Frequently Asked Questions
What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic (translated ‘to do by hand’) is a science, art and 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 the communication pathways of the spine and nerves. If any part of the nervous system is impaired, it can cause problems in any of the body’s tissues and organs. Chiropractors refer to this as ‘Vertebral Subluxation Complex’. The art of chiropractic comes partially from the skill needed to reduce subluxation and to restore the normal movement. Chiropractic is the science of locating and correcting subluxations in your spine. By enhancing your nervous system in this way, your body has the opportunity to begin its unique journey to health recovery and maintenance.
What does a chiropractor do?
A chiropractor looks for areas of the spine that are "fixed" or misaligned. These areas of fixed spinal bones are called SUBLUXATIONS. Subluxations put pressure on delicate spinal nerves, which prevents the nerves from functioning properly. After the chiropractor performs several specialized tests to locate subluxations, specific techniques are used to move the "fixed" spinal bone back into proper alignment. This is called an adjustment.
The Spine
The spine is the casing and framework for your spinal cord and the core where most nerves pass through on their way to muscles, organs and bones. It is made up of 24 bones and 23 discs, which act as shock absorbers, as well as 31 pairs of nerves that exit the spine, so it’s crucial that it be kept in peak condition.
What is an adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the use of a pain-free manual force or thrust in a precise direction that corrects subluxation. In most cases, your chiropractor will use their hands to make the adjustments. Adjustments help normalise spinal function and joint mobility. The body can begin the natural healing process once it has been correctly adjusted.
What causes the sound during an adjustment?
As your chiropractor skillfully gives you your adjustment, small joint surfaces along the back of your spine are separated slightly. This separation occurs well within the normal limits of your spine's anatomy and structure. The extra gap created causes a drop in pressure inside the joint and a gas bubble suddenly forms. This expansion of gas is what actually causes the pop or click. Rather than being from the impaction of tissues as many people guess, it's actually from the distraction of tissues. This makes the chiropractic adjustment extremely safe.
Are chiropractic adjustments safe?
Yes extremely safe. There are very few reported cases of serious injury associated with chiropractic care. A myriad of reported cases over the last few decades which have been attributed to chiropractic by the media or medical profession, have actually been injuries caused by non-chiropractic practitioners in fields as remote as Kung Fu and medical manipulation. Doctors of chiropractic study at university for a minimum of five years and are taught thoroughly how to care for the spine safely. Chiropractors also undertake postgraduate courses, seminars and studies where they are kept up to date on the latest in safety research and practise.
To put it into relative perspective, the chance of suffering a serious incident from a chiropractic adjustment is some 250 times less than the chances of suffering a serious incident from taking an Aspirin. With this kind of safety you can rest assured - you're in secure hands with chiropractic.
How long does a spinal adjustment take?
After the initial consultation and examination, a schedule of care will be established to correct your problem. Once this evaluation has been completed, the spinal adjustments will only take a few minutes.
What is a subluxation?
A Vertebral Subluxation is when your spine moves out of position and creates pressure on or irritates your nerves that surround your spine. This pressure or irritation then causes the nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals travelling over those nerves.
Your nervous system controls all the functions of your body and once these are interfered with, the functions will not be able to be performed at 100%. A subluxation can be caused by a number of things including a fall, injury, sudden jar, trauma, improper sleeping habits, poor posture, occupational hazards, incorrect lifting, obesity, lack of rest, lack of exercise and stress.
How do I know if I have a subluxation?
You can have subluxations and not even know about it. Like the early stages of tooth decay, subluxations can be present before the warning signs appear. The results of a thorough examination can show the location and severity of subluxations you may have.
Can you see a chiropractor if you have had back surgery?
Yes. Many people who have had various kinds of spinal surgery often discover a return to their same back problems months or years later. Patients can usually receive chiropractic care without undue worry. It is best to check with your chiropractor and he will advise you.
Can chiropractic prevent back surgery?
