Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the main reasons people see a chiropractor?
Relief Care- The majority of people receive chiropractic care for neck pain, back pain, pain in their legs, arms or headaches. This is often the first phase of care with the primary goal of reducing symptoms.
Corrective Care- Once symptoms have improved muscle, joint or ligament damage may still be present. In this phase of care treatments focus on improving postural control and strength to address the underlying source of the problem and remain symptom free.
Wellness or Preventative Care- Helps to ensure that problems don’t return. This can be done on a regular schedule or based on the patient's need for care. Just as regular healthy eating, exercise or visits to your dentist optimize your health, so does regular chiropractic care.
How long is a chiropractic treatment?
The first visit to Kentville Chiropractic will last 45 minutes to an hour and involves a detailed history, physical, diagnosis and plan of management. Following treatments can range anywhere from 10 mins. to 30 mins. depending on the individual's needs.
Do you need a referral to see a chiropractor?
No, you do not need a referral to see a chiropractor. Anyone can see a chiropractor at any time. Chiropractors are considered primary health care providers for the Workers Compensation Board, Motor Vehicle Insurers, and most Individual health plans.
Is chiropractic covered under individual health plans?
Yes, most individual health plans provide some type of chiropractic coverage. Direct billing is available for the following insurance companies: Blue Cross, Green Shield, Great West Life, Desjardins Financial Security, Manulife Financial, Industrial Alliance, Standard Life, Motor Vehicle Insurances, and Workers Compensation.
Do chiropractors just work on the spine?
No, they work on almost all joints, muscles and ligaments in the body. Any musculoskeletal issue, strain/sprain, can be treated by a chiropractor. Most commonly: rotator cuff and shoulder injures, wrist and hand pain, knee, hip and foot pain. Chiropractors also look at biomechanics of your body, gait, feet and footwear.
How many visits will I need?
The number of visits often depends on the goals of the patient, length of time with the injury, complexity of the problem and any underlying health conditions. Most injuries presenting to a chiropractor will see symptomatic improvement and relief within weeks or around 4 to 6 treatments. This is a rough guideline, as individuals may show quicker or delayed results to treatment based on various lifestyle and injury factors.
What is the educational background of a chiropractor?
Chiropractic medicine is a scientific discipline. It is evidence-based, using the latest and best health research available. Chiropractors obtain a four-year undergraduate degree before completing a four-year Doctorate of Chiropractic. After school, Chiropractors must complete continued education on a yearly basis.
Do I have to always keep seeing a chiropractor once I start?
No, once you begin chiropractic care you can stop at any time. After the initial problem and symptoms are gone some individuals will choose to stop care altogether or see their chiropractor only from time to time. Many people benefit from continued care on a periodic long-term basis. This is to prevent injuries from returning or to lessen the impact of new injuries. This is often preventative and can provide long-term relief from discomfort and help optimize health.
What is an adjustment?
Inflammation in joints of the spine can cause decreased movement of that joint. Joints that don’t move correctly can cause pain, discomfort, affect surrounding nerves and cause tight and tender muscles. A chiropractic adjustment, often called an extremity manipulation or a spinal manipulation, is a specific thrust applied to an area of the spine to correct alignment, motion, and/or function of a joint . This maneuver relives the symptoms of inflamed or misaligned joints.
Does everyone need to be adjusted?
No, not everyone who receives care gets adjusted. First, the patient must be comfortable with the treatment and give consent to the treatment. Treatment plans can always be modified to utilize a different technique that is not an adjustment. Second, based on the patient’s diagnosis, severity of pain or stability of an area, a chiropractic adjustment would not be performed. There is a wide variety of techniques the chiropractor can use to treat these conditions that do not involve an adjustment.
What does an adjustment feel like?
An adjustment is usually pain free and feels relieving. It feels similar to when you wake up in the morning with a stiff knee and within the first couple steps your knee makes a cracking noise and the stiffness is gone. The cracking noise is simply nitrogen gas escaping from the joint and decreasing the pressure within, allowing it to move freely.