WHAT TO EXPECT - CHIROPRACTIC

LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR TOTAL HEALTH

In some ways, one could say that chiropractic care is a bit like building a house - certain things have to happen in a particular order in order for everything to stand strong and work together correctly. When building a house, if you tried to build your walls before you had a solid foundation, your walls would be weak and eventually may even collapse.  These concepts apply to your body as well, and chiropractic care addresses many common reasons why people experience pain and other health issues. If something is not right with your body's foundation, then that needs to be addressed before true health can be achieved. With chiropractic care, your body has to go through a particular plan of care in order to repair itself correctly and fully. There are three general phases of chiropractic care.

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RELIEF CARE

Many people go to a chiropractor because they are in pain. In this first phase of care, the main goal is to reduce your symptoms. The frequency of your visits depends on the severity of your underlying condition.  Most people are under the assumption that if they don't feel any pain that there is nothing wrong with them - that they are healthy. Unfortunately, pain is a very poor indicator of health. In fact, pain and other symptoms frequently only appear after a disease or other condition has become advanced.

For example, consider a cavity in your tooth. Does it hurt when it first develops or only after it has become serious? How about heart disease? Regardless of whether you are talking about cancer, heart disease, or problems with the spine, pain is usually the last thing to appear. When you begin chiropractic care, pain is also the first symptom to disappear, even though much of the underlying condition remains.


STABILIZATION CARE

Most chiropractors regard the elimination of symptoms as the easiest part of a person's care. If all that the chiropractor does is to reduce the pain and stop there, the chances of the condition recurring are much greater. In order to prevent a rapid recurrence of symptoms, it is necessary to continue receiving care even though your symptoms are gone.  During the stabilization phase of chiropractic care, muscles and other tissues are allowed to heal more completely, which helps prevent further injury or pain. The goal of stabilization chiropractic care is to stabilize your underlying condition and optimize your spinal function.

During the stabilization phase of your care, you will not have to receive adjustments as often as you did during the first phase of care and, depending on your particular circumstances, you may begin doing exercises, stretches and massage to help accelerate your healing.

Do not be discouraged if you have mild flare-ups in your symptoms on occasion. This is normal. Flare-ups are bound to occur during this phase because your body has not fully healed and stabilized. The length of this phase varies depending on the severity and chronicity of your injury or condition.


WELLNESS CARE - THE KEY TO HEALTHY LIVING

Once your body has fully healed, routine chiropractic care can help ensure that your physical problems do not return, and keep your body functioning optimally.  Just like continuing an exercise program and eating well in order to sustain the benefits of fitness and proper nutrition, it is necessary to continue chiropractic care to ensure the health and maintenance of your spine and nerve system.

When you make routine chiropractic care a part of your lifestyle, you avoid many of the aches and pains that so many people suffer through.  Your joints will last longer, you will be able to engage in more of the activities you love and your quality of life will be optimized.  Our doctors will discuss with you a wellness program that is suited to your goals and objectives.