How do we determine what is causing your pain? Your condition is evaluated with a careful case history and examination before treatment. If x-rays are deemed necessary, you may get those right in our office and be treated the same day you come in for evaluation.

What is a chiropractic exam like? We palpate (light, medium and firm touching) the area of symptom (if you are having symptoms), and areas that may be contributing to your problem, with our hands. This is to determine areas of spasm, misalignment, inflammation or swelling. We take your reflexes and determine how far you can bend and move in different directions (ranges of motion) to evaluate spinal motion and tension.

What does chiropractic treatment include? Your treatment in our office always includes gentle chiropractic adjustments, which are done by hand, to improve the position and movement of your misaligned and/or "stuck" spinal bones. Physical therapy, massage therapy, nutrition and exercise recommendations may also be included in your treatment.

What is a chiropractic adjustment? A chiropractic adjustment is a procedure done by hand or a small instrument to realign the spinal bones. Many people report immediate relief after their adjustments.

What type of physical therapy is done in your office? We use interferential electrical muscle stimulation which reduces pain and inflammation. We also use the application of heat or cold.

What type of education does a chiropractor have? Most chiropractors have a bachelors degree in addition to their Doctor of chiropractic degree. A bachelors degree usually takes 4 years to obtain. A doctor of chiropractic degree requires 5 academic years of post graduate education. Chiropractic college is a year round (no summers off), program, which equates to 10 semesters. This is the equivalent of a 5 year program with summers off.

Low back pain - A major government study in 1994 evaluated almost 4000 studies on the effectiveness of various treatments for low back pain. The ONLY treatment that they recommended was chiropractic care. They determined that surgery was only indicated in one out of every 100 cases of low back problems. They also found that muscle relaxers and surgery, while not giving as much benefit as chiropractic care, could even be harmful. If you are suffering from low back pain you should see a chiropractor.

Neck pain - Besides just removing your neck pain, chiropractic care also removes the cause of your neck pain. Unlike drugs which only mask the pain or suppress it and do nothing for the underlying cause of it. Besides neck pain, problems with the position and movement of your neck bones can also cause problems in your shoulder, arm, hand or face. Other problems that can stem from neck misalignments are headaches, dizziness, vision difficulties, ringing in the ears, throat problems, earaches and ear infections.

If you are having neck pain, you should be evaluated by a chiropractor.

Headaches - Headaches are not caused by an aspirin or Tylenol deficiency. Sometimes headaches are caused by pinched nerves in the neck that supply the head. These nerves get pinched when the spinal bones in the neck become out of position or not moving like they should. We find that headaches are some of the easiest things to get rid of with chiropractic care.

If you have headaches, you should try the safe and effective treatment that a chiropractor offers.

Whiplash - Approximately 30% of our patients come to us as a result of a recent car accident. Past accidents may have contributed to many other patient's problems as well. Besides significant neck pain, headaches and other spinal pain can result from auto accidents. Gentle adjustments and physical therapy helps relieve the pain that is often felt after an accident. It is often helpful to combine massage therapy with chiropractic adjustments for whiplash victims, since the neck muscles have usually been overstretched in the case of whiplash.

Migraines and Cluster headaches - A migraine is a severe headache that often includes nausea. This type of headache is more likely to have a hormonal component than other types of headaches. Cluster headaches occur either singly or several times per day in a pattern lasting weeks or months. Cluster headaches can start in one side of the sinuses and spread behind the eye on that side. Pressure on the nerves in the upper neck can cause both migraines and/or cluster headaches even if there is no pain in the neck. Chiropractic adjustments can remove the pressure on the nerves of the upper neck without drugs or surgery to improve or alleviate all types of headaches.

Sciatica - Sciatica results from nerves being pinched in the low back that go down the leg. Chiropractic adjustments can "unpinch" the nerves that cause sciatica and relieve you of that pain.

Pinched nerves - All of the spinal bones have a position that they are supposed to be in, and they are all supposed to move. When the bones move out of position, or they don't move, they can pinch the nerves that come out between each two vertebrae.

Subluxation - Subluxation is the technical name for a bone that is out of place or not moving like it should. This would not include a bone that is broken or dislocated.

Childhood ear infections - Ear infections in children and adults often respond to chiropractic adjustments. The upper neck and ear canal are very closely related. Dysfunction of the structures in the upper neck can lead to chronic infections of the ear. Adjustments are a safe and gentle treatment that addresses the underlying cause of the problem and can be performed on people of any age, even newborn infants.