What does a Chiropractor do?
What is a Vertebral Subluxation?
What is an Adjustment?
What can I expect on my visit?
How often should I get adjusted?
Is it bad to "crack" your back?
Do Health Insurance companies cover Chiropractic?
Are there Chiropractic Networks PPO's, HMO's, POS's?
What Insurance Networks is West Hartford Chiropractic in?
How much does Chiropractic cost?
How long does a Chiropractic adjustment take?
How often do I have to return to get adjusted?
What Modalities do you Offer?
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly.
The conditions which doctors of chiropractic address are as varied and as vast as the nervous system itself. All chiropractors use a standard procedure of examination to diagnose a patient's condition and arrive at a course of treatment. Doctors of chiropractic use the same time-honored methods of consultation, case history, physical examination, laboratory analysis and x-ray examination as any other doctor. In addition, they provide a careful chiropractic structural examination, paying particular attention to the spine.
The examination of the spine to evaluate structure and function is what makes chiropractic different from other health care procedures. Your spinal column is a series of movable bones which begin at the base of your skull and end in the center of your hips. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves extend down the spine from the brain and exit through a series of openings. The nerves leave the spine and form a complicated network which influences every living tissue in your body.
Accidents, falls, stress, tension, overexertion, and countless other factors can result in a displacements or derangements of the spinal column, causing irritation to spinal nerve roots. These irritations are often what cause malfunctions in the human body. Chiropractic teaches that reducing or eliminating this irritation to spinal nerves can cause your body to operate more efficiently and more comfortably.
Chiropractic also places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications for promoting physical and mental health. While chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, Doctors of chiropractic do refer patients for medical care when those interventions are indicated. In fact, chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists and other health care professionals now work as partners in occupational health, sports medicine, and a wide variety of other rehabilitation practices.
Your chiropractor detects, corrects, and prevents spinal or vertebral subluxations.
This is done by using chiropractic adjustments. These adjustments are applied in a specific direction with the specific amount of force to remove vertebral subluxations and normalize spinal and nervous system function.
Your chiropractor has a Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.). He received this advanced degree after many years of highly specialized training. This training teaches your doctor to detect and locate misaligned spinal vertabrae (subluxations) impinging on the nerves that send messages of communication to the body.
What is a Vertebral Subluxation?
When spinal bones lose their normal position and motion, nervous system interference results. The cause can be from stress, trauma, or chemical imbalances.
More specifically, it's referred to as the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and is made up of five components:
1.) Spinal Kinesiopathology: This refers to the vertebrae losing their normal motion and position.
2.) Neuropathophysiology: This refers to the delicate nerve tissue that gets stretched and irritated.
3.) Myopathology: Muscle tissue can become weakened, atrophied and scarred changing muscle tonus.
4.) Histopathology: Inflamation of the tissues, increasing blood flow, swelling, edema, all can cause permanent damage to the spinal discs and other soft tissues.
5.) Pathophysiology: Pathological changes result in degeneration and bone spurs. This degeneration of the spine can cause other bodily systems to dysfunction as well.
The Vertebral Subluxation Complex is the hidden cause to many health problems. Your Doctor of Chiropractic will look to treat the cause of your problem not your symptoms.
A chiropractic adjustment is a specialized force applied in a specific direction to normalize nervous system and spinal dysfunction.
What can I expect on my visit?
On your first visit you will have a consultation with the doctor and a thorough examination will be performed including orthopedic and neurological testing. Sometimes special gait and postural analysis and on-site X-ray studies may be used to get an accurate working diagnosis.
On your second visit you will be given a detailed report of findings of your diagnosis. Explaining in understandable terms where exactly your subluxation is, how long it will take to correct it, and a detailed treatment plan. And lastly, a financial consultation as to how much you will contribute to correct your spinal condition.
How often should I get adjusted?
Whenever there is pressure or tension on your delicate nerve tissue. Sometimes there is no pain so it's best to get checked periodically just as you would get your teeth checked at your dentist.
Is it bad to "crack" your back?
The want or need to "crack" or "pop" your neck or back is caused from vertebral subluxation. When one area of the spine is not moving (hypomobile) another area of the spine is compensating or "cracking" moving too much (hypermobile). These are all effects of spinal or vertebral subluxation. The area not moving (hypomobile) should be adjusted and the spine should balance out.
Do Health Insurance Companies cover Chiropractic?
Emphatically yes, most health insurance companies will contribute some percentage toward your chiropractic care.
Are there Chiropractic Networks PPO's, HMO's, POS's?
Yes, health insurance's today have many different types of organizations that make it more beneficial for the doctor and patient to be involved in.
What Insurance Networks is West Hartford Chiropractic in?
Community Care Network (CCN), Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO MMP, Capp Care,Beech Street, Lucent Technologies Informed Choice, Lucent Technologies Health Pages, Private Health Care Systems (PHCS), PPO EPO, Focus, Health Network, Corvel, Principal PPO (MED Network), Health Star PPO, Affordable/Health Care Compare, One Health Plan Of Ilinois, Choice Care Network. The networks change frequently so please call the office to check on yours, (860) 232-5556. To check your eligibility and benefits click here to link to our insurance page.
How much does Chiropractic cost?
Chiropractic treatment is one of the most cost effective forms of health care, In fact a 1992 study conducted by the Robbins School of Business at the University of Richmond, researcher's concluded that for many common back related health problems, chiropractic is a lower cost option.
How Long Does a Chiropractic Adjustment take?
That really depends on what technique your doctor uses. Sometimes the doctor can spend several days evaluating you before your first adjustment.
Most patients are assigned a treatment program to correct, strengthen and maintain their spines to prevent future problems from developing.
How often do I have to return to get adjusted?
How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic is always up to you. You should discuss this with your Doctor, however I will leave you with a final thought on this.
If it's worth correcting it's worth maintaining. The benefits of good health and a subluxation free life are invaluable.
