About
Arbor Lakes Chiropractic
Q: What is chiropractic?
A: The answer is simple... Chiropractic is a natural method of health care that is focused on treating the cause of physical problems rather than just the symptoms. This is based on the scientific fact that your nervous system controls and coordinates the function of every cell, tissue, muscle and organ in your entire body. The nervous system is comprised of structures including your brain, spinal cord and the millions of nerves that run throughout your body. To protect these delicate structures the body formed a skull to protect the brain and 24 moveable vertebrae to surround and support the spinal cord.
Activities of daily living can cause these spinal bones (vertebrae)
to lose their normal motion or position. This is known as the "Vertebral
Subluxation Complex" which irritates or chokes the delicate nerve
tissue in the surrounding area. This causes an interference between
the brain and the tissues of the body leading to malfunction and a lack
of 100% health.
To determine the exact area of these vertebral subluxations a chiropractor
conducts a thorough health history as well as a physical examination
including orthopedic and neurological testing, often times x-rays are
also needed to see the actual malposition of the vertebrae. After careful
review of the examination and x-ray findings the exact location of nervous
system interference (if present) is noted. If the condition is a chiropractic
case the chiropractor will then use a specific force in a precise direction
to help normalize the spinal position of each vertebrae. This force
is called a chiropractic adjustment which helps return the vertebrae
to a more normal position or motion relieving symptoms and pain as well
as ill health.
With a normally functioning spine and a healthy lifestyle, your body is better able to heal itself. Doctors of chiropractic are uniquely qualified to restore the health of your spine. Today's chiropractic doctors receive the same number of college and post-graduate classroom hours as medical doctors.
Just as regular dental exams detect and prevent tooth decay, regular chiropractic spinal screenings are just as important. Even if you do not have symptoms, chiropractic evaluation is one of the best ways to help prevent spinal problems. The sooner you seek chiropractic care, the sooner spinal malfunction can be detected, corrected and future problems prevented.
Chiropractic is simple... it is a safe, effective, and natural form of health care that looks to the cause of the problem and does not just treat the symptoms.
Q: What is a Subluxation?
A: Sub means less than, luxation means dislocation. So a subluxation
is something less than a dislocation or more accurately a misalignment.
When a vertebrae (spinal bone) becomes misaligned (subluxated) it chokes
off delicate nerve tissue which will result in decreased function of
the associated body part.
Q: What is an adjustment?
A: A chiropractic adjustment is the application of a specific force in a precise direction to a subluxated (misaligned) vertebrae. This helps the vertebrae or spinal bone to gradually return to a normal position. This safe and natural procedure improves spinal alignment, improves nervous system function and ultimately allows the body to begin the healing process.
Q: Is chiropractic care safe?
A: Many studies find chiropractic "remarkably safe". Chiropractic has also been shown to be safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers and even aspirin!
Q: Can children benefit from chiropractic care?
A: Yes, and actually children tend to respond faster to chiropractic than adults. Spinal trauma may occur at birth, this can set the stage for serious spinal problems later in life if left uncorrected. The average 1 year old falls 150-200 times per day when learning to walk. This plus many other childhood activities can result in vertebral subluxations. Regular chiropractic check-ups can detect and correct such misalignments before they become major health problems.
Q: How educated are Doctors of Chiropractic?
A: After completing undergraduate college studies, Dr. Scherping
entered the Northwestern College of Chiropractic where he completed
a curriculum of over 4,500 post graduate classroom hours. These various
health science courses consisted of Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology,
Neurology, Orthopedics, Radiology, Biomechanics and of course spinal
adjusting techniques. Doctors of chiropractic must pass three sections
of the national boards before graduation. Chiropractors then must pass
still more difficult examinations for each state. A chiropractors education
never ends. Most doctors of chiropractic complete various continuing
education courses to stay abreast of the latest techniques and scientific
research.
Q: Am I too old for chiropractic care?
A: Absolutely not. Our patients range from newborns to 90 years
of age. It is never too late to enjoy the benefits of natural chiropractic
care. Many patients report improvement with their arthritic conditions
and other chronic health problems that were previously not helped with
drugs or surgery. Chiropractic's safe, gentle techniques can be modified
to suit anyone's age to ensure their chiropractic visit is both comfortable
and enjoyable.
