Frequently Asked Questions
Chiropractic has been helping people for over 110 years. 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. Chiropractic is based on the concept that dysfunction in the spine can alter the function of the nervous system and create pain and illness.
Since 1895, our knowledge of neurology and biochemistry has grown exponentially, and over the last 20 years, modern science has made great strides in explaining how chiropractic works.
Learn more about how chiropractic can help you improve your health by checking out some of the more common questions chiropractors face on a regular basis.
Questions on this page:
- What is a chiropractic adjustment?
- Can I tell if I have a subluxation?
- Are all patients adjusted the same way?
- Is chiropractic safe?
- What causes the sound during an adjustment?
- How will the adjustment help me?
- Does an adjustment have to make a noise to be effective?
- Can I adjust myself?
- Is chiropractic care addictive?
- Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor?
- Should I go to a chiropractor if I feel fine?
- Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems?
- Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
- How does chiropractic work?
- What is the goal of chiropractic care?
- Is it true that chiropractors do not prescribe medication or perform surgery?
- What is the difference between a chiropractor (D.C.) and an osteopath (D.O.)?
- Why do chiropractors take x-rays?
- Is a good work-out the same as getting adjusted?
- Is chiropractic scientific?
- Does insurance cover my care?
- How much do your services cost?
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
After establishing the presence of a subluxation, Dr. Emberland will perform a procedure called a chiropractic adjustment. The adjustment is the key to chiropractic care.
Chiropractic adjustments are gentle. Dr. Emberland applies a specific quick, but gentle force to the subluxation, allowing the body to unlock the vertebrae from its malposition. Dr. Emberland employs several different techniques, some delivered manually with his hands others through the use of specialized tables, or tools.
Similar to straightening teeth, correcting subluxations requires time for the surrounding tissues to accept this newly corrected position as normal. Correcting the subluxation provides proper alignment to the spine, reduces the five effects of the vertebral subluxation complex and maximizes nervous system function.
Can I tell if I have a subluxation?
Sometimes. A subluxation is like a dental cavity – you may have it for a long time before symptoms appear. That’s why periodic spinal checkups are so important.
Although it may be possible to know you have a subluxation, it is rarely possible to be sure you don’t. Regular spinal checkups are always a good idea, and they promote good health from the inside out.
Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No. Just as each person is unique, the care that each person receives should also be unique. Dr. Emberland evaluates each person and develops an individualized care plan. He takes in to consideration many factors and attempts to accommodate individual preferences.
One thing is certain each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before, so despite some differences there are similarities to everyone’s care.
Is chiropractic safe?
Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative and natural approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs.
As proof, one merely has to compare malpractice rates between chiropractors and other health care professionals. Chiropractors’ malpractice premiums are only a fraction of those for medical doctors.
Check out the research section on chiropractic safety for more information.
What causes the sound during an adjustment?
Remember, adjustments do not always produce a sound. Many techniques within chiropractic do not cause this sound (called cavitation) at all.
When this “cracking” or “popping” sound is heard it is caused by gas rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated.
This harmless and painless sound is not always a good indicator of the success of the adjustment. Hearing or not hearing this sound should not be a goal when you visit a chiropractor; correction of the subluxation is.
How will the adjustment help me?
Adjustments help by removing nerve interference. The adjustment is not what heals your body; it is actually you that heals you. The adjustment facilitates your bodies own healing mechanisms.
Does an adjustment have to make a noise to be effective?
No, it is a common misconception that your joints must make a noise to be properly adjusted. Rarely does the vertebra make a noise when it becomes misaligned, so why would it have to make a noise in the process of re-alignment?
There are times when your spine is adjusted that a sound will be created. This sound means little, and is a poor indicator of the success of your adjustment. Dr. Emberland employs several techniques that do create this sound and several techniques that do not.
Can I adjust myself?
No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately.
It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a “popping” sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable spine even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!
Is chiropractic care addictive?
No. (If only it were, there would be many more healthy people around!)
Although it is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more energetic as a result or regular chiropractic care, it is impossible to become addicted to chiropractic care. So unfortunately chiropractic is not addictive, but good health is.
Can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor?
Yes. It’s an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who have had spinal surgery will return to their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect of additional surgery. This common occurrence is known as “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome.”
Although techniques may need to be modified to accommodate a person who has had a surgery, chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if chiropractic care is utilized initially, back surgery can often be avoided in the first place.
Should I go to a chiropractor if I feel fine?
The lack of symptoms does not equal health. For instance, the American Heart Association calls hypertension (high blood pressure) the silent killer, as thousands die every year who feel just fine.
