Acierno Family ChiropracticHere are some of the Frequently Asked Questions we get on a daily basis
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
What is the sound sometimes produced from adjustments?
Is it bad to frequently "crack" your own back or neck?
How does an adjustment feel?
How long will my course of treatment take?
Should I continue chiropractic care, even if I feel better?
Will I be X-Rayed?
How much will it cost?
If you should have any further questions, please contact our offices.
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is a technique which is used to facilitate and/or enhance motion within a joint. Injury, whether it is caused from trauma or from activities of daily living, disrupts the natural alignment and motion of a joint. A Chiropractor's goal is to properly align, and restore motion within, the injured joint. According to chiropractic philosophy, once the proper alignment and motion is restored the body can begin to heal itself.
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What is the sound sometimes produced from adjustments?
The sound that is occasionally heard, during a chiropractic adjustment, is from a gas pocket from the joint being adjusted. Each joint is maintained by a ligamentous capsule which is filled with fluid. Through regular movement of the joint and motion of the fluids inside the joint capsule, gases and pressure will build up. It would be compared to getting a 2 liter bottle of soda and shaking it. The bottle will become very firm as the soda inside the bottle moves and releases gas. It is only when you loosen the top of the bottle that the gas can escape. In the body a "popping sound" may be heard during an adjustment as the pressure is being released.
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Is it bad to frequently "crack" your own back or neck?
Many people associate "cracking" of their own back, neck or any joint in the body with a chiropractic adjustment. Actually, the two are NOT the same. During an adjustment, a chiropractor delivers a minimal force accompanied by a specific line of correction to a targeted joint. The joint to be adjusted has been found to have a decrease in its range of motion and thus is not moving to its full potential. When someone attempts to "crack their own back" they are only moving joints that do not have a motion issue. A specific line of correction must be used to adjust and correct the affected joint. Although not an immediate threat, continued non specific self adjusting may cause the ligaments of the joints to "stretch" which may cause unstable joints in the future.
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How does an adjustment feel?
Initially, some minor muscle soreness may occur, but usually it is NOT considered to be painful. Joints which have not had proper motion in them tend to make the surrounding muscles tight. Once the joint has "unlocked" and the proper motion has been restored the surrounding muscles can now do what they were intended to do. It is this sequence of events which may cause the minor soreness. People may notice change in joint motion as soon as after the first day of treatment.
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How long will my course of treatment take?
The length of treatment varies from patient to patient and from condition to condition. Some of the factors that will determine the length of treatment are the age of the patient, how long the patient has had the injury, the type of injury ranging from a sprain/ strain to a nerve or disc problem, the mechanism of injury (sports related to auto accident) just to name a few. A major factor to getting better faster is patient participation. Patients are given exercises to do in and out of the office. It is very important for patients to do their exercises when not in the office. Whatever the outlined course of treatment is, you should start noticing changes within the first few visits.
Should I continue chiropractic care, even if I feel better?
During the course of treatment, patients are educated about how to prevent the injuries from re-occurring. Once a particular problem has been corrected patients are encouraged to continue with preventative care, but that decision is ultimately up to you. Everyone who drives a vehicle has to perform periodical checks to ensure proper performance and reliability for their vehicle and to prevent a small problem from becoming a large one. The human body is no different from anything else that has to be maintained. Periodic check ups saves valuable time and expense.
Will I be X-Rayed?
If X-Rays, CT-Scans, MRIs or any other diagnostic tests are found to be necessary to ascertain effective treatment, we can make sure the proper studies are performed. We refer our patients to state of the art facilities for testing so we can be assured the patient is getting the best possible care.
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How much will it cost?
We are network providers and accept most insurances and most insurance companies typically cover chiropractic care at some level. Other forms of payment include checks and cash. If payment is still an issue for you and your family, we will be willing to work out payment options to ensure that you receive proper chiropractic care.
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