What is Chiropractic?
The chiropractic healthcare system is based on the knowledge that the nervous system carries all the messages from the brain to every cell, tissue and organ of your body and back again. All the information vital for us to live long healthy lives flows through this system. When there is injury to the back, vertebra can come out of proper alignment. These misalignments, also known as “subluxations”, interfere with the messages flowing through your nerve system and result in pain and a loss of health, decreasing your quality of life.
The philosophy of chiropractic is that health comes from within the body, not from the outside. It is the innate, or inborn intelligence of our bodies, that does the healing.
The good news is that the doctors at Radermacher Chiropractic are experts at finding areas of the spine suffering from these vertebral subluxations and reversing their effects. Once the chiropractic correction begins, the functions of all the life support systems of the body can improve on every level, including improvement of the health of spinal muscles, ligaments, and discs, improvement of posture and balance, and increased organ and tissue health.
What conditions benefit from Chiropractic care?
Although chiropractic is used most commonly to relieve low back and neck pain, a large number of scientific studies have found it to be very effective for a variety of conditions including migraine headaches, shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, fibromyalgia, infantile colic and a number of other conditions.
What is a typical chiropractic treatment?
First, the cause of your problem is determined with a complete examination including physical, orthopedic, neurological, and chiropractic tests.
We will then explain your problem, tell you whether or not they feels chiropractic care is indicated, and an appropriate treatment plan will be recommended.
Then, gentle manipulation (or adjustments) to spinal or extremity joints are performed. Physio-therapy such as Electrical Muscle Stimulation, Cryotherapy, Kinesio Taping or Intersegmental mobilization may also be used.
In addition, massage can stretch tight muscles and personalized postural exercises retrain poor patterns of body motion.
Do Chiropractic adjustments hurt?
No. At Radermacher Chiropractic we use a unique low-force soft tissue technique to correct misalignments, in combination with targeted stretches and exercises, making adjustments comfortable, effective and long-lasting. Most patients find chiropractic treatment makes them feel great. Spinal adjustments performed in this way are extremely safe.
Am I too young/old for chiropractic care?
No, Dr. Keith and Dr. Grant have treated patients ranging from one day old to well over 100 years old!
Click here to read more about chiropractic care for children.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Some people can make their joints “pop”, but that’s not an adjustment. Worse, damage can occur by mobilizing a joint with weakened muscles and ligaments. Adjustments are specific and take years to master. Even your chiropractor must consult a colleague to benefit from chiropractic care.
My MRI shows I have a disc problem. Do I need surgery?
Over 20% of normal adults with no symptoms will have a disc problem show on their MRI. Although each case is different, most problems respond well to conservative therapies such as chiropractic and massage. It’s your body. View surgery as a LAST resort.
Research shows: A bad disc doen’t always mean back surgery.
Can I receive chiropractic care after back surgery?
Yes. Rest assured that the doctors at Radermacher Chiropractic will avoid the surgically altered areas of your spine. Surgery often causes instability above or below the involved levels. These areas will be the focus of your chiropractic care.
I was in a car accident. Should I see a Chiropractor?
If you are involved in an auto accident it is important to be evaluated to determine if there is a soft tissue injury.
Chiropractors focus on proper function of posture and the spine, nerves, muscles and ligaments, so the first thing evaluated is evidence of serious trauma such as fractures, etc.
Because the symptoms from a soft tissue injury may not show up until 3-7 days after the trauma, a thorough chiropractic examination is very important. Pain changes how a body moves, therefore after the initial pain improves, the body may adapt to moving differently.
Pain medication and muscle relaxers can mask the pain, but unless normal motion is restored, body motion will be unbalanced. Left untreated, the body adapts to the unbalanced pattern of motion, creating a chronic problem.
How can chiropractic help athletes achieve their best performance?
Chiropractors help athletes balance body and joint motion for optimal sports performance.
Chiropractic adjustments promote full range joint motion, stretch overly tight muscles, work underused muscles, and reduce stress from overused tissues.
Athletes cannot perform at peak ability unless they can move fully, with proper muscle balance and control.
Does insurance cover chiropractic?
We accept most insurances, but chiropractic treatment may or may not be covered by your individual insurance plan. At your first visit we will ask you for your insurance information and will call and verify your benefits over the phone.
Will I need x-rays?
In most cases, yes. We take x-rays to reveal the internal structure and alignment of the spine. We are also concerned about underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine such as spinal deterioration, arthritis of the spine, abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors and spinal curvature. X-rays provide a blueprint for correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment. In cases where radiological studies are contraindicated, such as young children and pregnant women, we rely on palpatory examinations to detect spinal misalignments.
