Frequently Asked Questions
What Does A Chiropractor Do?
Chiropractors work with the bones and nerves of
the spinal column and spinal cord respectively. Chiropractors spend
years of highly specialized training in order to locate where
misplaced spinal vertebrae are impinging the nerves which travel
down the spinal cord and out through the spinal column to the
muscles, organs and glands of the body. After locating the vertebrae
impinging the nerves (subluxations), the chiropractor, using various
highly specialized techniques, is able to replace the misplaced
vertebrae and thus release pressure on the nerves. That is called a
spinal adjustment.
What Causes The Sound Of An Adjustment?
Actually, not all adjusting techniques produce
the sound associated with "popping knuckles." Some create no sound
at all, some a little. Many techniques, however, do create the sound
of a spinal "release." What causes it? The mystery may have been
solved by a British research team that took x-ray movies of people
"popping" their knuckles. The sound is caused by gas rushing in to
fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly
separated.
Is It Bad To "Crack" Your Neck Or Back A Lot?
The desire to pop the neck or back is caused by
tension from a jammed or fixated vertebra, which cause another part
of the spine to compensate by moving too much and "popping" a lot.
The jammed part should be adjusted by a chiropractor so that the
rest of the spinal column will balance and stop being so movable and
noisy.
How Long Does A Chiropractic Adjustment Take?
It depends on the adjusting technique your
chiropractor uses. Sometimes a few hours or even a few days of
evaluation and spinal analysis will precede an initial adjustment.
At other times it may only take a relatively brief initial visit,
case history and evaluation.
Is Chiropractic Care Addictive?
If only it were (just a little!), there'd be a
lot less sick people around and we chiropractors wouldn't get
patients who last saw a chiropractor "a few years ago when my back
went out." It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less
stressed, and more energetic as a result of periodic chiropractic
care. You may become more sensitive to your body and know when
you've "lost" your adjustment.
Is Chiropractic Safe?
Chiropractic is among the safest of the healing
arts. As proof one merely has to compare malpractice rates between
chiropractors and other health professionals. Chiropractors'
malpractice premiums are a small fraction of those for medical
doctors, especially orthopedists and surgeons.
Ask The Doctor
If you have a specific question for
Dr. Bartell about your health, you can e-mail him and he will gladly
e-mail a confidential answer back to you within two business days.
E-mail Dr. Bartell here:
drbartell@bartellchiropractic.com. |
