Chiropractors - Seattle, WA - Hanson Chiropractic and Massage

Q. What is chiropractic?
A. Chiropractic is the third-largest doctoral-level health care profession in the western world after medicine and dentistry. Its approach to human health is based on the premise that the relationship between structure and function in the human body is a significant health factor and that relationships between the spinal column and the nervous system are important to the health and well-being of the individual.

Q. How is chiropractic different from traditional medicine?
A. Chiropractic treats the patient, not just the symptoms. By using a holistic approach and examining the lifestyle of the patient, the doctor of chiropractic not only addresses the problem, but the cause as well. Chiropractic avoids potentially high- risk solutions such as prescription drugs and surgery. Instead, chiropractic care involves a more natural, conservative approach that promotes self-healing and helps to strengthen the body's natural defense systems.

Q. What is a doctor of chiropractic?
A. Doctors of chiropractic, also known as chiropractors, are physicians who consider humans as integrated beings, but give special attention to the interaction among the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, and a patient's lifestyle. A chiropractor is licensed to use the title of "Dr." as are medical doctors, osteopaths, dentists, and optometrists.

Q. What training does a Doctor of Chiropractic receive?
A. To obtain a degree as a doctor of chiropractic, a candidate must have a minimum of two years pre-professional college education with a curriculum concentrated in the basic and biological sciences plus four years of resident instruction at a chiropractic college. Doctors of chiropractic spend years studying and perfecting the art of performing manual therapies, as well as administering other natural, noninvasive treatments. Some chiropractors go on to become board-certified in special areas of study such as sports injuries, orthopedics, radiology, occupational health, and nutrition. For this reason, the doctor of chiropractic is keenly aware of the numerous conservative treatments that will bring about the most rapid recovery.

Q. What is manipulation?
A. Manipulation is treatment using the doctor's hands to apply body leverage and a physical thrust to one joint or a group of related joints to restore normal function. Through the use of manipulation, the doctor seeks to provide relief from symptoms, improve joint and muscle function, and speed recovery. The most common form of manipulation used by doctors of chiropractic is the spinal adjustment, a very specific form of manipulation requiring a high level of training.

Q. Is manipulation effective?
A. Yes! While there are millions of individual case experiences to support chiropractic's benefits, there are also numerous published studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of spinal manipulation. A complete literature review is beyond the scope of this site, however you can find many of these studies cited in the companion brochure, '"What Research Shows About Chiropractic Care." Ask your doctor to see a copy of this informative pamphlet filled with excerpts and complete citations of recent scientific studies.

Q. Is manipulation safe?
A. Yes! It is one of the safest drugless, non-surgical treatments available when administered by a qualified doctor of chiropractic who is well-trained and experienced in the use of manipulation. While any form of health treatment has a degree of inherent risk, there is little danger in chiropractic care administered by a licensed practitioner. In fact, statistics show that patient risk is substantially lower with chiropractic as opposed to many medical procedures where the use of prescription drugs and surgery pose a greater risk.

Q. Is manipulation painful?
A. Manipulation is rarely painful. In fact, most patients feel it relieves pain and tension in their joints. A few patients report slight soreness or a dull aching in the treated muscles or joints, but these are considered normal reactions to the treatment and generally disappear shortly afterward. In the majority of cases, manipulation is painless and the beneficial effects from the treatment are quickly realized.

A. Because doctors of chiropractic are highly skilled at diagnosing and treating neuromusculoskeletal problems, the most common conditions treated are low-back pain, neck pain, joint pain, headaches, and sciatica. Other conditions often seen include osteoarthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and many forms of sprains and strains. Doctors of chiropractic, however, are trained to diagnose and treat a great deal more than just neuromusculoskeletal disorders.

