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease).
A: All our doctors here at Impact Chiropractic are certified in prenatal and pediatric care through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. The ICPA is a non-profit organization of chiropractic family practitioners dedicated to advancing public awareness and attainment of the chiropractic family wellness lifestyle. ICPA practitioners provide a holistic approach to family wellness. They provide quality chiropractic care which are specific to children, (including infants) and pregnant women. With extensive education, advanced training and practiced based research in the realm of chiropractic care for children and in pregnancy, the ICPA members have added an extra 14 modules and over 200 hours more of postgraduate study in addition to their doctorate degrees.
A: Chiropractic is a conservative and natural healing art and science that concentrates on keeping people well. While chiropractic is an American science more than 103 years old, its basic wellness premise dates back to spinal "manipulations" first used by Hippocrates, the Father of Healing in the 4th Century B.C. Chiropractors focus on the spinal column which houses a critical part of the body's nervous system, the spinal cord. The spinal cord is responsible for the transmission of nerve impulses or messages to and from the brain. This free flow of nerve impulses is necessary to allow the body to function properly. A spinal malfunction (subluxation) can interrupt this flow of information and affect the body's nervous system causing pain, muscle and organ dysfunction, and other imbalances. Chiropractors concentrate on getting to the root cause of a health problem by using detection, reduction, and correction of spinal misalignments (known as subluxations).
A: This statement comes up frequently when the topic of chiropractic is discussed. It is only partially true. You only have to continue going to the chiropractor as long as you wish to maintain the health of your neuromusculoskeletal system. Going to a chiropractor is much like going to the dentist, exercising at a gym, or eating a healthy diet: As long as you keep it up, you continue to enjoy the benefits. Many years ago, dentists convinced everyone that the best time to go to the dentist is before your teeth hurt, that routine dental care will help your teeth remain healthy for a long time. The same is true of chiropractic care for your spine. It is important to remember that, just like your teeth, your spine experiences normal wear and tear as you walk, drive, sit, lift, sleep, and bend. Routine chiropractic care can help you feel better, move with more freedom, and stay healthier throughout your lifetime. Although you can enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care even if you receive care for a short time, the real benefits come into play when you make chiropractic care a part of your wellness lifestyle.
A: Chiropractic adjustment is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the doctor of chiropractic’s intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractic physician typically uses his or her hands--or an instrument--to manipulate the joints of the body to restore or enhance joint function. This helps to resolve joint inflammation reducing pain and increasing joint mobility and nerve function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure and is adapted to meet the specific needs of each patient.
