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    What is chiropractic care?

    Chiropractic is a health care profession which specialises in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on general health.

    Chiropractic care emphasises the conservative management of the neuromusculoskeletal system, without the use of medicines and surgery. Chiropractic is a natural, drug-free method of correcting vertebral subluxations to remove interference to nerve transmission between brain and rest of the body. Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the spine and the nervous system and how that relationship affects the maintenance and restoration of health. Regular chiropractic care optimises the functioning of your nervous system by removing any nerve compression and irritation that can be caused by stress, thus optimising the body’s innate ability to heal itself.

    Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and specific. Adjustments are based on accurate spinal analysis to restore the normal function of the specific spinal joints. The result is improved mobility, relief of pain and discomfort in addition to a wide range of health benefits as the nerves restore their normal function.

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    What are subluxations?

    Subluxations are misalignments in the spine which can irritate your nervous system and leads to interference in the communication between the brain, nervous system and the body. Subluxation can lead to many different types of conditions such as neck pain and headaches, lower back pain, shoulder pain, various joint pain, sciatica, disc degeneration and many other health related problems. 80% of subluxation starts at childbirth.

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    What are the causes of subluxation?

    3 “T”s: Thoughts, Toxins and Trauma.

    Thoughts may include mental and emotional stress. Toxins refer to the chemical stress we placed upon our body in the forms of our food additives, preservatives, shampoos, cleaning solutions, etc. Trauma can be major like a fall or an accident but it also includes microtraumas due to repetitive daily activities. The 3 “T”s are part of everyday life and our body can correct most of the subluxations when it is functioning optimally. However when the subluxations are too severe or when our body is not functioning optimally due to unresolved chronic subluxations, our body cannot correct the subluxations on its own. And a vicious cycle of subluxations reducing the body’s immunity, leading to even more unresolved subluxations and so on. Regular chiropractic care aims to remove any nerve interferences before it becomes chronic and keeps the body always functioning at its best!

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    How is my health affected if my spine is not aligned?

    Your brain controls and coordinates your immune system, digestive system, hormonal system and cardiac system via your nervous system. A misaligned spine with unresolved nerve interferences cannot promote an optimal communication network between the brain and all cellular activity. This hinders your body’s ability to heal and reduce your immunity.

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    Is there a difference between physiotherapy and chiropractic?

    Yes. Doctors of Chiropractic specialise in the holistic diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions that result from articular dysfunction of joints of the body and in particular the spine. Doctors of Chiropractic focus on locating, analyzing and correcting subluxations which are the cause of many health related problems. We use a variety of techniques including manual adjustments, soft tissue work, exercise, taping, nutritional, diet and lifestyle advice, ergonomic and postural assessments. The type of treatment used is carefully tailored to individual patient’s condition, the severity of the condition and the likely outcomes.

    Physiotherapy on the other hand, focuses on the recovery of musculoskeletal functions based on presentation of symptoms. This is done through treatments such as ultrasound, stretching and strengthening exercises, cold or heat therapy and massages.

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    I heard chiropractic is dangerous and neck manipulations can cause stroke, is it true?

    Absolutely not. There are few research studies that suggest that neck manipulations cause stroke. There have been many more studies that disproved that assumption. In all the Chiropractic schools in America, there has never been a case with an Intern causing stroke. These interns are yet to be a Doctor’s of Chiropractic.

    However there are other trades that also attempt to adjust people. This includes massage therapist, physical or physio therapist, and osteopaths.  Among all who perform manual manipulations, Chiropractors are the most qualified to perform spinal adjustments because of the number of hours and years it takes to become a Chiropractor. A Doctor of Chiropractic undergoes more than 4000 hours of classes and laboratory work, including more than 1000 hours of clinical internship.

    Furthermore, the malpractice insurance for Chiropractors is extremely low compared to medical doctors. Insurance companies assess the risk of a professional field objectively based on the number of law suits that occur in a field. Insurance premiums are then charged proportionally to the degree of risk assessed. There is a greater risk of side effects in drugs and there are greater risks to surgery than undergoing Chiropractic care. That is why medical doctors typically pay more for indemnity.

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    If you don’t take x ray, isn’t it dangerous to proceed with chiropractic care?

    The opposite is true. While taking X-rays is a common practice in the health industry but x-ray radiation is harmful to our body. Radiation expose our body to high velocity electrons, harming the cells in our body. Therefore, it is not advisable for pregnant women to take X-Rays unless clinically necessary. Certain situations require your x-rays before chiropractic care can proceed but most of the time x-rays are not an absolute necessity. There are other less invasive ways to gain valuable diagnostic information. A competent and confident Chiropractor should not have to require imaging to offer Chiropractic care.

