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Q: What IS Chiropractic?
A: The word "Chiro" means
"hand" in english. "Practico" means "to do". Thus "CHIPROPRACTIC" is
to do with your hands. Chiropractors are licensed to perform massage, physiotherapy, soft tissue mobilization
as well as manipulation to correct the alignment of spinal segments that have lost their ability to move, restoring
normal motion. Traction, Decompression, Cold Laser Therapy, and Electrotherapies are all within the scope of practice of a
Chiropractor. Spinal adjustments to realign vertebrae that have been moved out of alignment due to injuries, auto accidents,
muscle spasms, etc. can be done by hand or with an Activator. Q: What is an Activator?
A: It is a hand-held Chiropractic adjusting instrument used on the very young and the elderly. The gentle
adjustment delivered by an Activator is extremely mild, and joints do not make a noise when moved.
Q:
Is Chiropractic Forceful?
A: No. Other practitioners who try to discriminate against
Chiropractors say that we use "Forced Manipulation". This could not be further from the truth. A Chiropractic adjustment is
Actually a high velocity, low amplitude corrective movement; sometimes there is a release of Nitrogen gas from the joint,
which makes a small popping sound. This "audible release" is a sign that a non-moving "fixated" joint
has been allowed to move freely, and the spine sets the gas free that has been trapped in this joint. I have treated my 4
kids since birth with non-forceful, extremely effective corrective adjustments. If someone is mentioning "Force",
they may be thinking about some of the "Bone-Setters" of the late 1800's. Modern Day sophisticated Chiropractors
use all of the modalities available to them to allow the body to heal itself, and adapt treatment techniques to the body
size we are treating....this seems obvious, but people sometimes still live in the Dark Ages, I guess!
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Q: Can That "Spinal Decompression" I've seen on T.V. Help Me?
A: Probably Not. Spinal decompression machines are not Chiropractic, and were designed
to help people with significant disc injury, usually to the point where there is radiation of pain, numbness, tingling, and/or
weakness starting in the patient's back traveling into their feet (severe sciatica). The treatment is very expensive,
upwards of $ 5,000-- Insurance Companies WON'T pay for this, and YOU have to pay for it up front many times.
It's an alternative to surgery for very serious injuries only. WHAT YOU CAN DO: Get a Chiropractic Orthopedic
or Acupuncture evaluation, and treat your injury for 4-6 weeks conservatively, and for a reasonable amount of money. If you
are still in pain, then go get Spinal Decompression.
By the way, "Spinal Decompression"
is a combination of traction (which we all do), inversion (which you can do at home), and sometimes rollers (which those chairs have
at the Mall). There is nothing "New" or "Innovative" about the treatment. Beware if the Chiropractor doesn't
disclose that he/she is a Chiropractor in their advertising.
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Q:
Are all Chiropractors Board Certified?
A: NOT
ALL CHIROPRACTORS ARE BOARD CERTIFIED!
Chiropractors must have a Bachelor's degree
to be accepted into Chiropractic College, and after the 8 total years of higher education, they must pass
examinations given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (N.B.C.E.). These are called "National Boards",
and every Chiropractor who is currently in practice has passed these tests in order to have a license. This is
NOT Board Certification.
To get Board Certified in a particular
specialized area, they may enter residencies in fields of study after graduating from Chiropractic College, which
take an additional 4 years to complete. Course studies are typically in specialties like Neurology, Orthopedics,
Nutrition, etc. Written Boards are offered only yearly, and Oral Boards are offered
only after Written Boards are passed. If these criteria are met, only then does the Chiropractor earn the right to use the
letters D.A.B.C.O., and be called a Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists, a
fully credentialled
Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist. In 1991, I became the first ever in Colorado Springs.
Please NOTE: The American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists does NOT recognize terms like "Board Qualified"
or "Board Eligible Chiropractic Orthopedist". A Chiropractic Orthopedist is either BOARD CERTIFIED
or they are NOT. If a Chiropractor is using these other terms, this can be misleading to the public.
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Q: Is Chiropractic Care Expensive?
A: It depends on what is wrong with the patient, what needs to
be done to correct the problem, and what type of care is administered. There are some guidelines to go
by, when paying for care.
All Chiropractors and most Medical Doctors offer a discount on fees, if you pay at the
time of service. In Colorado, this discount can be up to 40 percent of the total charges. Since billing Insurance costs
a considerable amount of time and overhead, it is sometimes advantageous to pay at the time of service; many times Insurance
just doesn't pay for care--the patient has an unknown large deductible, limited Chiropractic Coverage, or the doctor is "out
of network".
Time of service fees are generally much lower, the patient can still submit their own bills (which
have already been PAID to the Chiropractor) to their Insurance company for reimbursement. You won't owe the Doctor any
money, you won't get a bill, and everyone stays happy. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG), a Federal entity, encourages
discounted fees if "the discounted payment makes it easier for the patient to access care AND allows for better cash
flow for the practitioner."
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