Frequently Asked Questions

What is chiropractic?
How does chiropractic work?
What type of education do chiropractors receive?
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
Do children need chiropractic care?
What causes a subluxation?
Does chiropractic hurt and is it safe?
What is the sound I hear when I am adjusted?
Can I adjust myself?
Is it true that if I go to a chiropractor once, I have to go for the rest of my life?
Can chiropractic care work for all health problems?
Can I receive chiropractic care if I am pregnant?
Why do the doctors at Payne Chiropractic Center take x-rays?

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic care is a natural form of health care that focuses on the causes of a problem, rather than just the symptoms. It focuses on maintaining a properly moving spine, which allows the nervous system to function properly, and the entire body to work at its greatest potential.

BACK TO TOP

How does chiropractic work?

The human body is an incredible thing. Under the proper conditions, it is able to heal itself and respond to daily changes in your environment, all without you actually having the think about it. The goal of chiropractic is to remove any and all interferences in the nervous system that would disrupt normal health.

BACK TO TOP

What type of education do chiropractors receive?

Chiropractors are very well educated health care providers. The education received in chiropractic colleges is similar to that received by medical doctors, with some differences. Because chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, they focus less on these aspects of health care, but instead put more emphasis on spinal and joint mechanics and how to locate and correct subluxations. After graduation, the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) must pass a four-part examination given by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). They must then apply to the individual state boards for licensing, where they may be required to take yet another examination. Each year, the doctors at Payne Chiropractic Center must continue their education with postgraduate education for license renewal and to stay up-to-date with the newest research and techniques.

BACK TO TOP

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

An adjustment is the act of applying a specific force in the proper direction to a joint that is subluxated or not moving properly. The purpose is to return proper motion to that joint, eliminate any nervous interference that the subluxation has caused and improve spinal function and overall health.

BACK TO TOP

Do children need chiropractic care?

Just watch a toddler learning to walk or a little league game and you can see how children can become subluxated. Several factors can result in childhood subluxation, including the birth process, falls while walking or running, carrying a backpack to school, and falls and injuries in sports. Many childhood complaints that are played off as “growing pains” are often the result of improper spinal health. Problems that emerge in adulthood can often be traced back to childhood problems or traumas, and could have been prevented with early chiropractic care. Drs. Payne and Mooney treat patients of all ages, and use chiropractic adjustments that are specifically adapted to treat the young, developing spine. Techniques used on children are much different than those used for adults.

BACK TO TOP

What causes a subluxation?

Many factors can cause spinal malfunction and nerve interference. One of the most common is trauma. These can be either major traumas like automobile accidents, sports injuries, and falls, or smaller “micro-traumas” or wear and tear from things like keyboarding, prolonged sitting or standing, lifting, or improper sleeping positions. Subluxations can also be caused by a variety of stresses, both internal (anxiety, stress, emotional upset) and external (environmental, nutritional). But whatever the cause of subluxation, the results are the same: nervous interference and a reduction of overall health.

BACK TO TOP

Does chiropractic hurt and is it safe?

Chiropractic care is one of the safest forms of health care available, because it avoids invasive procedures and medications. The adjustment itself is usually painless and actually feels quite good. However, it is possible that the first few times a joint is adjusted, you may be a little sore. This is because the joints are often being moved for the first time in several years or even decades. It’s similar to beginning a new exercise routine, you find out you have muscles and tissues you haven’t used in a while or never knew you had. As the body becomes used to moving properly, the adjustments become easier and much more enjoyable.

BACK TO TOP

What is the sound I hear when I am adjusted?

Not all chiropractic adjustments create a noise, but most do. The “popping” sound often heard is caused by a gas in the fluid around the joints. This gas rushes in to fill a vacuum, that is created when the joints are separated slightly with the adjustment, and forms a small bubble which then pops. The sound is painless and completely harmless.

BACK TO TOP

Can I adjust myself?

No. Even chiropractors have to rely on another chiropractor for spinal adjustments. This is because the adjustment requires a very specific force and angle that is virtually impossible to perform correctly by yourself. Many people think that if they twist and turn certain ways, they are doing the same thing as an adjustment because they hear a popping sound. However, if too much force is used, damage can actually be done to the spine as unstable joints become even more unstable.

BACK TO TOP

Is it true that if I go to a chiropractor once, I have to go for the rest of my life?

No. Many patients see chiropractors just for pain relief and stop care after their original problem goes away. However, many patients who realize the benefits of having a nervous system that works properly, without interference, often choose to continue care on a less frequent schedule to maintain their health, before another problem surfaces. To make this type of care easier, Payne Chiropractic Center offers a wellness care plan that provides the type of care needed to maintain normal health and function at an affordable price.

BACK TO TOP

Can chiropractic care work for all health problems?

No. Chiropractic care does not work for everything. However, we have had a great deal of success with many health problems that are not necessarily considered “back” related. Because the nerves that leave the spine go to every area and tissue in the body, interference and subluxation at the spine can have an effect on any organ or tissue in the body. This means that removing these interferences can improve the nervous flow to these areas and increase the likelihood of healing. We have also had great success with shoulder problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle problems and heel spurs (plantar fasciitis).

BACK TO TOP

Can I receive chiropractic care if I am pregnant?

Absolutely! Chiropractic adjustments can be modified to patients at any stage of their pregnancy. The doctors at Payne Chiropractic Center have helped hundreds of women have a more comfortable pregnancy. Because of the many changes that occur during pregnancy, the mother-to-be often experiences pain in the middle and lower back. They are often looking for some sort of treatment that will not affect the baby, and chiropractic care offers the ideal solution. We have even treated women on the very day that they delivered, and our patients have said that being under chiropractic care made the delivery faster and easier on the mother.

BACK TO TOP

Why do the doctors at Payne Chiropractic Center take x-rays?

Our doctors take x-rays to reveal internal structures and spinal alignment. They are also concerned about hidden disease processes and spinal disorders like deterioration, arthritis, disc disorders, spinal curvature and tumors, some of which may alter the way in which a patient is adjusted, or may require referral for further treatment or testing. “To see is to know, not to see is to guess, and we don’t guess with your health.

BACK TO TOP

If you have any other questions not addressed here, simply call (704) 838-0990, or click HERE to ask one of our doctors a question.