In a majority of cases the answer is "yes"! Chiropractic adjustments correct many spinal problems that in time would require surgery.
How often do I need to be adjusted?
While you are in pain and discomfort, you will be seen quite frequently, to eliminate your pain and stabilise your spine. Your doctor will then evaluate your progress and schedule your appointments accordingly.
Who needs chiropractic care?
Babies & Children Spinal subluxations can often begin in infancy. The birth process itself can be very traumatic on a baby's spine, and if you consider what must happen if the delivery is breach or instruments like forceps are used, you begin to get an impression of why young people should be checked chiropractically. Research suggests that on average, children have two and a half thousand falls by the time they are five years old. When children have nerve interference from spinal subluxations they may display anything from headaches to ADHD, from colic to recurrent ear and throat infections.
The techniques chiropractors use to adjust children are highly modified and very unique to this age group. Babies and children are extremely safe to have chiropractic and they usually respond to chiropractic care incredibly well.
The elderly: It's not age that would exclude you. Your chiropractor will examine you thoroughly before undertaking any care program to ensure you are safe to have chiropractic. This examination will determine if you have any age related condition that might preclude you from care. Indeed, older people with subluxation related conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis, ringing in the ears, loss of balance/vertigo and even pure stiffness, can often be helped by gentle and safe chiropractic care. It will usually give your energy levels a good boost too! Many patients report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the ageing process.
Athletes and Sports people: Most top athletes in the world these days, have chiropractic. In fact, the ones who make a lot of money take their personal chiropractors with them to keep them at their peak on and off the playing arena. Chiropractic helps athletes to be stronger, fitter, more co-ordinated, better balanced and faster at recovery.
Ensuring your nervous system is functioning at its peak when you are training or competing, ensures your body has the maximum chance to perform exceptionally. Make sure you see us regularly for a spinal check-up and be your best!
What is a slipped disc?
Spinal discs do not physically 'slip'. They are anchored firmly to the bones above and below them. Discs can bulge and herniate though through injury or the ongoing effects of osteoarthritis (degeneration). Spinal subluxations left unchecked, will contribute to this degeneration process.
Subluxations can develop to the point where one day you may bend over, something ‘gives way’ or ‘slips’ in your back and you feel pain, locking and an inability to straighten properly. It feels like a slipped disc and this is why it gets its name. It is however locking of joints due to pinching of tissues, inflammation and muscle spasm.
How do you know if you have a pinched nerve?
You may have, but it’s unlikely. A true pinched nerve at the spinal level is usually either extremely painful or very numbing. The most common pain people experience with nerve pinching in the lower back is ‘sciatica’ which is searing and burning pain in the thigh, calf or foot. Chiropractic can help with this.
How long will I need Chiropractic Care for?
This varies considerably from case to case. We will outline a recommended course of care with you once we have gained all the facts about your case. You must be happy with the program recommended before we commence your care.
Long term, most of our patients make an educated and focused decision to continue regular maintenance chiropractic care to enjoy ongoing wellness and health. These patients decide to have chiropractic for life and it makes great sense. You too can have the life giving benefits of chiropractic for as long as you like. The choice is yours.
Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No. Chiropractic techniques are always modified to suit the individual patient and each chiropractor develops their own unique style and art of adjusting which they become highly skilled at.
How often will I have to visit the chiropractor?
The amount of damage to your spine and nervous system will determine the frequency of your visits. It may take longer to correct subluxations that have been present in the spine for many years.
How many adjustments will I need?
This will vary depending on the patient and their individual health goals. Many patients sense progress within a week or two of frequent visits. Visits become less often as your spine stabilises.
Chiropractic Qualifications
All Spinecare Chiropractors are registered professionals who must meet high government standards to attain and maintain the right to practise. They must complete a minimum five years university at an accredited college. Chiropractors who study in Australia, attain a double bachelor degree in health sciences and chiropractic study. |
