Frequently Asked Questions in Sacramento CA

Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed health care providers who are trained to be masters of spinal and extremity adjusting. Chiropractors are primary portal health care providers in all 50 states and in many countries around the world, which means that patients may choose chiropractic care without a referral from another health care provider. Chiropractors are licensed to evaluate, diagnose, and manage health problems. They may take x-rays and utilize interventions including adjustments, physiotherapy, nutrition supplements, and exercise.

Chiropractic is the world's most popular and effective, natural, and drug-free healing art. Chiropractors are particularly adept at providing specific adjustments to restore proper alignment and mobility of joints allowing them to function more normally and to improve communication between the brain and the body via the nervous system. Chiropractic care helps the body heal itself. Studies show that overall patient satisfaction with chiropractic care is very high and a good value.

In the USA, the licensure of chiropractors is regulated by the individual states, and all 50 states officially license them to practice with their Doctor of Chiropractic, D.C., degree. After completing 4 years of undergraduate studies, the educational requirement is an additional 4 academic years at an accredited chiropractic college. Chiropractors must also take and pass 4 rigorous National Board Examinations to be granted licensure. They can practice within their scope of practice independently just like other types of doctors.

Chiropractic care works exceptionally well, and patient satisfaction is very high. A recent large and comprehensive study reviewed the chiropractic profession. It established that 93% of patients who start care with a chiropractor have spine pain complaints. The same study documented that chiropractic care is exceptionally safe and effective for these spine pain patients. Many clinical practice guidelines are advocating for the use of spinal adjustments as the initial intervention of choice for the management of many spinal pain issues.

The number of chiropractic sessions a person needs depends on many factors. Some of those factors include whether the issue is acute or chronic and the age, condition and general fitness of the patient. Co-morbidities such as diabetes, inflammatory state, neurological and orthopedic disorders can also affect how well and fast a person will respond to and hold their adjustments. Many patients also choose to see a chiropractor regularly for supportive care and maintenance of their overall wellness including good flexibility, posture, strength balance and agility. The frequency of adjustments for wellness patients is determined by the patient with the advice of their chiropractor.

The best thing to do is to ask your friends, neighbors, classmates or co-workers who they trust with their chiropractic care. The same name will likely come up multiple times. It is also a good idea to check their online reviews and visit their website to see if they look like a good fit. Lastly, it is a good idea to call the recommended chiropractic practice and ask the questions that are important to you.

There are quite a variety of chiropractic techniques that are taught in chiropractic colleges and utilized by chiropractors in their practices to adjust spine and extremity subluxations or misalignments. The most common is called Diversified Technique. It is done by hand, and it involves a very specific controlled force to release a joint that is not moving properly. Another common technique is called Gonstead technique. It is also a very specific hands-on approach that also includes a full-spine x-ray analysis. The Activator technique is applied using a hand-held instrument called the Activator that is used to apply a very specific and calibrated force to the subluxated joint to restore alignment and function. The drop table technique is a table assisted method that involves a section of the table that can be set to drop at just the right time to help adjust the patient.

There are techniques that involve adjusting only the upper neck of the patient, called “upper cervical” techniques. One is called NUCCA, another is called Atlas Orthogonal. There are many other useful techniques including, but not limited to, Logan Basic, Sacro-Occipital Technique, Flexion-Distraction and the Vertebral Distraction Pump Instrument, that are utilized in chiropractic clinics around the world. Since not all chiropractors utilize all the available techniques, sometimes when a patient is not responding to the technique that a particular chiropractor is utilizing, it may make sense to get a referral and try a different one. Some chiropractors may use many of the aforementioned techniques in their practices, while others may specialize in just one or two.

Many patients come to the chiropractor after injuries including falls, sports injuries and auto accidents. Injuries can cause joints to move out of place which can stretch and tear the ligaments and muscles in the area. Nerves can be irritated as well. This is called a sprain/strain which can be very painful, especially at first. The body uses the acute inflammatory process to begin the healing. Chiropractors are adept at identifying these injuries and determining their severity. Specific adjustments and sometimes physiotherapy can relieve pain and muscle spasms. After the acute inflammation subsides, the repair phase of healing starts and can take 6-8 weeks or longer. During the repair phase, the chiropractor can make precise adjustments to keep the injured joints aligned and mobile so they don’t heal up tight and out of place. Specific adjustments during the repair phase help restore normal joint position sense or “proprioception” which helps reduce pain, restore stability, improve agility and prevent future injuries.

Patients consistently report that their overall wellness is improved with chiropractic care. This is largely because nerves control everything in the body, and they are negatively affected by spinal subluxations or misalignments.

Chiropractic adjustments are done to reduce subluxations and as a result, can help normalize nerve communication between the brain and the organs and other parts of the body. This can reduce stress and help the body heal itself from many health issues.

Additionally, extremities of the body can become misaligned and dysfunctional due to stress or injuries, and cause pain and other functional problems. These areas include the TMJs, shoulders, elbows, wrists, ribs, hips, knees and ankles. While some chiropractors will focus only on the spine, most will examine the patient’s extremities and make the necessary precise adjustments to restore alignment and function in those joints as well. Some doctors may also prescribe and provide custom orthotics for the feet to keep things aligned and stable.

Some people mistakenly assume that having chiropractic care during pregnancy would be unsafe or even harmful to the unborn baby. The truth is, chiropractic care is very safe, and the baby is very well protected by the amniotic fluid, the uterus, and other structures of the woman’s body.

Low back pain is common during pregnancy and many obstetricians will refer their pregnant patients to a chiropractor. Receiving a gentle adjustment to relieve tight joints is the safest, easiest, non-toxic, and practical way to find relief! When a woman may normally turn to a pain reliever medicine, that is certainly not something to take while pregnant.

Women also adjust much easier during pregnancy due to a hormone called “relaxin” that is produced in the ovary. Relaxin does just that - It relaxes the ligaments in the body, so when the big birth day comes, the pelvic and hip bones can open wide, and make delivery easier. (Notice I didn’t say easy!) It also relaxes all the other ligaments in the body, including the back, making all adjustments easier.

In 2023, the results of a very large study regarding the safety of chiropractic manipulative therapy (adjustments) were published in the medical journal, Scientific Reports. The study examined the records from 960,140 patients from 30 different chiropractic practices, and 38 different chiropractors. The authors concluded that, “In this study, severe spinal manipulative-therapy related adverse events were reassuringly very rare.” They also found that, “there were no cases of stroke, transient ischemic attack, vertebral or carotid artery dissection, cauda equina syndrome or spinal fracture.” Lastly, they noted that, “No adverse events were identified that were life threatening or resulted in death,” and “No adverse events were reported to be permanent.” Chiropractic care is extremely safe for patients of all ages.

The specific chiropractic adjustment is the passive assistance of moving a restricted joint through its complete range of motion while causing no injury to the joint tissues. This adjustment is known to cause joint “cavitation” which is the popping sound often heard by both the patient and chiropractor (and sometimes everyone in the room!). When cavitation occurs, there is a small amount of gas released from the lubricating synovial fluid of the joint. By releasing restrictions in the joint, the patient may experience a significant relief of pain, and improved range of motion.

Doctors of chiropractic are trained in a variety of techniques related to the evaluation and to the specific adjustments they make to help their patients. Chiropractors will take a history, perform an examination that may include x-rays, and then determine which adjustments we be made to best help their unique patient. Not very patient will receive the same adjustments. Specific chiropractic adjusting is also a learned and practiced skill that certainly differs amongst individual providers.