What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is a holistic, drug and surgery free approach used to treat neuromusculoskeletal injuries that can occur to people of all ages and lifestyles, including infants, children, pregnant women, athletes, adults and elderly people. A chiropractor can correct spinal, back, knee, and joint injuries as well as a wide variety of other conditions. The main philosophy behind chiropractic treatment is to restore and maintain health by understanding and treating the root cause of the illness or injury versus just addressing the symptoms.
The chiropractic approach to healing, recovery and optimal health is to locate and remove any interference (subluxations, misaligned vertebrae, lesions) to your nervous and soft tissue system. Chiropractors use a hands-on, patient centered approach focused on relieving pain and restoring normal functioning of the spine, body and nerve system using safe, gentle yet very effective methods that produce lasting results.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
YES. Chiropractic treatment is safe AND effective when administered by a licensed, experienced chiropractor. Statistics have proven that risk due to chiropractic treatment is extremely low, while prescription drugs and surgery cause hundreds of thousands of deaths per year.
Is chiropractic treatment painful?
Most patients report that chiropractic adjustments and treatments feel good. If the condition or injury is chronic or acute, there may be some muscle soreness after treatment, which should go away within 24 hours.
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment uses a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a subluxated (“locked up”) joint that is not moving properly. Adjustments are safe and gentle, effectively removing interference to the nervous system and spinal function. Adjustments not only remove painful subluxations but also work to boost the entire body’s immune system.
What is subluxation and how is it treated?
Subluxation, also called vertebral subluxation complex, what happens when the spinal bones lose their normal motion or position due to accidents, trauma, injury, stress, inherited spinal weaknesses or chemical imbalances. Subluxations can be caused by prolonged sitting, poor sleeping habits, poor posture, slips and falls, car accidents, sports injuries, obesity, internal organ dysfunction, or overuse due to repetitive motion.
Chiropractors treat subluxations using hands-on techniques, such as gentle adjustments, stretches, exercises, heat or ice, that adjust the spine so that the bones return to their proper position and motion. After years of training, Dr. Kwait is an expert in applying just the right amount of pressure and combining the most effective chiropractic methods tailored to the patient’s condition, age and size.
What is the popping sound I hear during chiropractic adjustments?
Sometimes when a joint is being adjusted, gas bubbles trapped between the joints are released with the pressure change and a slight popping sound can be heard, similar to the sound made when cracking your knuckles. Despite the sounds, adjustments are painless and harmless.
Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?
No, chiropractors are defined as first contact physicians and do not require a referral by an MD. After the first visit, the chiropractor will diagnose and either recommend a chiropractic treatment plan or make a referral to the appropriate health care provider.
What type of education and training is required for chiropractors?
Educational requirements for Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) are among the most stringent of any health care professions. Typically, chiropractors take four years of pre-medical undergraduate courses, including biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and lab work. They then do four or five years of further professional study at an accredited chiropractic college, with significant amounts of time spent in clinical training. To receive a DC degree, chiropractors must complete a minimum of 4,200 classroom, laboratory, and clinical hours. After completing their degree, chiropractors must still pass a licensing test administered by the National Board Examinations. Even after this, chiropractors continue their education to keep abreast of new developments and adjustment techniques as well as to meet requirements for license renewal.
How long will chiropractic treatment take?
The length of treatments depends on the nature of your condition and whether the chiropractor is providing acute, chronic and/or preventative care. After the initial consultation and evaluation, the doctor of chiropractor can tell you the extent of treatment recommended. Patients generally first seek chiropractic care for specific conditions with the primary goal of treatment being to relieve pain. Once the pain is eliminated, it is suggested that periodic maintenance visits be scheduled to keep the spinal structure strengthened and prevent recurrence.
How much does chiropractic services cost, and do insurance plans cover treatment?
Chiropractic care has been determined to be one of the most cost-effective forms of health care, and many health care plans provide coverage for chiropractic services. For more information about Kwait Chiropractic fees and insurance coverage, please click here.
Is it safe to see a chiropractor if I’ve had back surgery?
Yes, in fact, chiropractic care can help avoid the need for repeated surgeries by maintaining and strengthening spinal functioning. Kwait has helped numerous patients who have had various types of back surgery with successful, long-lasting results.