FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About ChiropracticWhat is chiropractic?
What is a subluxation and how do you get one?
What is an adjustment and is it safe?
What is that "popping" sound?"
Can I adjust myself?
Is chiropractic effective?
Do infants/children need chiropractic care?
Can I be adjusted if I'm pregnant?
Is chiropractic OK after back/neck surgery?
Do I need x-rays?
Are workouts as good as being adjusted?
Will I have to go to a chiropractor forever?
Why doesn't my medical doctor refer me?
How much will it cost & will insurance cover any?
Does Dr. Scott get adjusted?
What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a form of non-invasive healthcare that has roots back to the beginning of recorded history. Chiropractic became formalized as a healthcare profession in the nineteenth century. The primary emphasis of chiropractic care has always been a whole body/holistic approach with a focus on spinal and nervous system function. When the spine becomes misaligned it can cause irritation on the nerves that innervate from the spine, which is known as a subluxation. Chiropractors use a hands-on approach, through a chiropractic adjustment, to help properly align the spine, thus reducing irritation on the nerves and improving nervous system functioning. For more discussion on this question, see the "About Chiropractic" page of this website. Back to Top
What is a subluxation and how do you get one?
A subluxation is a misalignment of the spine that causes interference in the nervous system and disrupts the body's natural ability to heal itself. Subluxations can be caused by a variety of factors. Three basic causes of vertebral subluxation are physical stresses, chemical stresses and emotional stresses. Physical stresses on the spine and nervous system may include motor vehicle accidents (MVA), slips and falls, repetitive movements/motions, and improper sleeping/sitting postures. Chemical stresses include smoking, alcohol abuse, poor/improper diet, not drinking enough water, and overuse of drugs or medications. Emotional stress is also a major cause of subluxation because of its effect on the hormonal and muscular systems of the body. A subluxation is like a dental cavity -- you may have it for a long time before symptoms (such as pain) appear. Regardless of the cause, subluxations need to be detected and removed so that the body can function at it's optimum level. This is why periodic spinal check-ups are so important to make sure that vertebral subluxations do not go undetected and untreated. Back to Top
What is an adjustment and is it safe?
Chiropractors use adjustments to reposition bones/joints that are not moving properly and/or are out of proper alignment (subluxated). An adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction to a bone/joint that is subluxated. Adjustments are performed by manual/hands-on adjusting or by use of a mechanical device, such as an activator. Manual adjusting requires the chiropractor to place their hands on or around the affected joint and through a quick, short movement, return the joint to its normal position. Mechanical adjusting, such as by an activator, involves the chiropractor placing the activator on or around the affected joint and again moving the joint into proper alignment through a quick, specific force. The purpose of the adjustment is to remove any interference to the nervous system, which improves spinal/nervous system function and your overall health. Adjusting shouldn't hurt, but may be slightly uncomfortable for some patients due to tight or spasming muscles, which are caused by the subluxation. Specific spinal adjustments are safe for individuals of ALL ages. Dr. Scott likes to say that he doesn't "adjust before birth or after death." Adjusting techniques are varied based on the needs of the patient and are very different for newborns or older individuals versus someone who is in their 20s or 30s. Research has also shown that specific spinal adjustments boost your body's immune system! Back to Top
What is that "popping" sound?
The adjustment is often characterized by a "popping" sound, called a cavitation, that many people mistake for the "cracking" of bones. The popping sound is actually created by gas (nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide) which is released from the joint as it is moved, similar to the sound made when you remove the top from a bottle of champagne. Back to Top
Can I adjust myself?
No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust yourself correctly and accurately. Some people can make their joints "pop," but that is not an adjustment. In fact, damage may occur by mobilizing joints inaccurately, thus weakening muscles and ligaments and making an already unstable spine more unstable. You also should not let your friends "adjust" you as they have not been trained in spinal adjusting (unless your friend is a chiropractor!!) In the same way that a dentist is highly-trained to treat oral conditions, a chiropractor is highly-trained to treat spinal conditions. Now would you let your untrained friend drill your teeth? Enough said. Back to Top
Is chiropractic effective?
It has been reported that 85% of Americans will suffer incapacitating low back pain in their lifetime and that 6.8% of the population suffers from back pain at any given time. Statistics show that 40% of Americans who suffer with back pain for more than two weeks will go to a chiropractor, the second largest type of primary health care provider in the western world. Chiropractic avoids the use of drugs and surgery and has an excellent track record. WebMD reported on a study of research data gathered over a 4 year period. This data was taken from nearly two million patients. 700,000 of these patients were on a healthcare plan that included chiropractic care and were compared to ONE MILLION patients on a health care plan that did NOT include chiropractic care. After following the 1.7 million patients for 4 years, the results showed: 1.) Chiropractic care cut the cost of treating back pain by 28% compared to those who did not have chiropractic care 2.) Back surgeries were reduced by 32% - that is 1 in every 3 people - one third less surgeries, which reduced hospitalization by 41% 3.) This study found the satisfaction rate with chiropractic to be 95%. Back to Top
Do infants/children need chiropractic care?
