You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers.

Your brain controls the function of every organ and tissue in your body by communicating with them through your spinal cord. Misalignments in your spine can choke your spinal cord, disrupting this lifeline of communication. Chiropractors are trained to locate these areas in your spine that are putting pressure on your nerves and remove them with painless spinal adjustments. Once the pressure is taken off the nerve, your body is free to function at its fullest potential.

What exactly does a Chiropractor do?

A chiropractor is the only national and state licensed professional who is trained to detect and correct subluxations (misalignments in vertebra). The correction of subluxations is done by adjustments (manual manipulation).  Back to top

What is a subluxation?

Subluxation is when a bone in the spine (vertebra) is out of place causing pressure on a nerve in the spinal cord thereby disrupting the communication between the brain and the body. Subluxations can be caused by physical and/or emotional trauma to the body (injuries, stress, depression, toxins) and are sometimes present without any pain at all.  Back to top

What education is required to become a Doctor of Chiropractic?

Chiropractors obtain a doctorate in Chiropractic or DC (not the same as a doctorate of Medicine or MD). Although most of their studies involving the human anatomy and biology are similar, Chiropractors focus on natural healing using adjustments while Medical Doctors focus on pharmacology (medicine). Similar to pre-med students, certain prerequisites are required during undergraduate studies before a student can apply for a Chiropractic college. Once accepted, the student acquires an additional 3-4 years in Chiropractic School. Chiropractors spend one year in residency during their studies before they are required to take and pass national exams in order to be “board certified” both nationally and by the state in which they practice.  Back to top

Do Chiropractic adjustments hurt?

There are many techniques in the chiropractic profession used to remove subluxations. At Salus Chiropractic, more than 30% of our patients are under the age of 15, so we must use techniques that are pain free. Sometimes after the first few adjustments patients will experiencing soreness, just as getting braces tightened to help with the alignment of teeth can make your mouth sore. This is most often due to the body getting used to being back in the proper alignment and is not permanent.  Back to top

How will Chiropractic help manage my pain?

Chiropractic care has a very good reputation of reducing or completely alleviating pain. If subluxations are the cause of your pain, then you will most likely experience symptom relief. It is very important to understand that the use of medications are an attempt to mask symptoms or pain, achieving only temporary relief. Chiropractic adjustments address the cause of the pain. Remember, we don’t have headaches because we were created with a lack of aspirin in our body.  Back to top

How often will I have to come in?

The frequency of your care is determined upon the results of your x-rays and examination. In order to restore the spine back to the state in which is was designed to be in, time is needed. After this initial phase of correction, only maintenance adjustments are needed. The choice to continue care is always up to you, the patient. We have found that when patients understand the benefits of regular care and choose to continue past the correction phase, they have great success with chiropractic and understand the benefits of continued chiropractic checkups.  Back to top

Your spine is important

Select different areas of the spine to learn about which vertebrae protect the nerves that supply brain impulses to the various organs in your body and what type of symptoms you might experience if you have a subluxation in this area.

Cervical 1–4 (C1–C4)

C1–C4 protect the nerves that go to your brain's blood vessels, eyes, lacrimal gland, parotid gland, scalp, base of skull, neck, muscles, and diaphragm.

Possible Symptoms

If you have a subluxation in one or more of these vertebrae, you could be experiencing headaches, migraines, dizziness, high blood pressure, sinus problems, allergies, head colds, fatigue, vision problems, sore throat, stiff neck, cough, and croup.

Cervical 5–8 (C5–C7)

C5–C7 protect the nerves that go to your neck muscles, shoulders, elbows, arms, wrists, hands, fingers, esophagus, heart, lungs, and chest.

Possible Symptoms

If you have a subluxation in one or more of these vertebrae, you could be experiencing arm pain, hand and finger numbness or tingling, asthma, and heart conditions.

Thoracic 1–4 (T1–T4)

T1–T4 protect the nerves that go to your arms, esophagus, heart, lungs, chest, larynx, and trachea.

Possible Symptoms

If you have a subluxation in one or more of these vertebrae, you could be experiencing wrist, hand and finger numbness or pain, middle back pain, congestion, asthma, high blood pressure, heart conditions, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Thoracic 5–12 (T5–T12)

T5–T12 protect the nerves that go to your gallbladder, liver, diaphragm, stomach, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, small intestine, appendix, adrenals, colon, uterus, and buttocks.

Possible Symptoms

If you have a subluxation in one or more of these vertebrae, you could be experiencing gallbladder conditions, jaundice, liver conditions, stomach problems, ulcers, gastritis, kidney problems.

Lumbar 1–5 (L1–L5)

L1–L5 protect the nerves that go to your large intestines, buttocks, groin, reproductive organs, colon, thighs, knees, legs, and feet.

Possible Symptoms

If you have a subluxation in one or more of these vertebrae, you could be experiencing constipation, colitis, diarrhea, gas pain, irritable bowel (IBS), menstrual problems, low back pain, and pain or numbness in legs.

Sacral

Buttocks, reproductive organs, bladder, prostate gland, legs, ankles, feet, and toes.

Possible Symptoms

If you have a subluxation in one or more of these vertebrae, you could be experiencing constipation, diarrhea, bladder problems, menstrual problems, lower back pain, and pain or numbness in legs.