What Does a Doctor of Chiropractic Do?
The chiropractic physician has a scope of care based upon the licensing board of that state, which does vary from state to state.   As a whole, the profession chooses not to use drugs or surgery but instead seeks to encourage the body's innate recouperative power as a self healing, self regulating system.   This means that as your chiropractor, along with removing vertebral subluxations, I may use other natural tools such as acupuncture, nutrition, fitness recomendations, ergonomic changes to your workstation or car, proprioceptive exercises and re-training, and/or stress management techniques to assist your body in maintaining HEALTH.   The chiropractic college education includes many hours in diagnostic training as well as the needs of special populations (geriatrics, pediatrics, etc) and will be knowledgable when certain conditions or treatment would not be appropriately managed by a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC).   In these cases you may be totally referred out or co-managed by both your chiropractor and another physician or practicioner.
 
Although some of those in the healthcare industry may provide some similar kinds of services such as massage, diagnosis of a condition, radiography, therapeutic modalities, athletic training techniques, and/or strength and conditioning, the DC may also do all of those things in their scope of practice.   If you are looking for a chiropractor for the first time you may want to consider the kinds of services that that particular office offers and the philosophy of that doctor.   Each office is slightly different just as every patient is unique as well.   It is important to find a doctor-patient relationship with the right fit!

Do chiropractors only work with the spine?
Yes, chiropractors are uniquely trained in analysis and correction of spinal movement and the nervous system that it protects. At the same time a Doctor of Chiropractic is a specialist in the musculoskeletal system and it's biomechanics as a whole. We often times will be able to provide not only a diagnosis but also potential treatment for other parts of the body such as the shoulder, knees, and feet.

How can I tell if I'm unbalanced?
To perform an at home test:
Many spinal problems produce uneven weight distribution. Here’s a simple test you can conduct at home with two bathroom scales to reveal this common sign of spinal imbalance:

Take two bathroom scales that have been checked to weigh equally and place them side by side. Place one foot on each scale so that you are standing equally spaced, similarly to how you would normally stand. A difference greater than 5 lbs between both legs is significant. Call Triad Sports & Family Chiropractic and make an appointment today.

What is spinal decay?
This process in the spine has similarities to tooth decay in that it shows up usually because of neglect. Also, just like tooth decay, it can happen to anyone, regardless of age. Because it is often seen in older people, many believe it’s merely the normal aging process. It is not. This progressively worsening, degenerative condition is the result of uncorrected spinal misalignment. Spinal decay is how your body deals with the stress of gravity. It just so happens that most people have spinal problems that they’ve ignored for years.

What is the importance of an x-ray?

Besides revealing the presence or absence of proper spinal curves, the sideways view of the spine can more easily show the long-term effects of spinal neglect or trauma. We call the body’s adaptation process spinal decay. This can only be measured by having additional tests done like an x-ray.

Chiropractors don’t prescribe drugs, how could they help me?

Pain is our bodies alarm alerting us to a problem, not the problem itself. A skilled doctor of chiropractic can identify and address the cause of your pain. If a fire caused an alarm in your kitchen would you take the batteries out of the alarm, or would you put out the fire?

Can chiropractic care really help with my headache?
The International Headache Society has 129 classifications of headaches. A large percentage of those headaches are in some way neck-related. One of the most commonly utilized treatments for headaches are over the counter pain relievers like Tylenol and Advil. The good news is many time you may get relief from your symptoms with out going further that your bathroom closet. The bad news is that many times that relief is temporary and the pain reliever will mask the symptoms of a much deeper problem. The great news is that chiropractic is effective in treating the cause of many people's headaches in a completely natural way!

Is it possible for me to adjust myself?
No. It is virtually impossible to adjust oneself, since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to address to cause. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a “popping” sound, that may offer a temporary relief in tension or discomfort. It is important to know that this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive and will often make an already unstable area of the spine to continue to function poorly.

Do you practice what you preach?
Absolutely! The doctors at our office also receive periodic chiropractic care (about 25-50 spinal adjustments per year), take whole food nutritional supplements, and also use many of the products we sell to the patients that come to our office such as customized shoe orthotics and cervical pillows.

Can I choose my care?
Of course. Our doctors will always make you aware of their most optimal recommendations. It is our belief that you should be aware of the fastest way to get better and given the information on how to stay better, but you will have the option to choose what stage of care you would like to go through. The first stage is "relief "and this is when the painful part of your problem will begin to go away. The second stage is "correction" of the problem or what lead this problem to become painful. The third stage is called "maintenance" which is like a spinal check up. This give us an opportunity to catch minor issues before pain sets in or has time to create irreversible tissue changes.

Is chiropractic care like a massage?
It is actually quite different although they work very well together. Chiropractic focuses on the spinal column, nervous system, and body structure. Most massage therapists tend to address muscle tension, circulation and body fluid drainage.

Isn't fatigue normal?
Unfortunaly fatigue is a very common symptom many people experience. It can range from just feeling tired to a deeper feeling of exhaustion that will drain all of your mental and physical energy. Many people try to handle fatigue by continuing to push themselves hoping it will go away or use energy drinks or other stimulats to push a body that is already on "E". Our office can help to identify if there is a conservative option to treat the cause of your fatigue. Remember, fatigue is a warning sign and although it may be common, it is not normal!

Can I correct my own posture?
Being aware of your current posture is a very effective reminder to sit and stand taller. There are two main reasons why this usually does not work to correct your posture, 1) when you are not thinking about it you will return to your old habits 2) research has found the small stability muscles are not as strong when your spine is out of alignment. Your examination and x-ray can help show how much progression you have had of your postural condition. With that information we can recomend a program to either correct and or maintain a healthy spine no matter what your age.