FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic care is a conservative, non-invasive treatment that is safe and effective. Relief is provided without the use of drugs or surgery. In most cases, chiropractic care is less expensive than medical care. Chiropractors are more extensively trained in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular skeletal (nerve-muscle-bone-joint) disorders than medical doctors are.

Chiropractic has been helping people with musculoskeletal pain for over 110 years. Medical studies have shown that chiropractic can be effective at treating back pain, sciatica, neck pain, dizziness, and even high blood pressure. Millions of people have benefited from the natural approach of chiropractic.

The word chiropractic comes from the Greek “chiros” and “praktikos,” meaning “done by hand.” The technique of chiropractic was first developed by DD Palmer in 1895, and the theory of chiropractic was based on the concept that dysfunction in the spine can alter the function of the nervous system and create pain and illness.

What can Chiropractic treat?
  • Sprains - injury to ligaments (which connect bones to other bones across joints).
  • Strains - injury to muscles.
  • Arthritis - "wearing out" or degeneration of a joint.
  • Headaches - pain in the head, usually caused by a problem in the neck. Chiropractic treatment to the neck will usually relieve headache pain.
  • Neck pain
  • Upper back pain
  • Low back pain
  • Slipped disc
  • Herniated disc - discs are cushions between vertebrae (bones of spine). They can tear causing pain in the neck or lower back, usually with radiation of pain into an arm or leg.
  • Whiplash - injury to neck from car accident.
  • Pinched nerve - pressure on nerve causing pain, tingling, or numbness into arm or leg. This can be caused by a number of different things, such as disc herniation, sprains/strains, arthritis, whiplash, etc.
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome - pressure on nerve in wrist, causing numbness into hand and sometimes forearm
  • Contusions - bruises of muscle, bone, or joints.
  • Vertigo - dizziness, usually caused by a problem in the neck.
  • Scoliosis - Curvature of the spine.
  • Sciatica - Pressure on nerve in low back causing pain into the leg.
  • Stenosis - narrowed canal in neck or low back vertebra.
  • Facet syndrome - injury to joint (facet) in back or neck.
  • Myalgia - pain in muscle.
  • Neuralgia - pain in nerve.
  • Fracture - broken bone. Only type we treat is a compression fracture of spine (vertebra) caused by a crushing injury, as in a fall.
  • Sacro-iliac sprain - sacro-iliac joint is at the base of the spine. Some patients describe this as "hip pain".
  • Subluxation - this is a condition when a vertebra is moved slightly out of it normal position but not quite dislocated. The vertebra is then unable to move normally, which leads to pain and tightness. This is corrected by a chiropractic adjustment, which is the application of a force by hand that mobilizes the vertebra to restore motion and relieve pain.
  • Rib sprain/strain - injury to rib or muscle between ribs causing back and or chest pain.
  • TMJ syndrome - Pain in jaw. TMJ is "temporal mandibular joint" and is located just in front of the ear on each side. It is the "hinge" that allows the jaw to open and close.
  • Tendonitis - inflammation and pain of tendons, which attaches muscle to bone.
  • Bursitis - inflammation of a bursa, which is a small fluid-filled sac between tendons or a tendon and a bone. These are designed to prevent friction.
  • Muscle spasms - cramping of a muscle.
  • Tennis elbow - tendinitis of the elbow.
  • Migraine - type of headache that is accompanied by tingling or numbness on one side of face, nausea and vomiting, and is made worse by light or noise.
What is a chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is subluxated, "locked up," or not moving properly. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to eliminate interference to the nervous system, improving spinal function and overall health. Gentle spinal adjustments boost your body's immunity.

