Some Frequently Asked Questions About Lyon County Chiropractic

Check out some of the frequently asked questions about our chiropractic services:

Chiropractors are trained to detect misalignments of the spine and extremities which disrupt proper body function, interfere with the nervous system, and may cause pain. Once the misalignment is found, a chiropractor can perform an adjustment to restore proper motion and function to the body.

Spinal misalignments may be caused by several factors. There are four main causes of misalignments and disease they include: physical (trauma), chemical (smoking / drugs), emotional (stress), and spiritual. Many times, we think of the obvious reasons such as accidents, injuries, and trauma, but misalignments are also caused by stress and repetitive activities. Misalignments might also be caused by factors we may not consider initially, such as environmental pollutants or food additives. Often, it is a combination of several factors.

The "cracking, popping or clicking" sounds that may be heard during an adjustment are caused when a small separation of joints occurs releasing gas from the disk. This sound does not occur with every adjustment and does not indicate the quality or effectiveness of an adjustment. Furthermore, there are some techniques that do not produce a sound at all. 

The length of time that you wish to benefit from chiropractic care is ultimately your decision. Often times, conditions which bring patients to the chiropractor have been present for a period of time, with or without pain. Healing the body is a process and it may take time for you to reach your treatment goals. Each patient's healing time will vary and treatment recommendations will be made accordingly. Those patients who are pain-free and wish to maintain good health are welcome to continue chiropractic care on a basis which suits them the best. The general suggestion for maintenance care is four to six weeks. Some patients may choose a shorter or longer span of time, depending on what gives them the best results.

Misalignments of the spine may be present without pain. Often times, pain occurs after a condition has been present for a period of time. Knowing this, wouldn't you want to avoid pain altogether? Symptoms are not a reliable indicator of health. The best way to stay healthy is to prevent problems from occurring.

Absolutely! As your body changes throughout your pregnancy, chiropractic care will help you to adapt. It will also help to relieve any symptoms which may be associated with changes experienced during pregnancy. Some of the most common pregnancy symptoms include, but are not limited to: low back pain, sciatica, rib pain, pelvic pain, shoulder pain, headache and altered gait pattern. Adjustments will also improve the function and nerve supply to the body which will better support the baby's development and help provide a positive experience with labor and delivery. 

Definitely! Effects of spinal misalignments can be minimized by early detection. Misalignments may be present early on in a child's life and may even be the result of the birth process. As a child learns to sit, crawl, stand, and walk new stresses are introduced to their bodies which may lead to misalignments of the spine.

Absolutely! Chiropractic care has been shown to increase athletic performance by increasing speed, muscular performance, range of motion and flexibility. All four help athletes to perform at a higher level than their opponents. 

Chiropractic care has a beneficial effect on the immune system. We know that when patients are adjusted, their immune system responds by increasing the production of white blood cells that prevent and fight off colds and other infections. 

LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Low-level laser, or cold laser, penetrates the surface of the skin to stimulate the body's cells, promoting natural healing. It helps your body heal faster and stronger while decreasing pain and swelling.  

Low-level laser treatments typically last 2-6 minutes.

No. This type of laser penetrates the skin without causing heat or damage. It is a painless procedure. Most patients will feel nothing during treatment. Also, the laser does not damage healthy tissue, so there is no risk of too much treatment.

Currently, there are over 25 different low-level lasers that have been cleared by the FDA for various types of treatments. Laser has been in use around the world for over 30 years and has been in the United States for over 10 years. Laser has been proven completely safe in over 3000 worldwide studies. See our research link for articles on the use of a laser to treat many conditions.

The laser is absorbed by all tissues including the skin, subcutaneous tissue, tendons, muscles, and nerves. It can be used to treat neck and back pain, wrist, elbow, knee and ankle pain, burns and scars, ligament damage from sprains, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, arthritis pain, headaches, Plantar Fasciitis, and tendonitis or bursitis.

This is a treatment called instrument assisted manual therapy. It is a form of soft tissue mobilization that uses stainless steel instruments (metal tools) to detect and treat scar tissue and restrictions. The scar tissue limits range of motion, and in most cases, will cause pain that limits normal function. Instrument assisted manual therapy separates and breaks scar tissue while stretching connective tissue and muscle fibers. It also increases blood flow to the area and increases cellular activity in the region to help reabsorb the broken-up scar tissue and rebuild healthy, normal tissue.