Chiropractic adjustments are typically painless and in fact, many patients report immediate relief, pain decrease, and a sense of calmness afterwards. However, first time patients may involuntarily stiffen or resist the adjustment and feel a small amount of discomfort until they are able to relax during treatment. Infants and babies often sleep during an adjustment and do not usually experience discomfort.
During an adjustment of your joints, small pockets of gas form and/or release, which often causes a popping or cracking sound known as cavitation. Not all patients hear this and this is not an indication of a successful or unsuccessful adjustment.
Many spinal problems seen in adults actually began as early as birth. Even so called “natural” birthing methods can be very traumatic and stress an infant’s spine and developing nervous system. The resulting irritation to the nervous system caused by spinal and cranial misalignment, can be the cause of many newborn health complaints. Colic, breathing problems, nursing difficulties, sleep disturbances, allergic reactions and chronic infections can often be traced to nerve system stress. A doctor of chiropractic is trained to align the spine and ensure that there is no nerve dysfunction.
You don't have to, but you will want to! Do you see your dentist regularly? Do you keep gas in your car or have your oil changed routinely? Do you exercise regularly? Chiropractic care is different from allopathic care or "mainstream medicine." Typically, you see your medical doctor for medication to treat an illness and once you feel better, treatment ends. However, many patients continue going to the chiropractor even after an initial injury is corrected in order to maintain the health of the neuromusculoskeletal system, keep their spine aligned, and feel their best.
Chiropractors are licensed and board certified doctors of chiropractic (DC). They are not medical doctors (MD). It takes about 8 years to become a doctor of chiropractic, which includes 4 years of undergraduate training to obtain a bachelor's degree as well as completion of 4 years of chiropractic college, obtaining a doctorate. They are licensed by the state in which they practice and receive board certification after successful completion of four national boards. Chiropractic and medical school programs are both very rigorous and actually very similar, but chiropractors actually complete more class hours than their medical counterparts. Chiropractors do not prescribe medication or perform surgery.
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