WESTCHASE CHIROPRACTIC - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• What is chiropractic care?
• How many people see chiropractors?
• Do I have to see my medical doctor before I see a chiropractor?
• Is a Chiropractor considered a Doctor?
• I've heard that chiropractic really doesn't have a scientific basis. What are the facts?
• Is chiropractic care expensive?
• Is a Chiropractic Adjustment painful? Is it really safe?
• Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor?
• Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
• Do chiropractors treat conditions other than back pain?
• 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?
• Do children need chiropractic care?

What is chiropractic care?
There's nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It's a natural method of health care that focuses on treating the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise. With a normally functioning spine and healthy nerve system, your body is better able to heal itself. That's because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling, movement, and all function through your body.

How many people see chiropractors?
Chiropractic services are in high demand. Tens of millions of Americans routinely opt for chiropractic services and this number is rapidly growing. In 1993, more than 30 million consumers made chiropractic a regular part of their health care program.

Do I have to see my medical doctor before I see a chiropractor?
No. Doctors of Chiropractic are primary health care providers. According to the Center for Studies in Health Policy, "The DC can provide all three levels of primary care interventions and therefore is a primary care provider, as are MDs and DOs. The doctor of chiropractic is a gatekeeper to the health care system and an independent practitioner who provides primary care services. The DC's office is a direct access portal of entry to the full scope of service."

Is a Chiropractor considered a Doctor?
To receive the doctor of chiropractic degree, candidates must complete extensive four year undergraduate prerequisites, obtain a bachelors degree and four years of graduate-level instruction and internship at an accredited chiropractic institution. Comprehensive knowledge of all systems of the body and diagnostic procedures enable the DC to thoroughly evaluate a patient, address disorders relating to the spine and determine the need for referral to another health care provider. Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed primary health care provider in all 50 states. DCs have been licensed as primary care physicians and recognized for many decades in all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. A Chiropractors education is as extensive as a medical doctor as shown by the chart below.

Chiropractic Compared to Medical Education
	Chiropractic Classroom Hours	Medical Classroom Hours
Anatomy	540	508
Physiology	240	326
Pathology	360	401
Chemistry	165	325
Microbiology	120	114
Diagnosis	630	324
Neurology	320	112
X-Ray	360	148
Psychiatry	60	144
Obstetrics	60	148
Orthopedics	210	156
Total Hours	2,887	2,706

I've heard that chiropractic really doesn't have a scientific basis. What are the facts?
The practice of chiropractic is based on sound scientific principles. The existence of the nervous system as the primary control mechanism of the body is an undisputed scientific fact. Its relationship with the spine is the focus of the practice of chiropractic. The spine develops in utero to provide two primary functions: (1) allow for freedom of movement and (2) house and protect the spinal cord. When the vertebrae of the spine become misaligned through trauma or repetitive injury, two major consequences will result: (1) the range of motion becomes limited and (2) spinal nerves emerging from the spinal cord are compromised. DCs use the term "subluxation" to describe such disruptions. Interruption of nerve flow can eventually lead to pain, disability, and an overall decrease in the quality of life. Conversely, the removal of that interference has been shown to have significant, lasting health benefits. Through the adjustment of the subluxation, the doctor of chiropractic endeavors to restore normal nerve expression. The body is then able to respond appropriately to any imbalance in the system, thus relieving symptoms and restoring health.

Is chiropractic care expensive?
At Westchase Chiropractic our mission is to serve and provide the highest quality care at affordable prices. Doctors of chiropractic provide effective, low-cost health care for a wide range of conditions.

Is a Chiropractic Adjustment painful? Is it really safe?
The process of chiropractic adjustment is a safe, efficient procedure which is performed nearly one million times every working day in the United States.

In this office we use very gentle Chiropractic care that is non-invasive; therefore, the body's response to chiropractic care is far more predictable than possible reactions to drug treatments or surgical procedures. Of the nearly one million adjustments given every day in this country, complications are exceedingly rare. This is why chiropractors pay less than 1% in malpractice insurance in comparison to MD’s and DO’s.

Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor?
Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is known as "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care is initially utilized back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.

Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age, and condition of health.

Do chiropractors treat conditions other than back pain?
Chiropractors provide effective treatment for all types of soft tissue disorders and not just back and neck ailments. This includes conditions of the joints of the extremities like the ankle, knee and shoulder. What you may not be aware of is chiropractic's success in treating a number of non-soft tissue conditions like dysmenorrhea (painful menses), ulcers, migraine headaches, and ear infections in children. While we cannot claim to cure these conditions, we believe that many of these problems can be mimicked, aggravated and some times caused by disruptions in the nervous system as a result of spinal abnormalities. By correcting these spinal abnormalities like the vertebral subluxation, chiropractic has helped thousands of individuals overcome these conditions and regain control of their lives. A number of studies have also supported these findings. In one such study, spinal manipulative therapy was compared with standard medical treatments in the treatment of duodenal ulcers. The researchers Pikalov, MD, and Kharin, MD, found those subjects receiving spinal manipulations took an average of 16 days to heal vs. 26 days to heal in the standard medical treatment group. JMPT 1994;17(5):310-313

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?
You may have heard the notion that once you go to a chiropractor you have to keep going back. 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 mouth. 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.

Do children need chiropractic care?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for vertebral subluxation. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are adapted for the child's spine. Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off can be traced to the spine. Health problems that emerge in adulthood could often be prevented by having your children's spine checked by a chiropractor early. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers.