FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS PAGE 2

Question: Who gets subluxations?

Answer: Almost everyone develops spinal subluxations. The four major causes of vertebral subluxations are congenital instability, injury, fatigue, and reflex reactions. Fortunately, most of these subluxations correct themselves when one relaxes or lies down to sleep. When spinal subluxations are severe or persistent they require chiropractic diagnosis and treatment.

Question: What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

Answer: Chiropractic adjustment is the art of introducing a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a vertebra that is subluxated or out of place. The Chiropractor identifies the location of the subluxation, determines the exact direction and the best way to correct the positioning. The adjustment itself is a movement of the spine that is done either by hand or with a computerized instrument in a very quick movement. The adjustment assists the vertebra back into the normal alignment, which restores proper motion to a joint and relieves nerve pressure. There are approximately 40 different ways to analyze and adjust the spine, so the actual adjustment will vary from Chiropractor to Chiropractor.

Question: What is that “cracking” noise?

Answer: Your joints contain fluid that helps to keep them healthy and lubricated (like oil in a car). This “synovial fluid” contains gas (like carbonation in soft drinks). When an adjustment is made you may hear a noise. This is known as an “audible release” and is simply the release of gas in the joint much like when you open a can of soda.

Question: How long will it take me to get well under adjustments?

Answer: The length of time will depend upon how long the vertebrae have been displaced, how successful the adjustment is in reducing the displacements, how much damage has been done to the nerve tracts and fibers, the vitality of the patient, and the rate of response of the nerve fibers to the adjustment.

Question: What brings about healing under adjustments?

Answer: The function of the adjustment is to restore misplaced bone structures to their normal positions and re-establish the normal pathways for the nerve tracts and fibers so that performance of the nervous system can improve, thus promoting healing.

Question: How can the chiropractor determine if the patient is making progress?

Answer: Patient progress is determined by the degree of the presence or absence of the objective and physical signs of imperfect performance of the nervous system: leg length checks, mobility checks, thermographic pattern measurements, spinal column distortion measurements, evaluation of symptoms as compared to the objective signs, and other methods.

Question: Are chiropractic treatments safe?

Answer: Chiropractic is a natural approach to better health and has an excellent safety record. For this reason, the insurance premiums for chiropractic malpractice are very low. Before starting any kind of treatment, the Chiropractor explains the procedures and reveals any potential risks involved in taking treatment, delaying treatment or not taking treatment at all.

Question: What can I do to give myself the best chance for a quick recovery?

Answer: Learn proper sitting and lifting methods. Specific exercises may be suggested to help retrain the muscles that support your spine. Proper rest is an important aspect of the healing process, too. Get the appropriate amount of rest your body needs to avoid sleeping on your stomach. During the healing process, proper nutrition is more important than ever. Make sure you eat balanced meals, and if you are overweight, now would be a good time to slim down and reduce unnecessary stresses to your spine. Perhaps most important of all, keep your appointments and follow your chiropractic doctor’s recommendations for optimum results.

Question: Why do children need chiropractic care?

Answer: Chiropractors treat the condition of life. Chiropractors check the spine for vertebral subluxations, nerve pressure caused by misaligned vertebrae, which cause interference in the flow of information from the brain to the various systems of the body. This nerve interference left uncorrected insidiously and negatively affects good health. Getting adjusted regularly helps each and every function of your body, promoting lasting good health.

Question: Am I too old for chiropractic care?

Answer: More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, safe and natural chiropractic care is gaining popularity. Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance, and appetite. Many patients report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process. The adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum comfort and results. As we get older and wiser, the simplicity and effectiveness of chiropractic becomes increasingly obvious.

Question: Can I afford chiropractic care?

Answer: We strongly believe that the cost of living with pain is much greater than the cost of chiropractic care. Often, the cost of surgery, drugs and other treatments for the symptoms alone can far exceed the cost of correcting the problem using chiropractic methods. Our office offers flexible payment plans to meet your budget. We will work with you, no matter what your financial situation. We believe that everyone should have access to chiropractic care and have structured our fees to make it affordable for you. Ask our Office Manager for details.

Question: Will my insurance cover chiropractic care?

Answer: Many insurance plans cover chiropractic care. We currently have a great number of patients who have insurance coverage through PPOs, Medicare, and other insurance carriers. We will be more than happy to call and check your insurance coverage for chiropractic care. In the even that there is no chiropractic coverage, we can set-up a payment plan to meet your financial and treatment needs.

©2006 Salama Chiropractic
3410 W. Wendover Ave. Ste. A Greensboro, North Carolina 27407
Phone: 336-274-3500 / Fax: 336-292-1928