Frequently Asked Questions

Questions:

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts 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 musculo-skeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly.

What can I expect on my first visit?

At Mahler Family Chiropractic Center our examinations procedures are geared toward detection and correction of the "Vertebral Subluxation". The procedures we use are therefore specifically selected for your spine and nervous system health. There are a couple of things that you should expect when you have a first visit at our clinic.

Our Examination consists of a thorough spinal and nervous system exam which includes "Palpation". Palpation essentially is checking your spine by hand. With this exam the doctor can feel areas of your spine that may be involved with subluxations problems. Spinal position, curvatures and muscle tone can also be examined as it relates to possible spinal subluxations.

Spinal X-rays may be taken depending on your age, and situation. There are many reasons why we would not take x-rays on certain patients including pregnancy, most children, recent usable spinal x-rays and some other various situations. Aside from these situations, x-rays are a common part of the examination process when looking for vertebral subluxations. X-rays give us important information including the position of the spinal bones, and the quality of the spine and safety of adjusting it. X-rays also tell us the relative length of time subluxations may have been involved in your spine. Commonly, most patients receive three spinal x-rays at the beginning of care.

With this important information we can make a more accurate determination of the type of adjustments your spine needs as well as the initial frequency of your care. Your x-rays are explained to you and covered in detail at your Report of Findings.

You will be scheduled for your Report of Findings within a few days of your initial visit. This visit is your most important visit and may take up to one hour. It is at your Report of Findings that we will give you a care plan and go over any special instructions you will need to obtain the best and fastest possible results. We have set aside specific times for these visits so as not to interfere with regular patient care hours. Our staff schedules your Report of Findings with you after your first visit.

Our Chiropractic Care at Mahler Chiropractic utilizes the most modern chiropractic analytical and adjustive procedures and equipment available. We consider subluxations to be a serious threat to the quality and quantity of your health and that of your family. It is therefore imperative that we utilize the most modern, and the well established time-proven procedures to help you. We feel you’re worth it!

What conditions benefit from chiropractic care?

Although chiropractic is used most frequently to relieve low back pain, studies have found it to be effective for a variety of conditions, such as migraine headaches, neck and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and infantile colic.

Is Chiropractic safe and Does Chiropractic hurt?

Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The risk factor is estimated to be in excess of one million to one. Chiropractic has been found to be safe for infants, children, adults, and elderly. It is one of the safest forms of treatment available in the health care fields.

Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. The patient may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment which lasts only seconds.

What kind of education and training do doctors of chiropractic have?

In some recent surveys it was surprising to note that some people were unaware of the educational level of a Doctor of Chiropractic. The basic question was, "Is the education of a Doctor of Chiropractic at the same level as a Medical Doctor?" The correct answer is, of course, yes. Doctors of Chiropractic undergo a rigorous and demanding professional education equivalent to any other primary care provider. To obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, they must complete several years of prerequisite undergraduate education and spend nearly the same number of classroom hours at a fully-accredited chiropractic college as MDs do in medical schools. Student doctors are thoroughly trained in the appropriate use of sophisticated analytical equipment including X-rays, examination procedures, and state of the art chiropractic investigative technologies. Before they can practice, all Doctors of Chiropractic must pass a series of National Boards, as well as a licensing exam for the state in which they choose to practice. Even after all that, most states require the doctors to attend clinical continuing education programs for annual re-licensure.

Have any studies been published showing what chiropractic is effective for?

Several studies have documented the effectiveness of chiropractic in relieving back pain. More recent studies have shown chiropractic to be effective in cases infantile colic, bed wetting, asthma, ear aches, migraine headaches and much more. It is effective when there is a systemic imbalance or nerve interference involved or complicating the condition. Chiropractic care doesn’t actually cure the symptoms but allows the body to achieve balance allowing the innate intelligence of the body to correct the problem

What is the chiropractic adjustment?

“The ICA holds that the chiropractic spinal adjustment is unique and singular to the chiropractic profession. The chiropractic adjustment shall be defined as a specific directional thrust that sets a vertebra into motion with the intent to improve or correct vertebral malposition or to improve its juxtaposition segmentally in relationship to its articular mates thus reducing or correcting the neuroforaminal / neural canal encroachment factors inherent in the chiropractic vertebral subluxation complex.
The adjustment is characterized by a specific thrust applied to the vertebra utilizing parts of the vertebra and contiguous structures as levers to directionally correct articular malposition. Adjustment shall be differentiated from spinal manipulation in that the adjustment can only be applied to a vertebral malposition with the express intent to improve or correct the subluxation, whereas any joint, subluxated or not, may be manipulated to mobilize the joint or to put the joint through its range of motion.
Chiropractic is a specialized field in the healing arts, and by prior rights, the spinal adjustment is distinct and singular to the chiropractic profession."

Why should children receive chiropractic care and is it safe?

• Your child should have a CHIROPRACTIC exam as soon as possible after birth since it may cause trauma to the neck and spine, which grows almost 50% in 12 months. If left uncorrected, the Vertebral Subluxation may disturb the delicate spinal cord and nerves which control the infant’s muscles and organs. It is especially important to have your child under CHIROPRACTIC care when your child takes part in athletic activities. Doctors of CHIROPRACTIC have been providing safe and effective care on children for nearly 100 years.

Why Should I consider Chiropractic care if I am pregnant and is it safe?

CHIROPRACTIC care has also been shown to improve the complications of pregnancy such as low back pain, leg pain, headaches, nausea, and breech presentation (using “Webster Technique”). Many chiropractors have special equipment to accommodate pregnant patients all the way through their last trimester. After pregnancy CHIROPACTIC care can also reduce symptoms of PMS by 32%-42%.

What can chiropractic do for my special needs child?

Autism and Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• In a 1989 study published in Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics (JMPT ) on the effectiveness of CHIROPRACTIC care and ADHD, there were behavioral improvements although not conclusive this study strongly suggested improvement with spinal manipulation
• In the November/December 2003 issue of the magazine “Autism Digest” it was stated “increasing numbers of parents are seeking chiropractic for children and especially for children with developmental issues.” In this article Dr. Fallon notes, “CHIROPRACTIC care differs from many of the other therapies”. “By directly affecting the nervous system, chiropractic care for the autistic child can begin to change the many sensory integration issues by facilitating input into the organs and areas of the body involved in sensory integration”.