FAQs

1. What is chiropractic and how does it work?
A. We have a singular objective and do not infringe upon other fields of health, our philosophy and practice seeks to keep the bones of the spine (vertebrae) in their proper relationships with each other, in order to allow the body to more fully express its maximum potential.

2.What type of education does a Doctor of Chiropractic have?
A. After undergraduate studies, a student of chiropractic completes an additional four-year curriculum of over 4500 college classroom hours of health sciences, emphasizing anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, and spinal adjusting techniques. To graduate with a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree, each candidate must pass the National Board Examination. Then candidates apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass another exam before being granted the privilege to practice.

3. How do you know if you have a vertebral subluxation?
A. Unfortunately, most of the time you don’t. It is true that some vertebral subluxations may be accompanied by pain and/or muscle spasms, but most are not. The only way to be absolutely sure is to have your spine checked by the trained hands of a chiropractor.

4. How do you identify these Vertebral Subluxations?
A. In our office, identification and correction of vertebral subluxation is done by hand. It is based upon the fact that the body always uses its spinal muscles to try to correct any and all vertebral subluxations. After much training and sensitizing of our fingertips, we identify exactly what the body is trying to do with any spinal bone. If the body is trying unsuccessfully to move a bone, we implicitly trust the body’s innate wisdom to know what it is doing, and we offer a little extra thrust for the body to complete the job. When the balance of spinal muscles indicates that the body is content with the position of all spinal bones, we are also satisfied, and nothing further is done.

** At Chiropractic LifeCenter we NEVER charge for a consultation, to see if indeed you do have a chiropractic issue.**

5. What is an adjustment?
A. Doctors of Chiropractic are trained to apply a specific force to the spine or extremities in a precise direction to correct joint disfunction. This is called an adjustment. An adjustment adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more correct position and range of motion.

The purpose of adjustments is to achieve improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved health.

6. Can I adjust myself?
A. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs. To achieve the healthful benefits of chiropractic, you should only receive adjustments from a Doctor of Chiropractic. A chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific spinal joint, so it is impossible to adjust oneself. Even your doctor seeks out the services of another colleague to help maintain and restore his or her own proper spinal function.

7. Do children need chiropractic care?
A. More and more parents are seeking chiropractic care for their children. Many spinal issues seen in adults began as early as birth. Even so called ‘natural’ birthing methods can stress an infant’s spine and developing nerve system. The resulting irritation to the nerve system caused by spinal misalignment can be the cause of many newborn health complaints. Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked right away. As the infant grows, learning to hold up the head, sit, crawl and walk are all activities that affect spinal alignment and are important times to have a child checked by a Doctor of Chiropractic.

As the child begins to participate in regular childhood activities like skating or riding a bike, small yet significant spinal misalignments (subluxations) may occur. If neglected, the injuries during this period of rapid growth may lead to more serious problems later in life. Subtle trauma throughout childhood will affect the future development of the spine leading to impaired nervous system function. Any interference to the vital nerve system will adversely affect the body’s ability to function at its best.

One of the most common reason parents seek care for their child is trauma from an injury of some sort. These misalignments may or may not result in immediate pain or symptoms. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify potential spinal injury from these traumas, make the correction early in life and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.

It is important to understand that the doctor of chiropractic does not treat conditions or diseases. The expertise of the chiropractor is in checking the child’s spine for misalignments that impair nervous system function therefore affecting overall body function.

Chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to fit a child’s size, weight, and unique spinal condition. They are both gentle and specific to the child’s developing spinal structures. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and look forward to subsequent visits. They also report that their children experience a greater level of health while under regular chiropractic care.

To enhance your child’s ability to function in a greater state of health, Dr. Hahn is dedicated to serving children with the utmost of care. Once your family has experienced the many benefits of chiropractic care—please help us tell others!

8. How do chiropractors help my children?

It’s All About Function
A. Why do millions of parents bring their children to Doctors of Chiropractic every year? Is it only for when my child is hurting? Not at all!!

Chiropractic’s purpose is to remove interferences to the natural healing power running through the body. When that power is unleashed the healing that results may be profound.

Today we find more parents bringing their children to chiropractors for day-to-day health concerns we’re all familiar with: colds, sore throats, ear infections, fevers, colic, asthma, tonsillitis, allergies, bed-wetting, infections, pains, falls, stomach-aches, and the hundred and one little and big things children go through as they grow up.

Today’s parents are informed and make their health care choices accordingly. They have become more concerned than ever about the adverse effects drugs have on their children. Parents are hesitant to merely mask symptoms with drugs and are justly worried about their numerous side effects. Parents are increasingly asking, when handed a prescription for a child’s recurrent problem, “Is this really all I can do for my child? Isn’t there a safer option? How can I restore health?”

Today’s parents desire to achieve a state of true health—This is leading them to seek health care options which support their children’s own natural ability to be healthy.

