For this initial blog entry, I thought we might dispel some of the myths about chiropractic:

Q: I’ve heard that if you go to a chiropractor once, you’ll have to go forever. Is this true?

A: While chiropractic deals with acute and chronic conditions all the time, it is invariably a preventive form of medicine.  So while it may only take a few visits to heal your low back pain for instance, it is the ongoing treatment that will keep this condition from ever manifesting itself again.  This doesn’t mean a person needs to be adjusted every week for the rest of their life, instead once the main corrections are made, there only needs to be occasional adjustments to make sure the problem does not return.

Q: What really happens during an adjustment?

A: Many people assume that an adjustment is just “cracking” a back.  In reality, your chiropractor is attempting to align your spine in order to promote optimal function of muscles, joints and the nervous system.  The sound made during an adjustment has commonly been described as a “crack,” however, it is actually more of popping sound - a release of gas from the joint as it is quickly opened and closed (think of opening a can of soda).

Q: Is there a risk involved with adjusting the spine, especially the neck?

A: An adjustment, when done by a chiropractic physician, is one of the safest treatment protocols in healthcare available.