FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a natural healthcare specialty, focusing on the nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems. The entire body is controlled through the nervous system, which is housed inside the spine. The bones of the spine make up movable joints. Nerves exit the spinal cord through these joints and travel throughout the body.
Trauma occurs every day to our spine. This can be in the form of large, obvious traumas (such as car accidents, slip and falls, or sports injuries) or slower, less easy to identify traumas (such as repetitive stress, poor posture, or muscle imbalances). All of these traumas cause scar tissue to form in an attempt to protect the spinal cord. The scar tissue will restrict the motion of the spinal joints (called a subluxation). This results in decreased nerve flow throughout the body. The resulting loss of function can show up as muscular problems (such as loss of strength or soreness), nerve problems (such as numbness or tingling), or visceral problems (such as poor digestion or lung congestion). Chiropractic comes from the Greek words for "hands" and "to treat." As a chiropractor, we use our hands to detect motion in each joint of the spine. Whenever we come upon an area of decreased movement, we use a controlled push in the proper direction to restore the motion (called a chiropractic adjustment). This, in turn, restores nerve flow and function throughout the body. |
What Services Do We Offer?
Diversified/Manual Technique
This adjusting technique involves the doctor using her hands to test the motion throughout the spine to detect any subluxations. Any "stuck" joints are then pushed using a quick, low force thrust to restore range of motion and break up scar tissue.
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Activator Technique
This adjusting technique involves using an instrument to introduce motion into the spine. It's great for anyone with osteoporosis, the need for a seated adjustment, or those who don't like to hear the "pop" of a manual adjustment.
Activator is the only instrument adjusting technique with clinical trials to support its effectiveness. |
Therapeutic Exercises
We will create a personalized exercise rehabilitation program to best suit each patient’s needs. This will help to stretch tight muscles and strengthen weak muscles. All of our exercises are designed so they do not require additional equipment, to allow you can continue your exercise plan at home after discharge.
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Kinesio Tape
Our office uses Kinesio Tape to support and stabilize muscles and joints. Kinesio Tape also helps decrease swelling in sprains. Often used with athletes and active individuals, taping can help with many types of injuries.
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Is Chiropractic only for Back Pain?
No, despite the fact that chiropractic care has been proven to be one of the most effective treatments for low back pain, adjustments can help with much more. By ensuring proper nerve flow throughout the body, chiropractic adjustments can help decrease muscle soreness, headaches, neck stiffness, numbness/tingling, joint pain, disc herniations, and pregnancy aches.
Chiropractic even helps things you might not think of such as: asthma, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia, colic, and arthritis. Adjustments also give a boost to the immune system to help fight off colds, allergies, ear infections, and other illnesses. |
Is Chiropractic safe for Children?
Chiropractic care has been around for over 100 years. It has proven safe and effective for all age groups. Children are very active and tend to suffer many scrapes and falls, which can benefit from chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic care also helps children recover from sports injuries and growing pains. For infants, adjustments can make it easier to breastfeed, decrease colic symptoms, and improve sleep patterns. Dr. Gower has taken multiple post-graduate seminars through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association which specializes in evaluating and adjusting pediatric patients. We encourage parents to look at http://www.icpa4kids.org/ as an excellent resource for more information. At the office, we have several special tools like our Adjustagator and ChiroCubs to help make adjustments fun and exciting for our smallest patients!
What's that noise I hear with an Adjustment?
During a manual adjustment, you may hear a "pop" noise, similar to what you hear when you crack your knuckles. This is completely safe and normal. The noise is called joint cavitation and is the result of gas being released from the joint capsule during the adjustment.
How can Chiropractic care support a healthy Pregnancy and natural Birth?
During pregnancy, chiropractic care has been shown to decrease back pain, migraines, and instances of preeclampsia. During birth, studies have shown that women who've been regularly adjusted have shorter labor times and a decreased need for painkillers throughout delivery. Chiropractic care can also help with ideal fetal positioning in the womb by aligning the pelvis and relieving stress on the uterine ligaments. We have special tools in the office, such as pregnancy pillows, to make the adjustments comfortable and safe for the mom-to-be.
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After I visit once, do I have to keep seeing a Chiropractor forever?
How often you visit the chiropractor is completely up to you. You can choose to visit the chiropractor only until your symptoms get better. However, a lot of people enjoy the increased range of motion and decreased muscle tightness that follows an adjustment and choose to continue wellness treatments for spinal maintenance.
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