Absolutely! Even today's "natural" childbirth methods can cause spinal trauma. Studies suggest that erratic sleeping patterns/habits, ear infections (otitis media - often caused because the Eustachian tube is not draining properly), infantile colic, and poor appetite can be signs of spinal distress. Children require much less force for an effective adjustment than an adult. Pediatric adjustments are gentle, safe, and offer a drugless treatment alternative. This is especially important when a large percentage of illnesses, such as ear infections, are viral and are actually not approprate for antibiotic treatment. Chiropractic is the treatment of choice for many parents because it is safe and non-invasive. It is important for children to have their spine checked throughout childhood, as it could help prevent health problems that generally emerge in adulthood. It is also important because childhood can be hard on the body...learning to walk, falling off a bicycle you haven't quite mastered yet, etc., etc. Dr. Scott regularly treats children of all ages, including his own (since the hour after they were born). In fact, we have had patients, both mother and child, get released from the hospital and come to our office for treatment before they went home! Back to Top
Can I be adjusted if I'm pregnant?
Yes!! A woman's body goes through many changes during pregnancy. Hormone levels change causing muscles and ligaments to relax in preparation for delivery. Because of all of these changes, many pregnant women experience pain and discomfort, often in the low back and sciatic areas, during their pregancies. Adjustments are adapted for each individual patient based on the patient's size, weight, age, and condition of health. Adjustments help with pain, discomfort, improve sleep patterns, and of course they help with proper nervous system function. Dr. Scott adjusts pregnant patients on a regular basis. He also treated his wife, Jodi, throughout two successful pregnancies. Jodi says that adjustments greatly helped her when she was experiencing sciatica, general low back pain, upper back pain, and also greatly aided her in sleeping more restfully. Back to Top
Is chiropractic OK after back/neck surgery?
Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of individuals who have had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years after their surgery. Patients are then forced with the decision of if they should pursue additional surgery. Chiropractic may help prevent the need for repeated back surgeries. If chiropractic care is utilized prior to receiving surgery, quite often the surgery can be avoided in the first place. Chiropractic treatments may have to be adapted somewhat based on the type and area of the surgery. As in all cases, your treatment will be based on your individual needs, and if for some reason chiropractic is not a suitable treatment option in your case, the chiropractor will let you know that as well. Back to Top
Do I need x-rays?
X-rays are taken to check vertebral alignment and also to find or rule-out underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine, such as spinal deterioration, arthritis, abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors, and spinal curvature. X-rays also are used as a "road map" for the doctor in the process of correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment. Back to Top
Are workouts as good as being adjusted?
No. Regular exercise is vital for good health, however, without normal spinal function a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints. Many top athletes, such as Arnold Swartenager and Olympic Decathlete Tom Pappas utilize chiropractic care to optimize their athletic abilities and to function at their optimum level. Back to Top
Will I have to go to a chiropractor forever?
This is a common question asked by patients and is often a misunderstood concept. Many patients feel and function so well with regular chiropractic treatments that they choose to come on a regular basis to prevent serious subluxations and complications, however, it isn't a requirement. Chiropractic delivers care on three levels: pain relief, corrective care, and maintenance care. The goal of the pain relief phase is to eliminate symptoms of pain and discomfort. Pain is often the last symptom to arise when you have an underlying problem, but luckily it is typically the first symptom to be eliminated during the treatment process. This phase requires more frequent visits. Corrective care focuses on treating the underlying cause of your problem. This phase occurs at a time when pain levels have reduced, but the underlying cause has not been completely corrected. Maintenance care focuses on maintaining the progress of the pain relief and corrective phases and works to prevent further subluxations. The maintenance phase requires less frequent visits and usually only requires brief check-ups. Just as you must change the oil in your car every 3 months or 3000 miles, it is important to periodically make sure that your spine is functioning correctly. If you do not maintain your car, you could replace the engine, but have you ever heard of a spine transplant? As stated before, for optimum health, it is recommended that you go through all three phases of care, however, the ultimate decision is always up to you. Back to Top
Why doesn't my medical doctor refer me?
This situation is changing more and more day by day. In the past, there was a lot of misunderstanding between the chiropractic and medical professions. Some medical doctors still have not been educated about the overwhelming benefits that chiropractic can play in the overall health of patients. More medical doctors, who have an understanding of the benefits of chiropractic, are referring cases to our office on a regular basis. Our office has been blessed by referrals from a wide variety of doctors including, but not limited to, family practitioners and OB-Gyns. It is our office's opinion that every patient should have at least 4 primary doctors for whole body complimentary care. Every person should have a family practioner for general medical care, a dentist for oral care, an optomotrist or opthamologist for vision care, and a chiropractor for spinal and proper nervous system care. Back to Top
How much will it cost & will insurance cover any?
Chiropractic care has been shown, through a variety of studies, to be a very cost effective treatment option. Every person responds to care differently, which makes it difficult to determine ahead of time exactly how much treatment you will require. It is important to remember that insurance was never designed in any case to cover every health care situation, however, most insurance companies now cover at least a portion of your chiropractic care. We all know that it is very nice when insurance companies pay the bills, especially because of the rising cost of premiums, but be careful not to allow your insurance company to gain control over your health. Many insurance policies have limits on the amount of care that the insurance will pay for, however, this does not mean that what the insurance dictates is the only care that you need! Your health is too valuable to let the insurance company dictate what you will and won't do to keep yourself healthy. In general, chiropractic care can be very affordable for just about everyone. If you do not have health insurance coverage, or even if you do have coverage, the doctor's office can discuss a variety of payment options available to you when you consult with your Doctor of Chiropractic. Back to Top
Does Dr. Scott get adjusted?
YES! Dr. Scott knows how important it is for everyone to recieve regular chiropractic care. Dr. Scott visits a fellow chiropractor in order to maintain a healthy, well functioning spine and nervous system. Back to Top
