Advanced Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Care at Olympic Spine & Sports Therapy

Conditions that have been helped through chiropractic care:

Find out How Chiropractic Biophysics Works
in a Comprehensive Treatment Plan

What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic is a health care discipline whose primary focus is the treatment of the musculoskeletal and nervous system. The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “chiropractic adjustment,” also called “spinal manipulation.” The purpose of the adjustment is to restore joint mobility that has become impaired, correct postural imbalances, and normalize nerve function. While treatment is often directed to provide relief from pain, the ultimate goal of chiropractic care is to address the “root cause” of the condition and not just the resulting symptoms.

What is an adjustment?

Also known as joint manipulation, it is a gentle, carefully placed thrust that restores motion to a stiff joint. The chiropractor usually delivers the adjustment by hand, but occasionally uses other instruments. The purpose of the chiropractic adjustment is to restore functionality, improve range of motion and decrease pain.

Is Chiropractic Care safe?

Absolutely. Compared to other medical treatments, which include medication and surgery, chiropractic is by far the safest. It is estimated that 2 million people in the U.S. each year go to the hospital due to physician-induced drug reactions and 380,000 die due to preventable errors. Malpractice insurance companies evaluate the risks of all professions and charge a premium based on the risk the profession poses. Chiropractors have by far the lowest insurance premium of all medical providers. Even though millions of chiropractic treatments are performed each year, only a few complications are registered.

Does the adjustment hurt? 

Most chiropractic adjustments are not only painless, they actually feel great and relieving. In cases of recent injury, there may be some irritation to inflamed tissue causing some discomfort. Application of ice after treatment will soothe the irritation.

What causes the “cracking” sound during a manual adjustment? 

The sound you may hear is no reason to be concerned. The sound is not coming from the bones themselves. It’s coming from a lubricant called synovial fluid that’s found in every joint. That fluid contains dissolved gases. During the adjustment, the joints are slightly separated to restore proper motion. This releases the built-up pressure on the fluid and gasses and creates a “pop” similar to the release of pressure when the cork comes off a bottle of champagne. Not all patients “pop” and not all adjusting techniques produce the noise, which means an adjustment can be effective, even if you don’t hear any noise. Light pressure adjusting instruments can be used for patients that are not comfortable with manual adjustments or the sound that accompanies them.

Is it safe to crack my own back or neck? 

This question is often posed to chiropractors and concern has been raised over its safety. While people might have the right idea by trying to relieve pressure on the joints, the cracking or popping of one’s back or neck is not the same as a chiropractic adjustment. The problem usually keeps coming back, which should be a clear indication that there has been no real adjustment. The cause of the tension, the fixated or jammed vertebrae, has not been corrected. The noise created during self-manipulation is most likely coming from the healthy, mobile joints surrounding the problem area, not the joint that is causing the problem.

Do the doctors treat areas other than the spine? 

Certainly. All of our doctors have had extensive training in the management of extremity problems with chiropractic. Common extraspinal areas treated include the ankles and feet, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and TMJ.

Should I tell my other doctors that I am receiving therapy at Olympic Spine & Sports Therapy? 

We encourage our patients to inform their medical doctors about our office. In fact, our practice enjoys working together with any of your healthcare providers. We will gladly provide reports to your primary care physician as a courtesy to you and your caregivers. Many of our patients request that we contact their primary care provider in order to introduce ourselves, or to provide them with information about our practice. The key to comprehensive care is communication.