Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)
Chiropractic is about more than a sore back or a headache.
Chiropractic uses safe and gentle, scientific methods for the relief of pain, spinal misalignment and nerve irritation.
It is also effective in addressing many sports related injuries, like sprains and strains.
If prevention sounds like a better idea, chiropractic also helps to keep your body functioning at its best.
What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the skill of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, “locked up”, or not moving properly. This adds motion to the joint, helping the joints to gradually regain more normal motion and function. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to permit improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved health.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
In relation to caring for neck and back pain, studies have shown that a course of chiropractic care was 250 times safer than a course of anti-inflammatory drugs**. However, it is important to note that while chiropractic has an excellent safety record based on drug free non-invasive care, no form of healthcare is entirely free of potential adverse effects.
Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health that is safe and effective. Please feel free to discuss this matter with your chiropractor.
How Are Chiropractors Regulated?
Chiropractors are five year university trained, government regulated and government registered healthcare professionals. Government established chiropractic registration boards – whose regulations chiropractors must strictly adhere to in order to maintain registration to practice - exist in all Australian states and territories to ensure increased public safety for the Australian population. These bodies are responsible for maintaining the highest standards for all practitioners.
What Type of Educational Qualifications Do Chiropractors Receive?
Today’s chiropractor is a highly educated professional. Chiropractic training in Australia involves five year courses at Sydney’s Macquarie University, Melbourne’s RMIT University and Perth's Murdoch University. Many Australian chiropractors received similar education in the US, Europe or New Zealand.
These courses are of similar length and depth as medical courses, but focus on promoting healthier lifestyles via better body function, rather than on drugs and surgery. Accordingly, chiropractic education involves a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques and related subjects.
A chiropractor’s education never ends. After entering practice, all CAA chiropractors must complete continuing professional development courses and seminars to upgrade and improve their skills and to stay current on the latest scientific research.
Is Chiropractic Care Appropriate for Children?
Since significant trauma can occur at birth, many parents choose to have their newborns checked for any spinal health related problems. Later, learning to walk, riding a bicycle, and other childhood activities can cause spinal health related problems. While a bandage and some comforting words can help a skinned knee, the potential underlying structural damage to the child’s spine, skull, pelvis and extremities is the unique domain of a chiropractor.
Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as “growing pains” may be able to be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic checkups may be able to identify these problems and may help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults. Chiropractors are five year university trained healthcare professionals, equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide care especially tailored to the requirements of each individual.
Remember the old saying: 'As the twig is bent, so grows the tree'
Is Chiropractic Care Appropriate for Over 55's?
Restoring better spinal function may help improve lifestyle areas associated with the over 55’s age group including mobility, vitality, endurance, and appetite. Many patients report improvements with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process. The adjusting technique used by your chiropractor will be modified for maximum comfort and results.
Should I Continue Treatment If The Pain Is Gone?
This is why maintenance care is important. Going through the initial rehab and taking time and effort to heal yourself will all be wasted if you do not maintain those good adjustments.
Over time it may be necessary that you only need to come every 4-6 weeks or more, just to ensure you are holding the good adjustments, just as it is important to have regular check-ups at the dentist, or to be regular with your exercise for fitness.
How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care?
Spinal health related problems, neglected since early childhood, may require ongoing supportive care for optimum spinal function. These long-standing problems are often associated with muscle weakness or tension, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine. Most patients find that periodic chiropractic checkups help keep them in tip-top shape. Those who are active, have stressful lives, or want to be their very best, find that a schedule of preventative visits are helpful in the maintenance of good health and for fostering wellness.
Some patients seek chiropractic care only when their ache or pain becomes unbearable. While this style of “crisis management” is usually more costly and time consuming, chiropractors stand ready to help all patients, regardless of their health goals.
Do I Need a Referral From a GP to See a Chiropractor?
Chiropractors are primary contact, primary healthcare practitioners – as such, no form of referral is required as a prerequisite to visit a chiropractor.
Are All Patients Adjusted The Same Way?
The doctor evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience.
Some patients, who complain of headaches, may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in their fingers, when the actual problem is in the neck.
Every patient presents a uniquely different spinal pattern. Patients notice that their chiropractic care is delivered with confidence and precision. Each visit builds on the one before. And while visits may seem similar, each patient's care is uniquely different from every other patient.
Can I Adjust Myself?
Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific spinal joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself.It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a popping sound, like the sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment.
Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable area of the spine even more unsteady. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!
The best way to enjoy the healthful benefits of chiropractic is to receive adjustments from a doctor of chiropractic. Even your doctor must seek out services of another colleague to help restore and maintain proper spinal function.
Can I combine Chiropractic and Soft Tissue Therapy/Massage?
Yes! A chiropractic adjustment aims at alleviating the joint dysfunction and subsequent nerve irritation that causes muscles to spasm or weaken. However, in some cases the muscles supporting a dysfunctional joint become so tight that it is difficult to make an adjustment and your chiropractor may recommend massage in conjunction with your chiropractic care. Combining these treatments creates a plan to reduce pain, improve mobility and the ability to stretch and exercise.
It may also be recommended for patients experiencing tightness as a result of stress in their daily lives.
Should Massage Come Before or After an Adjustment?
This becomes a matter of professional judgment between your chiropractor and massage therapist. There are times where it is appropriate to have soft tissue therapy (massage) before a chiropractic adjustment. In other cases, it may be appropriate to have massage after or between chiropractic visits. Discuss your needs with both your chiropractor and your massage therapist so they can plan an approach that will best maximize your therapeutic outcomes.
I Have Heard That Once I Start Chiropractic Care, I'll Have to Continue With it for The Rest of My Life. Is This True?
Before we answer that question, ask yourself how many times you have visited a dentist? Like most people, you've probably gone dozens of times. Why? Quite simply, to prevent your teeth from literally rotting out of your head. Once chiropractic care eliminates your pain and rehabilitates the injured tissues we do recommend that you maintain a schedule of periodic spinal checkups. Like your dentist and like many of the medical experts are now recognizing, prevention is the key to reducing recurrences of existing health conditions and minimizing new injuries in the future. So the answer is yes, we want you to keep coming back, but just periodically. Periodic chiropractic care minimizes spinal and nerve stresses, reduces recurrences of old injuries, prevents new injuries from developing, minimizes degenerative processes, which enhances overall health and wellness.