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    How long are the chiropractic sessions?

    Duration depends on individual’s spinal health condition and needs. We take pride in offering quality personalised care. On average, the first visit takes about 30 minutes, consisting of a comprehensive case history and physical examination to thoroughly understand your health concerns. Subsequent visits are about 15 minutes for a spinal check and adjustments. These sessions may be extended to include soft tissues modalities as the need arises depending on your condition and needs.

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    Can chiropractic help people of any age?

    Yes. Chiropractic treatment is beneficial for everyone including new-born babies, the elderly, pregnant women and athletes and basically anyone with a spine! Chiropractic care optimises the functioning of your nervous system by removing any nerve compression and irritation that can be caused by stress. Everyone will benefit from maximizing the body’s innate ability to heal itself.

    There are many different types of chiropractic techniques catered for different patient profiles, ensuring gentle and specific adjustments for all patients.

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    What is the ‘popping’ sound during adjustment?

    The popping sound is due to the bursting of gas bubbles between two joint surfaces during an adjustment when there is a change of pressure within the joint space. We refer to this as “cavitation”. Cavitation may or may not occur during an adjustment and has no implication of whether a joint has been moved.

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    I don’t feel comfortable having my neck ‘cracked’, can you still help me?

    Chiropractors do not “crack” necks. We analyse, locate and correct vertebral subluxations in the spine, including the neck. Correction of vertebral subluxations is very gentle and specific.

    At Chan Family Chiropractic, the comfort of our patients is our most important priority. Our doctors are qualified in a variety of techniques including adjusting instruments, which are both gentle and effective and do not produce any cavitation. Before proceeding with any adjustment, we ensure that the adjustment is thoroughly explained to our patient.

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    Can I perform chiropractic treatments on myself?

    No. Chiropractic adjustments are achieved in the para-physiological range of motion that is beyond the range of motion you can achieve on your own. Some people may “crack” their joints by vigorously turning or twisting their body in certain directions, this type of self­-joint manipulation is usually non-specific and can aggravate an already unstable or degenerated joint.

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    Are all patients given the same adjustments?

    Absolutely not. The expertise of chiropractors lies in their ability to analyse, locate and correct vertebral subluxations. A qualified chiropractor will perform an accurate spinal check and make the necessary adjustments based on clinical findings presented by the patient. At Chan Family Chiropractic, our doctors are qualified in a variety of chiropractic techniques and will tailor the care plan to meet your needs. Your treatment care plan is carefully designed and tailored to suit your specific needs.

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    When will I start feeling better?

    Healing needs time and everyone heals at a different rate. Some patients reported immediate relief while others may notice a gradual improvement over weeks or months. Chiropractic care helps your body to heal better instantly but not necessarily to feel better instantly. Our central nervous system coordinate all cellular repairs co-ordinated by our brain. Chiropractic focus on removing any nerve interferences caused by spinal misalignments (vertebral subluxations) so there can be optimum communication throughout the nervous system. This maximizes your innate ability to heal!

    There are many factors that can affect the healing process such as the extent of degeneration, the chronicity of the complaint, life style habits, stress, diet, and medications, and of course, your commitment to any rehabilitative exercises and life style changes.

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    What can I expect to feel after a chiropractic adjustment?

    Most people reported an improved level of mood, energy level and mental clarity when they undergo regular chiropractic care. Of course, different people responded differently. Depending on the severity or chronicity of your complaint, people may report varying degrees of pain relief.

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    Will chiropractic adjustments be painful?

    Chiropractic adjustments are gentle and comfortable when performed correctly by a qualified chiropractor. However, as your body realigned and your muscles re-balance themselves after the adjustment, some people reported experiencing a small degree of soreness. At Chan Family Chiropractic, our doctors are well qualified in a variety of techniques. We will select the most suitable techniques to perform the adjustments based on the patient’s comfort level and presentation of symptoms.

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    Why should I return after treatment if I have no more pain?

    Pain is one of the last symptoms that present itself if you have vertebral subluxations. Very often, a person may not experience pain until the subluxations have been unresolved in the body for a certain period. This is because only less than 10% of our nerves transmits pain sensations. Pain is also one of the first symptoms to go away when the subluxation is reduced in severity. Chiropractic care focus on removing the root of the problem (nerve interferences due to subluxations) and not just addressing the symptoms (pain).

    Regular chiropractic care coupled with good life style choices keeps your spine well-aligned and your nervous system functioning optimally. This boost your natural immunity and strengthens your body against recurrences of the pain.