What insurance networks do you participate in?
  • Affiliated Computer Services (ACS)
  • Aetna
  • Aetna HMO
  • America's Health Plan
  • American Specialty Health Network (ASHN)
  • Anthem - Traditional
  • Anthem - Blue Access
  • Anthem - Blue Preferred
  • Anthem - Medicare Advantage
  • Anthem - Medicare Preferred
  • Cigna PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Beechstreet
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Capp Care
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Emerald Health Network
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Great West Network
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Klais Health Network
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Ohio Health Network
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Ohio Health Plan
  • ChiroHealth Ohio - Ohio Preferred Network
  • Chiropractic Plans of America
  • Choice Care Network
  • Comprehensive Health Group - Universal Health Systems
  • Direct Care America
  • HMO Health Ohio (MM)
  • Humana
  • J.P. Farley Corp.
  • Managed Care Inc.
  • National Advantage Program (NAP)
  • NHCD
  • Ohio Health Choice
  • Ohio Preferred Network
  • PHCS
  • PMES
  • Primary Health Systems
  • Promark Provider Networks, Inc.
  • Medical Mutual of Ohio
  • Super Med Classic (MM)
  • Super Med Plus (MM)
  • Super Med HMO (MM)
  • Triad Healtcare Inc.
  • UniCare
  • United Health Care - Benesight
  • United Health Care - PPO
  • United Health Care - Advance PCS
  • United Health Care - ERC Health
How can vitamin supplements help me?

Today as many as 40% of American adults take vitamin supplements on a regular basis. Some people question whether the use of supplements is justified. But new lifestyles and new eating habits such as dieting, meal skipping, between meal snacking and the consumption of "empty calories" can work against good nutrition.

The most widely used guideline for nutrition is the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA), as established by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). However, the NRC acknowledges the RDA's are "neither minimal requirements nor necessarily optimal levels of intake," in other words, many of us need more than the RDA.

Therefore, two issues need to be addressed:
- Are we meeting the RDA for all nutrients with diet alone?
- Do certain conditions increase the need for nutrients?

Several government studies over the past 25 years have shown widespread deficiencies of calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, B1, B2, and B6. The population groups most widely at risk are:
- Women - calcium, magnesium, iron Vitamins A, C, B6. These deficiencies are probably due to the low calorie intake of women.
- Teenagers - meet the RDA for only 1 out of 12 nutrients.
- Elderly - calcium, vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, and C. Deficiencies are the result of inadequate intake, inhibited absorption, and poor dentition and drug/nutrient interaction.
- Infants and children - iron, vitamins A and C.
- Lower income families - only 12% of food stamp recipients meet RDA for all nutrients.

Other factors which interfere with nutrient intake include:
- Increased popularity of fast foods.
- Meal skipping, snacking, and away from home meals. (25% of Americans skip breakfast)
- Low calorie diets - nutrient intake decreases with lower calorie diets.
- Food quality - today most Americans eat less breads, vegetables, and cereals and more sweets and fatty foods.
- Drugs - they impair nutrient absorption, increase excretion and decrease nutrient utilization (especially oral contraceptives, laxative, and aspirin).

Scientific studies indicate that many factors increase nutrient needs beyond the RDA:
- Cigarette smoking increases vitamin C needs.
- Heavy alcohol intake increases needs for folic acid, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, iron, and protein.
- Environmental stress increases need for vitamin C.
- Air pollution increases the need for vitamin E, which protects against damaging free radical present in pollution.
- Pregnancy and lactation (breast-feeding) increase need for most nutrients.
- Injuries increase the need for zinc, iron, copper, and vitamin, A, C, D, K, and B complex.
- Bacterial and viral infections increase the need for vitamin A, C, E, B6, and folacin.

In summary, the high incidence of below RDA intakes presents a situation in which nutritional supplements are a ration and beneficial choice. Supplementation provides a practical means of increasing adequate nutrient intakes.

Can I receive chiropractic care if I am pregnant?

Pregnant women can safely receive chiropractic care. In fact, chiropractic treatments can promote a healthy, stress-free pregnancy by alleviating joint pain, muscle aches and nausea.

Chiropractors are trained to accommodate the special needs of pregnant women. Treatments are modified so that no pressure is applied to the abdomen.

Misaligned joints may be caused by the massive changes that occur during a pregnancy. Weight gain, changes to the alignment of the pelvis, changes to posture, and increased curvature of the back all contribute to pain and discomfort. Chiropractic treatments can be especially effective in reducing the effects of these physical stresses on the body.

Chiropractic treatment can provide relief for other symptoms of pregnancy, such as nausea and morning sickness. Stress to the uterus and its supporting ligaments may be reduced by means of a specialized technique in establishing balance in the pelvis. This has also proved to be useful in helping breech babies turn naturally before the onset of labor.

Maintaining a healthy spinal alignment will assist the body in functioning more effectively during this significant time of change.