Just as regularly checking your blood pressure is important, having a scheduled check-up for your spine and nervous system is vital – even if you feel fine!
Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems?
Chiropractic care is successful with a wide variety of health problems not necessarily considered “back” problems because the focus of chiropractic care is the improvement of nervous system function.
While no guarantee can be given that chiropractic will “cure” any specific condition, with a normal nerve supply the body’s natural healing capacity can improve countless health problems
Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
Anytime is a good time to improve the functioning of your nervous system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting tables and techniques always adapted to a patients size, weight, age, and condition of health.
See the other pregnancy-related sections of this site for more information.
How does chiropractic work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your body’s inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health.
The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and remove interference (subluxation) from your nervous system. With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health through specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body to heal itself.
A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health!
What is the goal of chiropractic care?
Because chiropractic adjustments are primarily applied to the spine, many individuals incorrectly assume that chiropractors treat only back and neck ailments.
While we do quickly and effectively eliminate back and neck pain, it’s not the only goal. The objective is to restore and optimize human health. In fact, according to a statement from The Association of Chiropractic Colleges, “The purpose of chiropractic is to optimize health.”
Is it true that chiropractors do not prescribe medication or perform surgery?
Yes. Chiropractors do not include medication or surgery in their treatment program. Chiropractic is based on the fact that the body has a built-in capacity to restore health from within, and base their care on this principle.
Occasionally, the use of medication can interfere with the body’s healing mechanisms, produce side effects, create dependence and lead to drug-caused disease or complications.
The first response in most illnesses and injuries should be conservative care. Chiropractic’s principles make it possibly the safest and most appealing of the healing arts.
What is the difference between a chiropractor (D.C.) and an osteopath (D.O.)?
Chiropractors base their care on the detection correction, and prevention of vertebral subluxations. We use specific spinal adjustments to correct the spine, to improve nerve system functions and reduce nerve interference.
Osteopaths use drugs, surgery, and other traditional medical therapies and only occasionally use manipulative procedures.
Why do chiropractors take x-rays?
Chiropractors take x-rays to reveal the internal structure and alignment of the spine. We are also concerned about underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine such as spinal deterioration, arthritis of the spine, abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors and spinal curvature.
X-rays also provide a blueprint for correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment. Much the same way a dentist may utilize x-rays, a chiropractor finds x-rays invaluable in determining how well your skeletal system has been cared for or neglected over the years.
Is a good work-out the same as getting adjusted?
No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet without normal spinal function a physical workout merely puts additional wear and tear on improperly functioning spinal joints.
Is chiropractic scientific?
Chiropractors have always sought to provide the safest and most effective healing techniques for their patients. In order to achieve this, the chiropractic profession has been dedicated to conducting scientific studies to improve their diagnostic and adjusting techniques.
In the last 20 years the chiropractic profession has established an impressive array of scientific research that demonstrates the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. In fact, the chiropractic profession has accumulated a greater number of scientific trials on chiropractic than the medical profession has accumulated for many of the treatments rendered by medical doctors. According to David M. Edy, M.D., Ph.D., professor of health policy and management with Duke University, North Carolina, only 15 percent of all medical interventions are supported by solid scientific evidence.
“There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit of chiropractic than there are for many, many other things which physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time.”—Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the RAND Corporation, interviewed on ABC’s 20/20
So as you can see chiropractic is extensively supported by scientific research.
Does insurance cover my care?
Yes and No... This is not as easy of a question as we'd like it to be. The short answer is that most health insurance companies now provide coverage for chiropractic care in their policies. The policy may be somewhat restrictive, but that depends on your particular provider. Some policies are a little more liberal, most people who have been injured at work, in their car, or are being covered by another personal injury insurer may do so with less restriction than most health insurance carriers. Bloomington Family Chiropractic is an "In-Network Provider" for virtually all Twin Cities metro area health plans (Blue Cross, Medica, Health Partners, Preferred One, Aetna, Medicare and Medicaid etc.). There is rarely any 'network' restriction to those who have been injured in an auto accident, therefore you may see any provider you wish. Ultimately the best way to find out the details of your insurance coverage is to call them. This is something we'd be happy to help you with. Click here to submit your insurance information to us.
How much do your services cost?
If your insurance covers a portion of your care then it will be quite hard to determine without the specifics of your policy. Please submit your insurance information to us and we will do our best to answer this for you. For those of you with limited insurance coverage or none at all we offer a discounted fee schedule for advanced or same-day payments.
