Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) asked every day.

We thought we would share some of those questions.
 
What is the cost of a Chiropractic Treatment?

At Optimal Health Chiropractic, we accept many insurance plans, so you may be responsible for your co-pay or deductible.  We also have discounted cash rates for those without insurance coverage.  The cost will depend on the number of visits you will need.  The number of adjustments varies with each patient and their individual health goals. Many patients sense some progress within weeks, some more  difficult cases, complete healing can take months or even years.

 
What is the difference between you and a physical therapist?
 
Manipulation vs. Mobilization
Manipulation and mobilization are used primarily in the treatment of conditions related to mechanical-type problems in joints and muscles. Manipulation is a hands-on procedure used by chiropractors to restore normal movement by loosening joints and stretching tight muscles. In some cases, manipulation will restore normal movement by unlocking a joint or by breaking down adhesions.
Mobilization simply stretches soft tissues by moving joints through a full range of movement. Mobilization can increase the range of motion of the arms, legs, and shoulders, but manipulation may be more effective in relieving pain and restoring normal movement in the spinal joints.
Science-based chiropractors make appropriate judgments about the nature of their patients' problems, determine whether these problems lie within their scope, and make appropriate referrals for problems that do not. At our office, our doctor uses manipulation and rehabilitation exercises (mobilization) and modalities, so you can benefit from the best that both have to offer.

Is a chiropractic really a doctor?

Absolutely yes!  Chiropractors have the title of D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) after their names.  Chiropractors go through a rigorous courses and are licensed by their respective state to be able to pracitc.   You can fine below the comparison of education of a medical doctor and chiropractor. 

Source: Center for Studies in Health Policy, Inc., Washington, DC.
Personal communication of 1995 unpublished data from Meredith Gonyea, PhD.

Table 10. Comparison of Hours of Basic Sciences Education in Medical and Chiropractic Schools

Source: Center for Studies in Health Policy, Inc., Washington, DC. Personal communication of 1995 unpublished data from Meredith Gonyea, PhD.

The contrast between the two programs is dramatic in the area of clinical clerkships, which averaged 3,467 hours in medicine versus 1,405 hours in chiropractic. In medicine this comprises, on average, 74 percent of the total contact hours, while in chiropractic it comprises only 29 percent (Table 9). Part of the difference can be explained by the way in which the programs are structured. In chiropractic 41 percent of the program (averaging 1,975 hours) is allocated to chiropractic clinical sciences, which consists of extensive laboratory and hands-on training in manual procedures and has no equivalent in medicine. Combining the chiropractic clinical sciences with the clinical clerkships, the percentage of a chiropractic program devoted to clinical education is 70 percent compared to medicine's 74 percent. The major difference therefore is in didactic teaching and clinical experience.

Thus, on average, medical students receive twice the number of hours in clinical experience but receive over 1,000 fewer hours in lectures and laboratory education. If the medical residency is included, the total number of hours of clinical experience for medicine rises to 6,413 (Coulter, submitted).
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1. Center for Studies in Health Policy, Inc., Washington, DC. Personal communication of 1995 unpublished data from Meredith Gonyea, PhD.
2. Source: Center for Studies in Health Policy, Inc., Washington, DC. Personal communication of 1995 unpublished data from Meredith Gonyea, PhD.

 
Is it true that once you go to a chiropractor you have to always keep going? Is it addictive?
 
I heard if you don’t want your teeth to decay you have to brush them everyday… forever! I heard if you want to keep your physical fitness you have to exercise 3 days a week… forever. I heard that if you want to stay healthy you have to eat right…  forever. When do you stop maintaining your car?  If you did, it would fall apart soon after.  Most people who don’t see chiropractors are used to seeing their medical doctor only 1 visit. They get a prescription and that is it. Chiropractic is not about taking drugs to alleviate symptoms. It is about the health and well being of the most important structure in your body-the spine and what it protects, your nervous system. Chiropractic patients usually choose to continue treatment on a regular basis because they have been in pain before and they much prefer the way they feel when they are adjusted on a regular basis.

What is the sound heard when you adjust the spine?

Patients often hear a "pop" during an adjustment, similar to the sound you'd hear cracking your knuckles, it's not related to the treatment's effectiveness. Instead, the explanation lies in a lubricant called synovial fluid that's found in every joint. That fluid contains dissolved gases. Shifting the joint with an adjustment into proper motion and alignment releases the built up pressure that has resulted from the joint being stuck or subluxated. This causes a shifting of the fluid and gasses in the joint to make a crackling noise.