FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is a Subluxation?
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What causes a subluxation?
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How is a subluxation corrected?
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Does the adjustment hurt?
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Is regular chiropractic care necessary?
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How old should a person be before he or she begins
chiropractic care?
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How will the adjustments help me?
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Does an adjustment have to make a noise to be effective?
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Should I go to a Chiropractor if I feel fine?
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Is it true that Chiropractors do not prescribe medicine or perform
surgery?
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How does chiropractic care help the pregnant woman?
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Does
Insurance cover Chiropractic?
The word "subluxation" comes from the Latin words meaning "to
dislocate" (luxare) and "somewhat or slightly" (sub). A
subluxation means a slight dislocation (misalignment) or biomechanical
malfunctioning of the vertebrae (bones of the spine). These disturbances may
irritate nerve roots and blood vessels which branch off from the spinal cord
between each of the vertebrae. This irritation may cause pain and dysfunction in
muscle, lymphatic and organ tissue as well as imbalance in the normal body
processes.
A fall, injury, sudden jar, trauma, or sometimes an inherited spinal weakness
can displace a vertebra. Other causes include improper sleeping conditions or
habits, poor posture, occupational hazards, incorrect lifting practices,
obesity, lack of rest and exercise, and stress.
Doctors of Chiropractic are specialists in
neuromusculoskeletal conditions. They are trained to restore the misaligned
vertebrae to their proper position in the spinal column. They do this manually,
utilizing the chiropractic procedure known as "spinal adjustment."
Your chiropractor, in most cases, will use his or her hands in applying
corrective pressure to the spine in a specific direction and location. The
manual force or thrust helps restore the alignment and mobility of the
vertebrae. In some cases, the chiropractor may use instrumentation to detect
subluxations and adjust the spine.
Under normal circumstances, chiropractic
adjustments are painless. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild
discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. It is also common to feel a
brief sensation in the extremities immediately following an adjustment due to
the sudden decompression of the affected nerve root.
Regular chiropractic care may be necessary to
correct spinal subluxations to help maintain sound health and fitness. Your
spine is under constant strain during waking hours. Improper lifting techniques,
poor posture, accidents, falls and bumps, and other causes can contribute to
spinal strain. Timely adjustments can help restore the neuromusculoskeletal
integrity of the spine to normalize the bodily equilibrium and increase
resistance.
Chiropractic patients range in years from birth
to old age. Regardless of age, the vertebrae can become misaligned. For example,
the birth process may cause trauma to the neck and spine. Left uncorrected, the
vertebral subluxation may disturb the delicate spinal cord and nerves which
control the youngster's muscles and organs. In some cases, an uncorrected
subluxation may lead to a deformity of the spinal column. An early chiropractic
checkup may detect many spinal problems while they are still easily correctable.
Chiropractic adjustments by themselves do not
actually heal the body. When any of the 24 moveable spinal vertebrae become
misaligned, a basic imbalance or disruption can occur in the nervous and blood
vascular systems, which may contribute to stress in the body. Chiropractic
adjustments help eliminate that imbalance or disruption so that the body can
function at its true potential.
No, it is a common misconception that your joints must make a noise to be
properly adjusted. However, more often than not when your vertebrae are
adjusted, the smooth articular (joint) surfaces become separated, creating and
then releasing a small vacuum, making a noise. This is the sound made when you
crack your knuckles. Your chiropractor is concerned with the position of your
vertebrae, not with the noise that may occur.
Even if you feel fine, chiropractic care can
help your body maintain its required level of health and fitness. Your
chiropractor can recommend a preventive spinal-care program and advise you on
correct posture, dietary information and back exercises. Regular spinal checkups
can help detect and prevent spinal stress due to subluxations.
Yes. Chiropractors do not include medication or
surgery in their treatment program. Chiropractors maintain that the body has a
built-in capacity to restore health within certain limits, and base their care
on this principle. Occasionally, the use of medication can interfere with the
body's healing mechanisms, produce side effects, create a dependence and lead to
drug-caused disease or complications. The first response in most illnesses and
injuries should be conservative care. Chiropractic's principles make it possibly
the safest and most appealing of the healing arts.
Because of the additional weight and stress on the framework of the body in
pregnant women, chiropractic adjustments can help lower the incidence of pain in
the low back and legs, and between the shoulder blades. In some cases, fewer
headaches and problems with nausea and elimination may also result. Many
chiropractors care for expectant mothers in the regular course of their daily
practices. It is wise, however, to first inquire about the experience of your
chiropractor in caring for pregnant women and what he or she recommends for you.
In most cases insurance covers
chiropractic care without a referral from your medical doctor. We file
all insurance forms for you.
Been in an auto accident?
Virginia No Fault auto insurance covers chiropractic services. In most
cases You do not need a referral for chiropractic care. We file all
the necessary reports, submit claims to the insurance company and make
any necessary referrals to other health care providers for you.
Hurt at work?
If you are injured at work Virginia Workers Compensation Insurance
covers chiropractic services. In most cases you can seek chiropractic
care without a medical referral. We file all the necessary reports,
submit claims to the insurance company and make any necessary
referrals to other health care providers, including massage and
physical therapy, for you.
Medicare
Medicare covers chiropractic care. We will file all necessary forms.
Group Insurance
Some group insurance plans cover chiropractic and some do not. We
accept Group Insurance on a case by case basis.
We have Affordable Cash Plans for those
without insurance.
Chiropractic
terms defined:
Subluxation: A misalignment, compression or lack of mobility in the spine or
other joints, such as a knee. They
interfere with the nervous system and bodily function.
Chiropractic
adjustment: The method a chiropractor uses to remove a subluxation. There are many specific techniques
that can be utilized. An
adjustment removes the interference within the joint(s) to allow the
body to return to normal function.
