Frequently Asked Questions:
How is Atlas Orthogonal different than ordinary Chiropractic?
Are Doctors of Chiropractic licensed by the government?
Does Insurance Cover Chiropractic?
How are Doctors of Chiropractic educated?
What can I expect from my treatment?
How will the adjustments help me?
Why would I go to a Chiropractor if I feel fine?
Can pregnant women go to a Chiropractor?
Can children be treated by Chiropractors?
Who else should go to a Chiropractor?
Chiropractic care require nutritional changes?
Chiropractic is a non-invasive, natural healing method that allows the body to repair itself without medications or surgeries. This is done by correcting subluxations (misalignments of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems) through spinal manipulation. Chiropractic care comprises the second largest health care field in the United States and the leading natural healing art in the world.
How is Atlas Orthogonal different than ordinary Chiropractic?
Atlas Orthogonal is a highly accurate and effective procedure that addresses subluxation at the most vulnerable and important area of the spine – the transition from the skull to the spine. All of the communication between the brain and the rest of the body passes through this area, so subluxation here can affect any organ or tissue. The AO adjustment is based on precise visualization and analysis of your own anatomy, so it is truly customized to your individual need.
Are Doctors of Chiropractic licensed by the government?
Yes. Chiropractors are licensed as primary physicians in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Additionally, Chiropractic is recognized by governmental health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Federal Employees Health Care Benefits Programs, Federal Workers' Compensation and all state workers' compensation programs. Chiropractors are even commissioned as health care officers in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Does Insurance Cover Chiropractic?
Yes, although coverage varies greatly; we recommend that you check with your plan administrator for details. We will provide you with all the documentation you need to file for reimbursement under your plan.
How are Doctors of Chiropractic educated?
The education process for a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) is much like that of medical doctors (M.D.), dentists (D.D.S.) and osteopaths (D.O.). Doctors of Chiropractic must earn their 4 year undergraduate degree followed by 4 and-a-half to 5 years of chiropractic education at an accredited university. After graduating, chiropractors must pass a national board exam, and then take a state exam in the state they choose to practice in. Dr. Winters has additional training and certification in the highly specialized Atlas Orthogonal Technique.
Yes. The chiropractic adjustment is a safe, efficient procedure which is performed nearly one million times a day in the United States alone. Because chiropractic is non-invasive, the body's response to treatment is far more predictable than its reactions to medications or surgical procedures. Complications are exceedingly rare, particularly compared to problems resulting from conventional medicine.
The average chiropractor pays about $1,000 to $2,000 per year for malpractice insurance. A medical doctor can pay $1,000 per week for malpractice insurance. This gives an accurate indication of the relative danger involved.
Under normal circumstances, chiropractic treatments are very relaxing. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. A patient can also feel a brief sensation in the extremities immediately following an adjustment due to the sudden decompression of the affected nerve root. Great River Chiropractic Clinic specializes in low force techniques for optimal comfort for our patients.
A subluxation means a slight dislocation (misalignment) or biomechanical malfunctioning of the vertebrae (bones of the spine). These disturbances may irritate nerve roots and blood vessels which branch off from the spinal cord between each of the vertebrae. This irritation may cause pain and dysfunction in muscle, lymphatic and organ tissue as well as imbalance in the normal body processes. That’s why subluxation has been labeled the "silent killer" due to the long-term detrimental effects.
What can I expect from my treatment?
Following a comprehensive health history and examination, we will design a program of care that best fits your needs. Treatments consist of spinal adjustments to correct misaligned vertebrae and relieve nerve pressure, and gentle exercises to correct long-standing patterns of postural distortion.
At Great River Chiropractic Clinic, we utilize numerous treatment methods, including instrument adjustment, where minimal force is applied for the greatest ease and comfort to the patient. Herre are some of the techniques we use:
• Atlas Orthogonal Technique
• Activator Adjustment Method
• Sacral Occipital Technique (S.O.T.)
• Torque Release Technique
• Charrette Extremity Adjusting Protocol
How will the adjustments help me?
Chiropractic adjustments by themselves do not actually heal the body. When any of the 24 moveable spinal vertebrae become misaligned, a basic imbalance or disruption can occur in the nervous and blood vascular systems, which may contribute to stress in the body. Chiropractic adjustments eliminate imbalances and nerve interference, so the body can function at its true potential.
Why would I go to a Chiropractor if I feel fine?
Prevention! In most cases, by the time you feel symptoms, the detrimental effects of subluxation have already caused damage. Using how you feel as your health barometer can be unpredictable and even dangerous. Regular spinal checkups can detect and prevent subluxations before they cause harm and help your body maintain its optimal health.
Can pregnant women go to a Chiropractor?
Yes. Chiropractic adjustments can reduce the incidence of pain in the low back, legs, and between the shoulder blades due to pregnancy. In some cases, fewer headaches and problems with nausea and elimination may also result. Pregnant women and infants can benefit from chiropractic care, for a more comfortable pregnancy and a healthier baby, free of subluxations.
Can children be treated by Chiropractors?
Yes. Children of all ages from infant through teens greatly benefit from Chiropractic care. The fact is that chiropractor's kids are some of the healthiest children that mature into very healthy adults.
Who else should go to a Chiropractor?
Everyone from infants to the elderly, from all walks of life, can benefit from chiropractic care.
• Auto Accident Victims: Often accident victims don't realize the extent of their injuries. The majority of the detrimental effects of post-traumatic/motor vehicle accidents manifest later and with greater degrees of severity. If these problems are identified and treated properly in the early stages, the potential for long-term pain and suffering is greatly reduced.
• Athletes: Chiropractic helps athletes operate at peak performance, have safer workouts, increase flexibility and stamina, and recover more quickly from training and injury. Most professional sports teams have chiropractors on staff and many other people whose profession depends on fitness regularly utilize chiropractors.
• The Elderly: For more mobility, greater energy, and to help prevent drug dependence.
• Office Workers: To treat the headaches, neck and shoulder aches, TMJ and wrist problems from working with computers all day.
• Manual Workers: For those constantly lifting heavy weight, bending and using repetitive movements.
Some patients experience almost instant relief while others discover it can take several weeks. Many factors affect the healing process. Within a week or so, most patients see enough progress to encourage them to complete the treatment plan. More important than pain management, however, is that following chiropractic treatment, the body's healing process now operates at peak efficiency.
A disc cannot ‘slip’ because of the way it’s attached to the spinal bone above and below it. However, a disc can bulge, tear, herniate, thin, dry out or collapse causing an irritation of nearby tissue. One of the primary causes of disc problems is subluxation of the spinal joint. Chiropractic, therefore, has a high degree of success in the management of disc problems.
It is more likely that a spinal bone (vertebra) is rubbing, stretching or chafing a nerve. These subluxations can distort the nerve messages between the brain and the body producing unhealthy changes to affected organs and tissues.
Chiropractic care require nutritional changes?
Often. Any effort to restore health in this day and age on this planet requires improving nutritional intake. This is due to what is called "over-consumptive malnutrition." Our current food supply is structured in such a way that people eat a lot of empty calories. So we will often make specific nutritional recommendations for patients.
To get healthy and to stay healthy! Doctors of chiropractic provide effective, low-cost treatment for a wide range of conditions, and offer preventive and wellness care.
To learn more, please schedule your personal consultation by calling us at 410-683-8888.
305 West Chesapeake Ave. Suite 101 Towson, MD 21204