Chiropractic care is one such option. All children function better with 100% nerve function. All children deserve the right to express their fullest potential. Chiropractic care for children is safe, gentle and effective. It enhances the body’s inborn potential for well-being.

9. I’m Pregnant; Can chiropractic care help me?

Chiropractic and Pregnancy: Greater Comfort and Safer Births

How can chiropractic add comfort?
A. Chiropractic care in pregnancy is an essential ingredient to your prenatal care choices. A large percent of all pregnant women experience back discomfort/ pain during pregnancy. This is due to the rapid growth of the baby and an interference to your body’s normal structural adaptations to that growth.

Preexisting unnoticed imbalances in your spine and pelvis become overtaxed during these times. The added stresses lead to discomfort and difficulty while performing routine, daily activities. Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the common discomforts experienced in pregnancy. Specific adjustments eliminate these stresses in your spine, restore balance to your pelvis and result in greater comfort and lifestyle improvements.

Comfort for your baby, too.

As your baby develops, your uterus enlarges to accommodate the rapid growth. So long as the pelvis is in a balanced state, the ligaments connected to the uterus maintain an equalized, supportive suspension for the uterus. If your pelvis is out of balance in any way, these ligaments become torqued and twisted, causing a condition known as constraint to your uterus. This constraint limits the space of the developing baby. Any compromised position for the baby throughout pregnancy will affect his or her optimal development. Conditions such as torticollis occur because a baby’s space was cramped in utero.

If the woman’s uterus is constrained as birth approaches, the baby is prevented from getting into the best possible position for birth. Even if the baby is in the desirable head down position, often times constraint to the uterus affects the baby’s head from moving into the ideal presentation for delivery. The head may be slightly tilted off to one side or even more traumatically, present in the posterior position. Any baby position even slightly off during birth will slow down labor, and add pain to both the mother and baby. Many women have been told that their babies were too big, or labor “just slowed down” when it was really the baby’s presentation interfering with the normal process and progression. Avoidable interventions are implemented turing a natural process into an operative one.

Doctors of Chiropractic work specifically with your pelvis throughout pregnancy restoring a state of balance and creating an environment for an easier, safer delivery.

Preparing for a Safer Birth
Dystocia is defined as difficult labor and is something every woman wants to avoid. In addition to the pain and exhaustion caused by long, difficult labors, dystocia leads to multiple, medical interventions which may be physically and emotionally traumatic to both you and your baby. Some of these interventions are the administering of pitocin, the use of epidurals, painful episiotomies, forceful pulling on the baby’s fragile spine, vacuum extraction, forceps and perhaps even c-sections. Each of these procedures carry a high risk of injury to you, your baby or both! However, all of these procedures used to hasten the delivery process can be avoided if delivery goes more smoothly to begin with.
Published studies have indicated that chiropractic care does in fact reduce labor time.

**Dr. Hahn & the Chiropractic LifeCenter offer specific analysis and adjustments for your special needs in pregnancy. You and your baby’s continued safety and comfort is primary in our care. This pregnancy, offer yourself the best! Include the many benefits chiropractic offers in your prenatal care choices. Call for your individual consultation. Give you and your baby the opportunity for a more comfortable pregnancy and a safer, easier birth!**

10. Questions Parents Frequently Ask About Children and Chiropractic

Why?
A. Children are as susceptible to trauma in their spines from various activities and events. These microtraumas can subluxate (misalign) the vertebrae of the spine, placing pressure on their spinal nerves and therefore decreasing their bodies’ ability to function normally. Although symptoms, such as pain and malfunction may not show up for years, injury to their vital nervous system can have a lifetime of damaging effects.

Does it Hurt?
A. Chiropractors specializing in children use very specific, gentle techniques to care for children. On the very young, the adjustment is as light as a finger touch. Doctors of Chiropractic who are members of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association have taken post-graduate classes on specific techniques for pregnant mothers, infants and children to enhance their skills in this field.

How?
**Dr. Hahn always offers complimentary consultations, giving parents the opportunity to meet him, find out about chiropractic for their families and discuss their individual needs.**

11. Am I too old for chiropractic care?
A. Regardless of age, chiropractic care can improve overall health, improve mobility, and maintain vitality. The adjustment technique used for seniors is modified for maximum comfort and results.

12. Can I help speed the healing process?
A. Unfortunately there are no shortcuts to make your body’s natural healing process work faster. But you can do several things to assist in the recovery process.

Practice good posture. Learn proper sitting and lifting methods. Your doctor may suggest specific exercises to help retrain the muscles that are responsible for supporting your spine.

Get enough rest. Sleep is very important to the healing process.

Proper nutrition is more important than ever when you’re trying to heal. Eat well balanced meals, and if you have a weight concern, now is a good time to shed some pounds and reduce unnecessary spinal stress.
And finally, follow your chiropractor’s care plan. It’s important to keep your recommended appointments if you want to achieve optimum health.