Below are some frequently asked questions we are asked everyday in our office.

Q. Does being adjusted by a chiropractor hurt?

This is the most common question we receive from patients. The answer is, it depends on who is doing the adjusting! Certain chiropractors adjust in a fashion that is very rough and do nothing to relax your muscles ahead of time. The worst thing you want to happen on your first chiropractic visit is to feel like you have been in the ring at a WWE match. We take the approach that everyone has different pain levels and likes/ dislikes. Some people do not like the idea of having their neck “cracked”; we can still accommodate these patients and get them better without the popping sound. Essentially, adjustments do not hurt, however, you may feel some stiffness after adjustments that should diminish quickly. Most patients tell us they love getting adjusted!

Q. What education is involved in becoming a chiropractor?

In order to become a chiropractor, an individual must obtain a bachelor’s degree with a science emphasis. This usually includes a year of Physics, Biology, and Inorganic/Organic Chemistry all with corresponding labs. The remainder of the general education requirements must also be completed for the degree. After applying and being accepted into a chiropractic college, the fun really begins. Chiropractic school takes approximately four years to complete. During school, four rounds of National Board Exams are taken. These Board Exams are required to practice within a particular state. In addition, some states still have unique state board exams. There are also a minimum number of continuing education credits that must be completed each year to maintain a chiropractic license. Indiana requires 12 hours per year or 24 hours bi-annually. So, all in all, it takes approximately 7-8 years of college and advanced education to complete the requirements to practice.

Q. Why does it take multiple visits to get better?

This would be the second most common question. People who end up at our door have usually been dealing with some form of pain, soreness, or stiffness for quite some time and suddenly, severe pain starts from routine activities. Over time, small symptoms were nagging away, tension, pressure and inflammation were building in your muscles, joints, and ligaments. Most people come in with significant restriction in their spine and tissues. The bottom line is, you didn’t “break” overnight and you will not be “fixed” overnight. We believe that chiropractic can achieve faster results because we are working on the spine and the muscle tension around the spine versus just stretching or strengthening muscles. Remember, those tight muscles attach to a bony structure called the spine. If your structure is mis-aligned and stays that way, the muscles will never relax. Lastly, patients need to understand the importance of performing their prescribed home therapy, as it will help to accelerate results and overall healing time, versus relying on chiropractic care alone.

Q. How is physical therapy different from chiropractic?

Physical Therapists primarily focus on stretching and strengthening muscles and other tissues in the body. They are not spinal specialists that spent most of their schooling studying how to assess and adjust the spine. Chiropractors have a much deeper understanding of spinal biomechanics and are more qualified to adjust. Physical Therapists do not undergo the extensive training that is required to perform spinal manipulation properly, however, they do tremendous work for patients with other problems. For example, many Chiropractors would not feel best equipped on how to effectively rehabilitate a patient following a shoulder or hip replacement surgery; thus a Physical Therapist would be uniquely better able to perform these services. In our opinion, we need to work together to assess what is going on with the patient, make the appropriate referral and treat within our scope of practice. We have on many occasions felt a PT approach would best benefit the patient and have recommended them to therapy that is more intensive, and they do great.

Q. What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). “Chiropractic” comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning “done by hand.” Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body’s inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body that may be functioning improperly.

Q. What is an adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is movement of a segment of the spine to increase range of motion, function, and relax surrounding musculature. An adjustment may be performed by hand or using an adjusting instrument. Every chiropractic practitioner is different and each patient responds to a different approach. The overall goal of the adjustment is to restore motion to a fixated joint, however that may need to be performed.

Q. Does my insurance cover chiropractic care?

Almost all insurance companies we deal with in our office cover chiropractic care to some degree and many do not require a referral from a primary care doctor. Acupuncture, however, is a service that may or may not be covered and will depend on your insurance plan. Your coverage information can be found by contacting your insurance provider.

Q. Will I always have to go to a chiropractor?

Some people fear that once you go to a chiropractor you will have to go back forever. In the healthcare profession, we all share the goal of good health. We have become a society, though, that wants the “quick fix.” We have learned to ignore our bodies and the way it communicates problems to us through a commonly used messenger called, “pain.” Chiropractic patients learn to listen to their bodies and to take action when something is not feeling exactly right. If a chiropractic adjustment is found to be appropriate, then an adjustment will be performed (See what an adjustment is above). Does this last forever? I sure hope so! BEWARE, though, of Chiropractors who tell you that you need to come back multiple times per week for many, many months at a time. Also, BEWARE of chiropractors who try to sell you long-term treatment plans. These plans are made to benefit the chiropractor, not the patient. You should not have to be SOLD anything when you go to a doctor’s office.

Each patient is unique and they will respond to treatment in different ways. What may take you only two days of treatment, may take another person two weeks. Your treatment schedule should be determined by the week, not by the month or year. At Mason Family Chiropractic & Wellness your treatment is tailored to YOU. Our goal is to get you well. We want to help educate you in the art of listening to your body and we take pride in doing so in as few treatments as is necessary.