What is Chiropractic?

Along with medicine and osteopathy, chiropractic is one of the western world's three major healing professions. Chiropractors specialize in treating biomechanical causes of disease that result from misalignmnets of the spine and poor posture.

The following are the three fundamental principles of chiropractic.

1. Importance of the nervous system: Chiropractic doctors recognize the overriding importance of a properly functioning nervous system in the body's maintenance of its own health.
2. Spinal subluxations (misalignments): Chiropractic doctors recognize that pinched or otherwise irritated spinal nerves due to vertebral subluxations, misalignments or other structural impairments alter normal nerve impulses and thereby cause pain and disease conditions - not only in the back - but elsewhere in the body.
3. Chiropractic adjustments: Chiropractic doctors recognize that when spinal nerve irritations are cleared by means of chiropractic adjustments and other chiropractic care, the nervous system's normal flow of impulses can resume and direct the bodies own efforts in recuperation from pain and disease and help in the continuing maintenance of the body's health.

What Will Happen On My First Visit?

In order to determine if yours is a chiropractic case, the doctor will conduct a thorough exam including spinal, physical, orthopedic and neurological examinations as well as listening to your case history. X-rays may also be taken if the doctor feels it is necessary.

The goal of this visit is to determine whether or not you could benefit from chiropractic care.

On the second visit the doctor will give you a report of his findings and tell you if he can accept your case. If you are accepted as a patient the doctor will discuss your diagnosis, treatment options and likely outcomes.

Can You Help With Chronic Pain?

*According to the American Pain Foundation, chronic pain afflicts an estimated 70 million Americans resulting in 515 million lost workdays each year and $100 billion in costs. In addition to the direct costs, chronic pain diminishes the quality of life for many patients.

Using chiropractic adjustments and therapies, we work with the patient to help provide symptomatic relief from chronic intractable pain.

*As reported by dynatronics.com

What Causes Misalignments or Subluxations?

Almost everyone gets misalignments of the spine or subluxations from time to time. Some subluxations are caused by accidents and injuries, but there are many causes. Here are some of them:

What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?

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.

At Isdale Corrective Chiropractic, we provide our patients manual adjustments as well as using computerized adjustment tools and therapies that relax and support muscles and ligaments, complementing and re-enforcing the adjustment.

What Is That "Cracking" Noise?

Your joints contain fluid that helps 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.

Can I Correct a Misalignment or Subluxation Myself?

It is virtually impossible to adjust yourself since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force applied in a specific direction to a specific spinal joint. One method some people use to try to correct a misalignment is to "pop" their spine themselves by twisting or turning. Although this movement may cause the bones to move and often "pop", it is not specific enough to solve a problem, and is often counterproductive because it makes the unstable areas of the spine more mobile and therefore less stable. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs and can cause further discomfort and spinal damage if done incorrectly.

Why Do Children Need Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractors check the spine for vertebral subluxations, or misalignments of the spine, which cause interference in the flow of information from the brain to the various systems of the body. This nerve interference if left uncorrected insidiously and negatively effects good health. Getting adjusted regularly helps each and every function of your body, promoting good health.

Subluxations may occur at any time in our lives. For example, during the birthing process misalignment often occurs.. The birthing process often disrupts the integrity of the delicate infants' spinal column, altering the function of the nerves emanating from the upper neck area. This can lead to upper neck problems and increased susceptibility to ear, nose and throat infections.

Many times children have accidents and parents may believe that they are fine because there is no external evidence of damage. Spinal subluxations sometimes don't signal an obvious symptom. The earlier children's spines are checked, the earlier problems can be detected, preventing health problems from occurring and becoming serious. We recommend all children be checked regularly for misalignments, even without symptoms present. Prevention is the best medicine.

Parents who are aware of the importance of a properly functioning nerve system automatically want their children checked by a chiropractor.

What are the Effects of Subluxations on the Body?

The nervous system controls everything that goes on in your body. Spinal subluxations alter normal nerve impulses and thereby cause pain and disease conditions, not only in the back, but elsewhere in the body. The nerve impulses travel along the spinal cord and exit the nerves heading toward every cell, tissue, organ, and system of your body.

The following is a partial listing of conditions or symptoms which frequently result from subluxations and often respond positively to chiropractic treatment:

What Levels of Care Can I Choose From?

Depending on your condition, health care goals (feel better, get better, or stay better), finances and schedule, you may choose from different levels of care.

Acute/Relief Care - This initial treatment is intended to decrease inflammation, reduce spasms, and alleviate pain. The number of treatments necessary to accomplish this depends on your age, underlying spinal condition, condition duration and other lifestyle choices.

Corrective/Rehabilitative Care - During this level of care, we are primarily concerned with restoring proper structure to the spine. This structural approach is designed to give the best long term results.

Maintenance or Wellness Care - Maintenance care helps prevent lapses of previous conditions and addresses new conditions before symptoms appear.

Will My Insurance Cover Chiropractic Care?

70% of our patients have insurance that do not cover chiropractic care (S&W & Tricare). For these patients, we give a 30% "Time of Service" discount. Many insurance plans cover Chiropractic care; however, it is difficult to break down all the insurance plans individually on this site. We currently have a great number of patients who have insurance coverage through PPOs, Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Health, Aetna, etc. which covers part or all of their care. We are happy to call and check your insurance coverage for Chiropractic care.

Can I Afford It?

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 far exceed the cost of correcting the problem using chiropractic methods. We believe that everyone should have access to Chiropractic care and have structured our fees to make it affordable for you.

Are Chiropractic Treatments Safe?

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.

What are the Education Requirements to Become a Chiropractor?

Generally, a Doctor of Chiropractic Degree (DC) requires a minimum of eight years of study. The student is required to complete a four-year undergraduate degree which includes two years of pre-professional studies emphasizing chemistry, physics, biology, etc.

Upon acceptance to an accredited Chiropractic College or University, the student completes studies emphasizing anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pediatrics, dermatology, genetics and other subjects related to health and disease. During the final year of Chiropractic school, the emphasis is on the treatment of neuro-musculo-skeletal problems, spinal misalignments or subluxations, biomechanical problems, differential diagnosis and x-ray diagnosis. A one-year clinical internship must be completed prior to graduation in order to attain the Doctor of Chiropractic degree. After graduation, the Doctor must pass four demanding national board examinations and state examinations in the states in which they choose to practice.

Will I have to Keep Going to the Chiropractor Forever?

After patients get the relief they want, many choose to continue with some form of periodic care. These visits help detect and resolve new problems before they become serious. This concept is much like going to the dentist for regular checkups and cleaning. It is easier to stay well than to get well. Prevention is the best medicine..

Can I be seen by the docotr today?

Yes, we accept same day appointments.