Q: How long will I have to see a chiropractor?
A: Many spinal problems are the result of years of neglect, trauma and stress to the body. Spinal misalignments left uncorrected for long periods of time may require some sort of ongoing supportive care to ensure maximum results. Long standing or chronic problems are often accompanied by muscle weakness, ligament or tendon damage as well as degenerative changes seen in the vertebrae and disc. Much like changing the part in ones hair, the spine needs re-training which may take time. Each individual progresses differently depending upon lifestyle, level of activity, exercise, diet and kept appointments. Just like regular dental or eye check-ups are important, regular chiropractic checkups are vital to a healthy lifestyle. Remember "How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is entirely up to you".
Q: When did all this Chiropractic stuff begin?
A: Chiropractic began in 1895 in Davenport, Iowa, USA. Dr. Daniel
David Palmer, a Magnetic Healer, discovered a vertebrae out of position
in the back of his deaf Janitor Harvey Lillard. He repositioned (adjusted)
the malpositioned vertebrae (subluxation) and Harvey's hearing was restored.
Palmer then taught other Medical Doctors and Osteopaths his discovery.
They claimed it was superior to all other manual techniques of the time.
Its unique feature was the spine's relationship to the nervous system.
Palmer discovered a new theory of health balance. Dr. Palmer had an
inquisitive mind and was a voracious reader constantly updating his
discovery. His son BJ Palmer perpetuated the development of the theories.
Q: Do Chiropractors just fix backaches?
A: No. Chiropractors use the spine to access the nervous system.
The nervous system controls and coordinates all other systems of the
body. The first Chiropractic adjustment was given to a patient who was
deaf. His hearing was restored. The second patient suffered from angina
(heart pain). It was resolved. Chiropractic care began as a form of
practice for just about any condition a patient suffered. Chiropractors
became known in later years as back doctors because of their approach.
Back care only is a very limited attitude to Chiropractic. Research
shows Chiropractors help headaches, migraine, neck pain, stomach ulcers,
infant colic, middle ear pain, premenstrual pain, improved immune function,
improved brain function, better vision, reviving comatose patients,
ankles, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists etc.
Q: Does the chiropractic adjustment hurt?
A: Normally the adjustment is not only painless but can actually feel very good. In cases of recent trauma, such as a bad slip or fall, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. Also after the first one or two adjustments a mild soreness may be felt in the muscles, this is a small percentage of the time and will go away after the following adjustment.
Q: How often should I get adjusted?
A: That answer can be different for everyone. Because every person is very different the frequency of care needed changes. The initial intensive care process can be anywhere from 2-3 times/week, but can be as frequent as daily in extreme cases. After that adjustment should be spaced as far apart as possible for that particular person. Depending on the level of stress in a person's life, adjustments could be performed once a week to every other week. Because of the daily stresses and strains our bodies are put through on a daily basis chiropractic care should be continued on a regular basis.
Q: Is chiropractic addicting?
A: Chiropractic is just as addicting as exercise or eating right. When your body is receiving something that is good for it on a regular basis it doesn't want it taken away. If someone was exercising on a regular basis for a long time and then stopped, their body would feel horrible. The same thing happens with eating right. If you are living on a strict healthy diet and suddenly start eating junk food your body will also start feeling bad. The same process can happen with chiropractic care. Just like anything else your body will get used to being 'out of shape' just as easy as it gets used to being 'in shape'. It is up to you to decide which you would rather have.
Q: Pain
A: Most people think of pain as their problem. Pain is not a
problem, pain is a symptom. That means in dealing with pain you should
not try to treat it; you should find the cause of the pain and treat
that. Taking an aspirin or some other type of pill may make you feel
better but does it do anything to find the cause of your pain, or does
it merely temporarily mask the symptom?
Chiropractors look to find the cause of pain not just to treat the symptom. Most pain is caused by pressure being placed on pain sensitive nerve fibers. Since chiropractors remove nerve pressure as a profession, a chiropractor should be the first person consulted for a symptom of pain.