Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chiropractic Adjustment?   A natural form of medicine in which a doctor of chiropractic manually or with an instrument lines up the spine to remove nerve interference, allowing the central nervous system to function at its best.

What type of education and training do Chiropractors have? Chiropractors graduate with a  Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. They go to school for 8 years – the same as a typical medical doctor. But instead of spending time learning about pharmacy, drugs, and surgery, chiropractic students spend that time learning more about anatomy, physiology, and adjusting techniques, becoming specialists of the spine.

What is an adjustment? How is it performed? Does it hurt?  An adjustment is what the doctor does to align the spine. Using his hands or an instrument, the doctor checks each vertebra for movement. He then adds motion to the joint to relieve pressure and remove nerve interference. After your first adjustment, it is normal to feel a little sore, but not hurt. Most of our patients feel relief after their adjustments.

Do I have to get a manual adjustment?  No. Chiropractors have many different techniques and ways of adjusting, including mechanical devices like an arthrostim or activator. Just ask about alternative adjustment methods and share your concerns during your consultation or exam.

Are all patients adjusted the same way?  As each patient is different, each adjustment is different, too. The goal is the same – align the spine and remove nerve interference to help the body heal, decrease pain, and increase movement. But the method is specific for each patient.

Can I just pop my own back?  That is called self-adjusting, and that is not a good idea. What you are doing is over-adjusting the healthy joints, which will make them wear out faster. You feel the need for an adjustment because you have joints that are stuck. You should not do these yourself! You need a doctor to relieve the pressure off those joints for you.

How often do I have to get adjusted?  This is different for each patient. The doctor will make recommendations based on your complaints and treatment goals. Patients usually come frequently in the beginning of their treatment plans so that we can retrain the spine to stay in its proper position, and the frequency of visits decreases over time. The goal is to get you to wellness care, which is one adjustment every four weeks to keep your spine healthy and its alignment maintained.

Do I have to keep coming back forever?  The short answer is no. But consider this. The more you use something, and the longer you have it, the more you need to do to take care of it, right? You only get one body, and you need to take care of it! Will you keep getting your oil changed as long as you keep driving your car? Will you keep brushing your teeth so they do not fall out? Just like you keep brushing your teeth and going to the dentist to keep your teeth healthy, you need to get regular adjustments to keep your spine healthy! The difference, though, is that if your teeth fall out, you can get a new set of those. Your back does not work like that.

Do I have to have an appointment to be seen by the doctor?  We do accept walk-in patients. However, we recommend that you make an appointment, simply because we want to reduce the time any patient has to wait in the office.

How long will my appointment take?  For your first two visits, we ask that you plan about 45 minutes. After that, our goal is to have you out in less than 30 minutes.

How much does chiropractic care cost?  The cost of chiropractic care can be different for each patient, depending on whether you have health insurance and what your specific plan covers. We will verify your insurance benefits for you during your first visit.

I don’t have insurance, how much does chiropractic care cost without it?  Our self-pay rates are quite affordable and we offer time of service discounts on therapy.