Q. What about consultation and referral?
A. Under chiropractic care, a patient is either treated or referred after the doctor of chiropractic arrives at a diagnosis by way of a comprehensive exam. This initial clinical workup may include an orthopedic and neurological examination, an x-ray examination, laboratory procedures, or other diagnostic tests, to determine what treatment is best suited to the patient's condition. If the patient's condition lies outside the chiropractor's scope of practice, the doctor of chiropractic will either work in consultation with another health care provider to treat the patient, or will refer the patient to another health care provider, depending on what is in the best interest of the patient.

Q. Is chiropractic care expensive?
A. Studies that compare chiropractic and medical treatments demonstrate that cases under chiropractic care show lower treatment costs, reduced work-time losses, and reduced worker disability. Over 75 percent of payments for chiropractic services are covered by one or more types of insurance or other third party payment systems. These include: private indemnity insurance, auto insurance, workers' compensation insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and prepaid/managed care plans.

Q. Does the adjustment hurt?
A. Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. It is also common to feel a brief sensation in the extremities immediately following an adjustment due to the sudden decompression of the affected nerve root.

Q. Is regular chiropractic care necessary?
A. Regular chiropractic care may be necessary to correct spinal subluxations to help maintain sound health and fitness. Your spine is under constant strain during waking hours. Improper lifting techniques, poor posture, accidents, falls and bumps, and other causes can contribute to spinal strain. Timely adjustments can help restore the neuromusculoskeletal integrity of the spine to normalize the bodily equilibrium and increase resistance.

Q. How old should a person be before he or she begins chiropractic care?
A. Chiropractic patients range in years from birth to old age. Regardless of age, the vertebrae can become misaligned. For example, the birth process may cause trauma to the neck and spine. Left uncorrected, the vertebral subluxation may disturb the delicate spinal cord and nerves which control the youngster's muscles and organs. In some cases, an uncorrected subluxation may lead to a deformity of the spinal column. An early chiropractic checkup may detect many spinal problems while they are still easily correctable.

Q. How will the adjustment help me?
A. Chiropractic adjustments by themselves do not actually heal the body. When any of the 24 moveable spinal vertebrae become misaligned, a basic imbalance or disruption can occur in the nervous and blood vascular systems, which may contribute to stress in the body. Chiropractic adjustments help eliminate that imbalance or disruption so that the body can function at its true potential.

Q. Does an adjustment have to make a noise to be effective?
A. No, it is a common misconception that your joints must make a noise to be properly adjusted. However, more often than not when your vertebrae are adjusted, the smooth articular (joint) surfaces become separated, creating and then releasing a small vacuum, making a noise. This is the sound made when you crack your knuckles. Your chiropractor is concerned with the position of your vertebrae, not with the noise that may occur.

Q. Should I go to a Chiropractor if I feel fine?
A. Even if you feel fine, chiropractic care can help your body maintain its required level of health and fitness. Your chiropractor can recommend a preventive spinal-care program and advise you on correct posture, dietary information and back exercises. Regular spinal checkups can help detect and prevent spinal stress due to subluxations.

Q. Is it true that Chiropractors do not prescribe medication or perform surgery?
A. Yes. Chiropractors do not include medication or surgery in their treatment program. Chiropractors maintain that the body has a built-in capacity to restore health within certain limits, and base their care on this principle. Occasionally, the use of medication can interfere with the body's healing mechanisms, produce side effects, create a dependence and lead to drug-caused disease or complications. The first response in most illnesses and injuries should be conservative care. Chiropractic's principles make it possibly the safest and most appealing of the healing arts.

Q. How does chiropractic care help the pregnant woman?
A. Because of the additional weight and stress on the framework of the body in pregnant women, chiropractic adjustments can help lower the incidence of pain in the low back and legs, and between the shoulder blades. In some cases, fewer headaches and problems with nausea and elimination may also result. Many chiropractors care for expectant mothers in the regular course of their daily practices. It is wise, however, to first inquire about the experience of your chiropractor in caring for pregnant women and what he or she recommends for you.

Adapted From:
The American Chiropractic Association