Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic (literally translated as "to do by hand") is said to be a science, an art and a philosophy.
It is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. This is called Homeostasis. All functions are controlled by your brain, via your spinal cord, and nerves.
The bones of the spine protect and maintain the communication pathways of the spinal and nerves. If any part of the nervous system is impaired, it may cause problems in many of the body's tissues and organs. Poor spinal joint functioning may lead to such nervous system dysfunction. Chiropractors historically refer to this as a "Vertebral Subluxation Complex". Vertebral, meaning the bones of the spine, subluxation, meaning less than a total dislocation, and complex, meaning consisting of more than one part. The VSC has many other names. The art of chiropractic comes partially from the skill needed to reduce 'Subluxations', that is, to restore the normal movement and function to joints and surrounding muscles.
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I've been told I have a Pinched Nerve, is this true?
Many patients consult a chiropractor because they think they have a pinched nerve.
Even though this expression is commonly used for spinal problems, a pinched nerve (or compression injury) is actually fairly rare. Researchers suggest that only about 10% of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue! When it happens this may lead to numbness, burning, or "pins and needles".
So most people don't actually have a pinched nerve. Most frequently, their nerve and muscle functions are irritated. This is caused when alterations to the spinal curves or muscle tension lead to an imbalance. Another way the nerve can be hurt is by malfunctioning spinal joints. Nerve function and the ability of your nervous system to co-ordinate muscles and joints is in turn affected by joint and muscle function, as well as balance and other systems. When a muscle 'grabs' quickly to stop a malfunctioning joint moving in the wrong way, this is often felt and described as a pinching sensation.
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What is a Slipped Disc?
The first part of the answer to this question is that, technically, a disc can't "slip."
The disc is a pad of cartilage-type material situated between spinal bones. It acts as a shock absorber and spacer between the bones. It has a thick pulpy centre (the consistency of toothpaste) surrounded by outer layers of fibrous tissue, somewhat like the layers of an onion. When it all works properly you can bend and twist easily.
Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below by hundreds of little fibres, a disc cannot "slip." However, injury to the spine can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniate, or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful, as the soft centre of the disc leaks, and can put pressure on the adjacent nerves and spinal cord.
Chiropractic care has been successful with control of this type of injury, so a short trial of care may delay or even avoid a back operation. We use up-to-date techniques such as spinal traction and core stability exercises to complement spinal adjustments (if needed) in the management of disc bulges. We even have new tables specifically designed for the treatment of disc bulges and pinched nerves.
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What Do Chiropractors Do?
The task of helping to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system function starts with taking a case history. This gives your chiropractor some background on your health. We ask about such things as surgery, previous accidents, when your current problem started, any previous similar problems and any other details (such as other diseases) that might be affecting your current health.
After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopaedic, neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed, and any other in-house testing as indicated. X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functional problems associated with the spinal column, but only if indicated (we do not "routinely" take X-rays). Taken together these examinations help identify areas of malfunction and resulting nervous system deficit.
The findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic care may be recommended. Progress is monitored with periodic examinations and follow-up reports.
Your should expect that there will be a fair bit of information provided to you, and that there will be an ongoing process of teaching you about how you can help with improving or maintaining your health.
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What Is An Adjustment?
Chiropractors adjust the movement of the spine with the intent of restoring a more normal movement pattern and posture.
The series of manipulations that have been developed, researched and refined over the last century are generally bundled together as chiropractic technique, and individually are referred to as adjustments.
The Chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific joint.
It requires a high degree of training and skill to learn the art of adjustment, and good knowledge of the science involved in the human body to know where to apply an adjustment.
We use techniques such as 'activator' (instrument) adjusting, manual adjusting, and mechanically assisted ('drop-piece table') adjusting, just to name a few. We also use a wide variety of ancilliary techniques such as soft tissue therapies.
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Is Everyone Adjusted The Same Way?
Each person is unique. In the same way, each spinal problem is unique. It is therefore necessary to develop individual courses of care. The recommendations developed for each person are based upon years of training and experience.
While visits may seem similar, each patient's care is uniquely different from every other patient as the type, style and frequency of adjustment varies with the individuals' anatomy, specific needs and speed of healing.
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Can I Adjust Myself?
Learning the how, when, where, and why of each chiropractic adjustment takes years of training and experience. Chiropractic adjustment consists of a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific joint. Therefore, it is impossible for people to adjust themselves.
Some people manipulate themselves. This process carries with it its own risks and dangers. The most common of these is to cause hyper-mobility to the joint in question (often above or below the actual subluxated joint) due to excessive "popping" of the joint. This can cause many later problems, and can be difficult to reverse. While it may feel nice at the time, the subsequent laxity (looseness) of ligaments and other structures can be difficult to manage later down the track.
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Some of the material used in answering these questions was based upon the ideas and written material produced by "Back Talk Systems".
