FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Why should I see a chiropractor?
People who are experiencing pain and discomfort in their neck, back, hips, knees, hands and other joints can greatly benefit from chiropractic care. In fact, chiropractic care is one of the most effective and safest ways to treat joint and skeletal related pain. Much safer than pain medication! Chiropractors can help readjust misalignments in the spine which helps to take the pressure off the bones, joints, muscles and nerves.
Chiropractic care helps to restore flexibility to the joints and spine. The chiropractic adjustments also help to remove pressure on the nerves that can cause headaches, sciatica, tinnitus, tingling or numbness in the arms, legs, feet, or hands; poor digestion, poor balance and/or dizziness.
What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the use of a specific force in a precise direction that helps normalize spinal function. The adjustment is applied to a joint that is fixated, "locked up", or not moving properly. Adjustments help return the bones to a more normal position or motion, restoring body's natural healing.
The adjustment may be performed with the chiropractors hands or with an adjusting instrument, depending on your condition and preference.
Sometimes an adjustment may produce a “crack” or “pop” sound. This sound is painless and harmless. This sound is caused by nitrogen gas rushing in to the joint space to fill the partial vacuum created when the bones are slightly separated. This gas dissipates over the following 20 minutes. It is important to drink plenty of water after your adjustment to benefit maximally from the release of pressure on the joint.
Are Chiropractic Adjustments safe?
Chiropractic adjustments are so safe, even newborns and children receive adjustments to repair the damage caused from the birth process, learning to walk, or other childhood trauma.
Each adjustment is tailored to each patient's age, size, and unique spinal problem. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. After years of training, each chiropractor has selected a variety of adjustment methods and become skilled in their delivery. Chiropractors are university trained over a minimum of 5 years, including a Master’s degree. This training includes anatomy, physiology, radiology, neurology, orthopaedics, pathology, and more. Many people are surprised when they see that our new patient intake form is very detailed as we need to know your overall health profile to ensure that chiropractic is right for your condition and if so, also allows us to provide the most thorough and holistic care for your health issues. Once your initial assessment and examination is complete, your chiropractor will make recommendations for your care that are based on years of training and experience.
Why do I have back, neck, joint pain?
There are many things that may have caused your pain. Your chiropractor will take a full history to help you identify the possible cause(s). Some causes include: poor posture, sporting injuries, car accidents, slips and falls, heavy lifting, caring for children/elderly, pregnancy, lack of physical activity, mental/emotional stress, toxins (from processed foods, drugs, medications, smoking, environmental pollution). birth trauma (have your children checked by your chiropractor as well!), structural leg length differences or other genetic anomalies. There can also be serious underlying health issues causing these pains which your chiropractor is trained to screen for and refer you to a medical doctor if necessary.
Can Children have Chiropractic Care?
Yes, absolutely! Our chiropractor, Dr. Belinda Forsyth, is experienced adjusting children of all ages.
Chiropractic adjustments for children use minimal force, in fact, for babies the pressure used is no greater than what you would apply to your own closed eyelid. Most babies simply sleep through their adjustments!
Why should my child see a chiropractor?
Birth trauma:
Many children are born with misalignments of their spine and skull due to the birth process and/or the position they were in while in the womb.
Even a “natural” childbirth without the aid of forceps, suction or “complications” like having the umbilical cord around the baby’s neck can cause misalignments as the baby moves through the birth canal, especially if the mother’s pelvis is misaligned at the time of the birth.
As for cesarean sections, the baby is still exposed to a lot of pulling (many mothers feel a strong “tugging” sensation and even feel their lower back lifting off the table during the procedure).
Babies with abnormal head shape, stiff neck, reflux, constipation, colic and/or unsettled:
Young children can’t communicate their discomfort clearly. Babies that need chiropractic might cry more than usual, not sleep enough or wake too frequently during the night. They may have reflux or excessive vomiting, diarrhea or constipation. In fact, digestive issues are often the first sign that your baby has a spinal issue. Other issues in babies are more obvious such as a flat head shape or can’t turn their neck both sides. Ever seen a baby who always kept their head turned to the same side or wouldn’t feed on one side? Chances are that the baby has a vertebrae out of place in their neck or a cranial alignment issue (flat head shape).
Injuries:
As children grow, they learn to roll over, crawl, walk and have many, many, bumps and falls along the way. Then once children get older, they run, trip over, wrestle with their siblings, fall off their bicycle/scooter/skateboards and play sports which can cause more injuries.
It is important that children are checked regularly as they undertake each new milestone.
At a minimum, we recommend having your baby checked as soon as possible after birth (Dr. Belinda has adjusted babies as young as 1 day old), then after they learn to roll, crawl, sit, stand and walk.
Can I have Chiropractic Care if I am Pregnant?
Yes, absolutely. Dr. Belinda has been caring for pregnant women since 2003. She is certified in the Webster Technique,
a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nervous system and facilitates balance in pelvic structures, muscles and ligaments. The Webster Technique of balancing the mother's pelvis can help the baby get itself into the best position for delivery.
Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments help with pregnancy discomforts, like pelvic pain, pubic joint pain, sciatica, rib pains, indigestion, and improve their pregnancy making delivery easier for themselves and their baby.
Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient’s size, weight, age and condition of health.
Can I have Chiropractic Care if I already had surgery?
Yes. Dr. Belinda is very experienced in working with patients after spinal surgeries and joint replacements.
Chiropractic may help prevent recurrent spinal surgeries. In fact, when chiropractic care is undertaken before the joint or disc is severely damaged, it may help prevent surgery in the first place.
Can Chiropractic help me, I am over 70 years old?
Elderly individuals who are experiencing pain and discomfort in their neck, spine, back, knees, hands and other joints can greatly benefit from chiropractic care. In fact, chiropractic care is one of the most effective and safest ways to treat joint and skeletal related pain. Much safer than pain medication! Chiropractors can help readjust misalignments in the spine which helps to take the pressure off the bones, joints, muscles and nerves.
Improving Flexibility and Balance:
Many elderly people suffer from stiff joints and poor balance. They may struggle to move in the way they once did and need to use a walking aid. Chiropractic care helps to restore flexibility to the joints and spine. The chiropractic adjustments also help to remove pressure on the nerves that can cause poor balance and dizziness.
Relieves Arthritis:
Osteoarthritis is very common in elderly patients. It forms due to a misalignment at a joint causing the joint to rub unevenly and wear out. This is caused by many factors, but most commonly small day to day stresses and traumas to the joints. How many times have you fallen over in your life? Each one has an effect on the body and should be checked. Ideally chiropractors prefer to prevent arthritis by encouraging young people to have their spines checked regularly. Once the arthritis has already formed chiropractic is beneficial in slowing its progress and reliving the pressure and pain at the affected joints. Many patients at this clinic have found great relief from arthritis in their hands, knees, neck and spine and can often discontinue pain medications completely. Talk to your chiropractor about supplements that can help to speed up the joint healing as well.
Decreasing/Preventing Joint Degeneration:
Unfortunately, one of the many things that accompanies getting older is increased joint degeneration. A misalignment in the spine can cause the vertebrae and the discs in the spine to degenerate at a rapid pace. We specialise in providing care to help alleviate this condition. It takes time when the spine is already in an advanced state of degeneration so pay careful attention to the adjustment schedule and exercises that your chiropractor will prescribe to help manage your condition and get you feeling stronger and pain free.
Why is the alignment of the cranial (skull) bones important?
Like the alignment of the bones of the spine, the bones of the head affect the pressure on the brain and sensory organs of the face.
The cranial bones permit or restrict the exit of the cranial nerves from the brain which control vision, sense of smell, taste, muscle tone in the face and neck, balance, and the digestive system.
Misalignments and asymmetry of the cranial bones can affect the neck, spine, jaw (TMJ), facial symmentry, alignment of the teeth, and sinus drainage.
How are cranial alignment corrections done?
The treatment is very gentle and involves light pressure being applied to the cranial sutures and bones. As the patient breathes, the cerebrospinal fluid between the cranial bones and the brain is pulsed and allows the bones to be moved at any age.
At what age can cranial misalignments be corrected?
Contrary to popular belief that the cranial bones are ‘fused’, they can be corrected at any age. It is most easily corrected as soon possible post birth, as babies and young children are still growing. However, it can also be corrected in adults.
What is Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET)?
Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) is a non-invasive technique which utilizes kinesiology (muscle testing) and meridian access points to identify emotional blockages/stresses held within the body. Such stresses can contribute to physical complaints, emotional difficulties, and problems with goal achievement.
People used to think that emotions resided entirely in their brain. Now we know that other parts of the body can hold emotional charges too. Have you ever felt butterflies in your stomach before a speech? Have you referred to something as a “pain in the neck”? Have you ever felt a “lump in your throat”? Clearly emotions happen in our body, not just our brain.
NET does not involve counseling and you can give as many or as few details of the problem as you feel comfortable.
“I heard I’ll have to go forever”… is a myth:
Chiropractic does not cause dependance. You may want to go to your chiropractor forever once you’ve started because you didn’t realize how great getting adjusted is, but your chiropractor won’t expect you to come for continuous care without symptoms.
Generally, if you come in with pain, once you’ve been treated for your initial complaint, you’ll be scheduled for a few more appointments to make sure proper motion is being maintained, then it will be recommended you return occasionally to be checked just like you would go to the dentist to get checked for tartar buildup and cavities. We also offer corrective care for patients with serious underlying postural issues which is unfortunately becoming more common with today’s reliance of computers and mobile phones.
Chiropractors are primary health practitioners (meaning you do not need to be referred by another practitioner) and are trained to give a thorough and honest assessment of your condition and will let you know if another therapy, or even surgery, might be more appropriate for the management of your case.
Some people choose to see their chiropractor weekly or monthly for wellness or maintenance care or because they have high stress lifestyles (lots of sports, sitting long hours at work, etc) and want to live their best life.