Frequently Asked Questions
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The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a patient needs to be in his or her office. In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Dr. Lukovsky will tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.
Doctors of chiropractic are educated as primary-contact healthcareproviders, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of conditionsrelated to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments and jointsof the spine and extremities) and the nerves that supply them.Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the moststringent of any of the healthcare professions. The typical applicantfor chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years ofpre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses inbiology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology andrelated lab work.
Once accepted into an accredited chiropracticcollege, the requirements become even more demanding — four to fiveacademic years of professional study are the standard. Doctors ofchiropractic are educated in orthopedics, neurology, physiology, humananatomy, clinical diagnosis including laboratory procedures, diagnosticimaging, exercise, nutrition rehabilitation and more. Becausechiropractic care includes highly skilled manipulation and adjustingtechniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical techniquetraining to master these important manipulative procedures. In total,the chiropractic college curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours ofclassroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study isapproved by the Councilon Chiropractic Education, anaccrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department ofEducation.
Yes. Chiropractic care is included in most health insurance plans, including major medical plans, workers’ compensation, Medicare, some Medicaid plans, and Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for federal employees, among others.
Yes, children can benefit from chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and experience many types of falls and blows from activities of daily living as well as from participating in sports. Injuries such as these may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. In the case of children, it is very gentle. Chiropractic care can also help infants and toddlers with poor sleep, poor appetite, colic, torticullis and ear infections.
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) care for patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. They are especially well known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain and headaches using their highly skilled manipulations
or chiropractic adjustments. DCs also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, ligaments and joints. These painful conditions may involve or impact the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction distant to the region of injury. In addition, chiropractors offer advice to patients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.
Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort because minimal force and gentle pressure are used. Dr. Lukovsky uses the Activator Methods Protocol and it is very low force, effective and comfortable. In fact, most patients feel relief immediately following treatment. Any reported soreness after an initial adjustment has been described as similar to that associated with starting a new exercise program. Drinking plenty of water, using an ice pack, and engaging in light stretching after your first visit can help ease any discomfort promote healing.
Chiropractic care is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of most back and neck problems. Spinal adjustments are extremely safe when performed by a licensed chiropractor.
Many pregnant women find that chiropractic adjustments improve the pregnancy experience and make delivery easier. Adjustments are adapted to accommodate the stage of pregnancy and the unique needs of each patient. By using the
Activator Method Protocol the adjustments are safe, effective and very comfortable.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy can help:
- Give the baby room to grow and prevent breech presentation
- Relieve back pain
- Reduce the time of labor and delivery
- Bring the mother’s body back into alignment after delivery
Chiropractors are trained to adjust in a very specific location and direction. As a result, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately.
More than 80 percent of people experience lower back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it is one of the most reported reasons people miss work and is the second most frequent reason patients visit the doctor.