Frequently Asked Questions
What's the Difference Between a Chiropractor and a Physiotherapist?
While there is a lot of overlap between the two professions, they are separate and distinct. The Doctor of Chiropractic program is an intensive 4 to 5 year course that is structured similarly to an MD or MBBS program. Chiropractors are the second leading primary care practitioner in the world! Physiotherapists are important components to healthcare, and primarily deal with rehabilitation of injuries. Their use of modalities (such as ultrasound and electric current) to treat patients in pain is popular. Chiropractors look to the spine for the improvement of health, and use the chiropractic adjustment to create health in their patients. In general, medical doctors and physiotherapists treat the condition AFTER it becomes a problem; whereas a Chiropractor aims to PREVENT the problem from happening in the first place. |
Why Does My Posture Matter?
Did you know most people's heads weighed anywhere between 10-15 lbs? Well that's a lot of weight to carry at the very top of your spine, which has the smallest segments. The first picture on the left illustrates what happens when posture is left uncorrected. We are an increasingly sedentary population, with most jobs (especially in Bangalore!) being seated in front of a computer. Because of the weight of our head, it takes actual concentrated effort to sit with good posture and not slump forward. Most people are somewhere in between the "12 lb" and "32 lb" range. The further forward your head slides, the more weight and pressure your head puts on the spine and neck muscles for its support. This can lead to early degeneration and arthritis of the spine if left unchecked! Furthermore, posture issues don't start and stop with the neck. Our body is a dynamic system, which moves and adapts to our corresponding movement patterns. Unfortunately, if our posture tends to be unbalanced, it can lead to a variety of conditions related to the muscles, joints, nerves, and spine. A Chiropractic assessment includes a postural screening to ensure you are getting customized care. |
When Will I Get Better? How Many Visits Do I Need?
The above chart illustrates a typical pathway to recovery for someone with a new injury. The bottom right corner of the chart is the beginning point for many new patients - there is pain, and there is suffering. Some patients will show signs of improvement almost immediately, and others will take a little longer to see the results (as illustrated by the points titled "Faster Results" and "Making Progress.") Since no two people are exactly alike, each treatment plan is customized to fit the individual patient's condition, and aimed at making the most improvement over a period of time. More severe conditions may require more visits at the beginning.
When the symptoms of pain and discomfort start to fade, you will start feeling better. This is the time to make a very important decision: do you continue with treatments (usually less often than at the beginning of the treatment plan) or will you end your treatment plan early?
Here is the golden rule: Pain is usually the LAST thing to show up, and the FIRST thing to disappear. What this means is that many damaging processes take a while to become painful. Because pain occurs after most of the damage has occurred, pain is also relatively quickly restored to low levels. However, the cause of the pain may still be unresolved. Chiropractic aims to resolve the cause of the pain, and not just treat the symptoms.
If you decide to end your treatment plan early and voluntarily, your condition may not be completely resolved, and you may regress, allowing the pain to return. In this case, your condition yo-yos between feeling good and being in pain. It is recommended by research that an ongoing "maintenance" treatment plan be utilized to minimize discomfort and improve quality of life.
By continuing your treatment plan you are making the best decision for your long term health. Not only will there be fewer setbacks on your path to wellness, but your body and nervous system will be able to perform better than ever. Achieving wellness is a process and not a destination! Committing to your health with chiropractic allows you to be your best possible self, from the inside out.
When the symptoms of pain and discomfort start to fade, you will start feeling better. This is the time to make a very important decision: do you continue with treatments (usually less often than at the beginning of the treatment plan) or will you end your treatment plan early?
Here is the golden rule: Pain is usually the LAST thing to show up, and the FIRST thing to disappear. What this means is that many damaging processes take a while to become painful. Because pain occurs after most of the damage has occurred, pain is also relatively quickly restored to low levels. However, the cause of the pain may still be unresolved. Chiropractic aims to resolve the cause of the pain, and not just treat the symptoms.
If you decide to end your treatment plan early and voluntarily, your condition may not be completely resolved, and you may regress, allowing the pain to return. In this case, your condition yo-yos between feeling good and being in pain. It is recommended by research that an ongoing "maintenance" treatment plan be utilized to minimize discomfort and improve quality of life.
By continuing your treatment plan you are making the best decision for your long term health. Not only will there be fewer setbacks on your path to wellness, but your body and nervous system will be able to perform better than ever. Achieving wellness is a process and not a destination! Committing to your health with chiropractic allows you to be your best possible self, from the inside out.
I Feel Fine! Do I Still Need To See A Chiropractor?
Our bodies are mechanical systems with multiple moving parts and unique chemistry. As technology becomes a more and more integral part of our daily routines, we are absorbing a lot more stress on the smaller joints and muscles in our bodies, especially in the spine. It is a good idea to have a qualified Chiropractor assess your spine even when you are feeling good. Having regular maintenance visits can improve your life in unexpected ways. Many people report less stress, increased focus, better sleep, and better digestion. Please see the testimonial page for some words from actual patients! |
What's That "Cracking" Sound?
Chiropractors adjust restricted joints, or subluxations. Most joints (where two bones come together) move in a particular way, and to facilitate that movement, they are bathed in a slippery fluid called synovial fluid. This is like the grease in a hinge. Around the joint, there is usually a small sac, which keeps the fluid around that joint, and allows for optimal operation. Similar to the opening of a soda can, the slight "cracking" sound that is often heard during a Chiropractic adjustment is the release of gases from the sac surrounding the joint. |