Frequently Asked Questions
+ Why Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is based on the premise that the body is governed by its nervous system. In cases where this has been upset from its normal, healthy function by a misalignment/subluxation in the body’s spinal structure is where we naturally turn to chiropractic – to help restore normal, ‘natural’ function to the joints and reduce nerve pressure! The result of this successful adjustment is a body in harmony with itself and with its surroundings. Bodily balance in relation to the spinal vertebrae and other bones can result in ‘reduced pain’. In turn, reduced pain also leads to physical and mental balance; each one feeds (or serves) the other.
+ Why Chiropractic Care?
Rather than turning to drugs or even surgery, many people are discovering that chiropractic care can often help out the problem, and in a relatively short period.
Just some examples of where chiropractic research is heading include its affect on:
- Dizziness
- Back and Neck Pain
- Sporting injuries
- Colic
- Headache
- Sinusitis
- Inability to sleep
- Difficulties with pregnancy
- Ear infections
- Overall Quality of Life
Chiropractors work on the principle of reducing interference so the nervous system and body can work better. Providing that any symptom or condition is occurring as a result of nerve interference from vertebral subluxation, there is a very good chance that it will improve with chiropractic care.
+ What is a subluxation?
A subluxation in chiropractic terms is another word for a minor misalignment or joint dysfunction of one or more of the spinal joints. They tend to irritate or choke the nerve roots coming from the spinal cord itself. The results of a subluxation may be pain, muscle weakness or organ dysfunction – depending on which nerves are being affected.
+ What Is An Adjustment?
The simplest description for a chiropractic adjustment is a carefully directed and controlled pressure to the joints of the spine or other area of the body to correct the lost or aberrant movement of vertebrae or a joint. There are many ways for a chiropractor to effect an adjustment and just as many ways to describe the procedure. The purpose of this procedure is to improve the spinal function, nervous system function, remove muscle tension, and boost general health.
After over 25 years of training and clinical experience,Dr Harman is highly skilled in delivering a variety of trusted adjustment techniques for your health and wellness.
+ What’s that loud clicking we hear during some chiropractic adjustments?
It’s all a matter of gases – more accurately the sudden release of gases around the joint being adjusted.. As to what causes the gases to make this sound is also simple: each joint, especially in the spinal joints, is lubricated by a fluid not unlike motor oil. This fluid ensures smoothness of movement and cushioning of the joint from shock and stresses. It essentially permits a reduction of friction on the joint surfaces through all its planes of movement.
As with most fluids there are air bubbles (carbon dioxide and nitrogen) contained within its flowing substance. When adjusted the joint opens and releases the gases with a ‘pop’. Like pulling a suction cup from it’s attached surface, a vacuum is formed and the noise is the air rushing to fill the vacuum.
The fluid then returns to its proper location around the joint and continues to carry out its function of lubrication and carrying waste products away from the area.
+ Is chiropractic care safe?
Chiropractors perform their adjustments on millions of people around the world every working day with the resulting relief and easing of pain provided for countless sufferers. The very rare risk of infrequent strain/injury to a ligament or disc in the neck (less than 1 in 139,000) or the lower back (1 in 62,000) is really too low to be too concerned over. The comparison of chiropractic care and a course of anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the pain of a mis-alignment has demonstrated conclusively that chiropractic is 250 times safer (1).
References
1 Maigne R. Orthopedic Medicine: A New Approach to Vertebral Manipulations. Springfield, Illinois, Charles C. Thomas. 1972; 155, 169.
Cyriax J. Textbook of Orthopaedic Medicine. Vol 1. Diagnosis of soft tissue lesions (7th edition). London, Bailliere Tindall. 1978; 165.
Hosek RS, Schram SB, Silverman H, Meyers JB. Cervical Manipulation. J Amer Med Assoc. 1981; 245:922.
Gutmann G. Verletzungen der arteria vertebrailis durch manuelle therapie. Manuelle Medizin 1983; 21:2-14.
