The word “chiropractic” derived its name from the Greek words meaning “done by hand”. Chiropractic is a conservative approach to health restoration, maintenance, and disease resistance. As a natural health-care method, chiropractic, by choice, does not utilize drugs or surgical procedures. While chiropractic recognizes that drugs and surgery may be necessary at times, it also understands their limitations and risks. Therefore, chiropractic takes a non-invasive approach to illness.

An adjustment is a specific force, done by hand or instrument, which allows a chiropractor to manipulate the joints of the body. A chiropractor will feel a joint and judge if it is moving the way it should and adjust it to allow for proper function and movement.

I like to look at it like this: We all regularly brush our teeth and go to the dentist to keep up with dental health. We take our cars in for an oil change or a tire alignment. Chiropractic can do for your health what all of these things do for your dental health or car maintenance. If you take care of your spine and get adjusted regularly you’ll be taking care of your whole body, after all, the nervous system is what controls the rest of the body.

When we do an initial examination and x-rays are warranted, then yes. X-rays help us to see exactly what is going on and can give us an idea on what might be causing your pain. Most of the time, a detailed history of the problem and a thorough examination will help eliminate the need for x-rays.

Adjustments shouldn’t hurt. However, everyone reacts differently to an adjustment and you may be sore afterwards. It’s like going to the gym, if it’s been a while, you will likely be sore; if you haven’t been adjusted in a while (or have never been adjusted) you may experience soreness. 

If you do feel sore after following an adjustment, please let me know and I can do other things and try my best to make sure you walk out feeling better than you did walking in.

You can, but you can also cut your own hair and perform your own dental work. I would advise against doing any of those things and find someone who went to school to do specialized things, such as adjusting someone’s back. As a chiropractor, I was taught when and when not to adjust.