What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, and the effects of these disorders on general health.  Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, such as back pain, neck pain, joint pain in the arms or legs, and headaches. Some chiropractors may focus on treating other conditions such as allergies, asthma, or digestive problems.

Chiropractors practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises and provide nutritional, dietary, and lifestyle counseling.

How can it help?
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by chiropractors is known as spinal manipulation, also called chiropractic adjustment.   The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become restricted in their movement as a result of a tissue injury. Such injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. The adjustment helps to decrease pain and inflammation and to restore proper function to the affected joint. In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. For a person with breast cancer, chiropractic care may complement or support other treatments by relieving the musculoskeletal stresses associated with the condition.

 What happens in an appointment?
Although each doctor's process will vary, you can generally expect to complete a full medical history questionnaire and additional new patient paperwork. You will then consult with the doctor. This consultation is your opportunity to express your health concerns and expectations and to ask any questions you may have. This consult is also for the chiropractor to express his role in your health care and discuss your health prognosis. A physical exam will be performed which may include orthopedic testing, neurological testing, and a specific chiropractic evaluation. In some cases x-rays may be necessary to determine an exact diagnosis, and can sometimes be done at the doctor's office. Your chiropractor will go over the results of the exam with you. Then, depending on your situation, the doctor may give you an adjustment and/or begin physical therapy if needed. Adjustments shouldn't be painful, although you may feel some discomfort until the pressure in the joint is relieved.

Number and length of appointments?
Depending on your condition, your chiropractor may schedule a series of visits for care. Some conditions resolve in as little as two or three treatments while others may require several weeks to resolve. You will usually be prescribed two to three treatments per week in the beginning wich typically last between 15 to 30 minutes.