Dvorak J, Orelli F. How dangerous is manipulation of the cervical spine? Manuel Med 1985; 2:1-4.
+ Is chiropractic care safe?
Cyriax J. Textbook of Orthopaedic Medicine. Vol 1. Diagnosis of soft tissue lesions (7th edition). London, Bailliere Tindall. 1978; 165.
Hosek RS, Schram SB, Silverman H, Meyers JB. Cervical Manipulation. J Amer Med Assoc. 1981; 245:922.
Gutmann G. Verletzungen der arteria vertebrailis durch manuelle therapie. Manuelle Medizin 1983; 21:2-14.
Dvorak J, Orelli F. How dangerous is manipulation of the cervical spine? Manuel Med 1985; 2:1-4.
+ Are all patients adjusted the same way?
Regardless of the adjusting technique, chiropractic care is tailored to each individual’s age, condition and spinal problem. An example of this is with children under care. Children generally have more mobile joints, and therefore, require less force in order to attain the desired effect of the adjustment.
In addition to varying the amount of force used, adjustment frequency will also be customised to the individual. Different conditions require different intensities in visit schedules. Your chiropractor will tailor a specific care plan for you that takes into account a number of factors. These factors include (but are not limited to), the results of x-rays, physical examination findings, what tissue is involved (eg. ligament, tendon, muscle, disc, organ), how long you have had the condition, the amount of inflammation and intensity of pain being experienced, and the presence of any unavoidable aggravating factors to your condition (eg. your occupation or degeneration).
The chiropractor evaluates each patient’s unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Each visit builds on the one before. While visits may seem similar, each patient’s care is uniquely different from every other patient’s.
+ Can the elderly benefit from chiropractic care?
Many modern seniors are tending to shy away from over-medication for pain-relief, realising that through chiropractic care they are becoming pain-free and mobile to do the things they want to do, but without the fear of side-effects.More gentle techniques are use on seniors where required to account for more fragile bones.The type of care you recieve will be tailored to your condition and should be mostly pain free.
+ Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy?
Studies have shown that by providing a consistent program of chiropractic care for the mothers-to-be in pregnancy the nervous system and spine display healthy benefits before, during and after the birth. There is no need to cease chiropractic care due to pregnancy – posture is equally important at any time, perhaps even more so during pregnancy. As with anything else in life where common sense rules should be applied, and particularly involving the body, provided that care is sensitively followed there is little likelihood of anything untoward resulting.Many women experience back pain during pregnancy due to the extra and unusual weight placed on the spine. A drugless approach to relieving this pain is best for both mom and baby.
Regular adjustments by the chiropractor should be carefully considered allowing for the individual circumstances. Adjustments after birth have been found to be beneficial for a return to normal spine and pelvic posture.
+ Do all patients receive the same standard of chiropractic care?
Chiropractic procedures are tailored to the individual patient’s general condition, spinal stability and age. Differing circumstances will dictate the type of procedure offered and the frequency. These circumstances will vary from the type of injury requiring attention – nerves, muscles, organs, ligaments or tendons – the degree of damage and pain and what effects there may be on the patient’s occupation.
+ Should I visit my chiropractor if I’m not in pain?
If your wish is for your body to function at its best, free of pain or disability it makes great sense to get it checked out. Some people wait for teeth to start aching before they visit the dentist, by which time it is invariably too late to save the tooth. Not only that but a tooth filled with decay slowly affects the whole body eventually, and that means its physical and mental performance. Quality of life is important for peak fitness and vice versa; only by having a spine that’s functioning properly can we enjoy a full and active life.
+ How long should I continue my visits to the chiropractor?
You can continue your visits to the chiropractor for as long as you wish to benefit from chiropractic care.
+ Can the elderly benefit from chiropractic care?
+ Is chiropractic safe during pregnancy?
+ Do all patients receive the same standard of chiropractic care?
+ Should I visit my chiropractor if I’m not in pain?
Get in touch with Dr. Lari Harman chiropractor in Corinda today! Be active in recovering your mobility.