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    I have back surgery. Can I see a chiropractor?

    Of course! Spinal surgery like all surgery is invasive and surgery in the involved spinal segments often leads to reduced mobility and early degeneration of the other articulating segments in the long run, causing other back conditions. This is known as “Failed Back Surgery Syndrome”. Regular chiropractic care can help to resolve improper alignment and extreme muscle stiffness post-surgery and often help to avoid repeated back surgery.

    In fact, starting regular chiropractic care early can prevent premature spinal degeneration and early identification of conditions which need to be referred elsewhere. This can help to avoid spinal surgery in pre-surgery cases.

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    Can pregnant women see a chiropractor?

    Yes. During pregnancy, a woman’s body undergoes a fair amount of mental, emotional and physical stress. Regular chiropractic care keeps the spine and joints well-aligned and maximizes the functioning of the nervous system. This boost the body’s natural immunity and empowers pregnant moms to reduce the discomfort of their pregnancy and facilitate an easier delivery process for moms and babies. Our doctors at Chan Family Chiropractic are qualified in specific chiropractic techniques that is extremely gentle and specially tailored for pregnant moms.

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    Children have no back pain or joint aches, why would they benefit from chiropractic care?

    The goal of chiropractic care is to remove nerve interferences caused by vertebral subluxations. 80% of subluxation starts at childbirth. The delivery process can be traumatic to the soft infant spine that is not quite fully formed.

    As children grow up and eat adult food, use chemicals like shampoos, attend school, learn to walk, run, jump, fall, etc., they too become susceptible to the 3 “T” s-Thoughts, Toxins and Trauma of daily living. These are the causes of subluxations. Regular chiropractic care helps to keep their spine well-aligned and their nervous system functioning optimally. This in turn, boost their natural immunity and build a strong foundation for healthy adulthood!

    Regular chiropractic care has been found to help with conditions such as poor posture, sleep disorders, sports injuries, headaches, poor concentration whilst studying. Our doctors at Chan Family Chiropractic is qualified and well-trained in specific and gentle chiropractic techniques that are specially adapted for the infant and young children.

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    Shall I bring my family for chiropractic adjustments?

    Yes. An optimal functioning nervous system is for everyone! Regular chiropractic care keeps the spine and joints well-aligned and boost your natural immunity. Our doctors at Chan Family Chiropractic are well-qualified to analyse your spine for vertebral subluxations and remove any nerve interferences even before symptoms such as pain and restricted movements present themselves. Regular chiropractic care prevents early spinal degeneration and maintains a good healthy spine.

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    How do I find the right chiropractor for me?

    Finding the right Chiropractor is a very personal choice but there are certain criteria you can consider:

    What kind of training do they have? 

    Typically, Chiropractors trained in North America have more training than other places.  Skill levels can vary from Chiropractor to Chiropractor even if they are from the same school.  A simple way is to check if the chiropractor has passed National Boards examinations. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) is the international testing agency for the chiropractic profession and NBCE exams are required prior to application for licensure. NBCE exams offer assurance to the public that, regardless of where a chiropractor went to school or was licensed, he or she has demonstrated professional knowledge and proficiency as well as ability in diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, principles of chiropractic, associated clinical sciences and chiropractic practice. Going to a non-NBCE certified chiropractor is akin to going to a tuition teacher

    who has passed the school examination but have not passed the recognized GCE O or A levels examination.

    What is the level of the Chiropractors specificity?

    It is also important to ask if the Chiropractor specialize in any specific techniques. Certain patient profiles such as the elderly, infants, very young children, pregnant moms or patients with specific conditions may require specific chiropractic techniques. It is important to find out if the chiropractor is qualified in the technique that you need.

    Does the chiropractor address your concerns and needs adequately?

    It is important to have a good rapport with your Chiropractor to facilitate the healing process. Some of the pertinent questions you can ask yourself are:

    • Do you feel like the chiropractor see you as an individual or as a condition/disease?

    It is important to think about whether the chiropractor really listen to you to understand thoroughly your concerns.

    • Does the chiropractor empower you with information about your body and encourage you to take accountability for your own health?

    You should be able to make decisions and ask questions regarding your own healthcare and not just do what was told to you.

    • Do you feel comfortable with the adjustments?

    Chiropractic adjustments should be gentle and comfortable.

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    When should I start chiropractic care?

    As soon as you realize the importance of a healthy nervous system and how it can impact your overall well-being, your ability to heal, your immunity level and the proper functioning of all your vital systems. Healthy spine, healthy life. Chiropractic treatment is beneficial for everyone including new-born babies, the elderly, pregnant women and athletes and basically anyone with a spine!