What conditions do chiropractors treat?

Chiropractic care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

How do I select a Dr. of Chiropractic?

Make sure that you find a chiropractor that bases his treatment ont he most current research and medical protocols, not the recommendations of the guru who taught his particular technique. If at all possible find someone who tracks the results of his own treatments. Chiropractic is a service business just like dentistry or private medical care and is not immune to profit motives. If someone tries to sell you a pre-packaged plan, tells you you need 30 to 50 visits to fix you problem or you just sense any salesmanship at all, it is a clear indication that you are in the wrong place. There really is not place for sales pitches in healthcare.

Other than that it is just like you would select any other health care practitioner. In the current insurance environment the best place to start looking is to see who’s covered by your insurance. Because of the stringent educational and professional requirements for state licensure, the public is assured of academic competence and clinical experience. Therefore the best place to start is to see who’s covered by your insurance plan. Dr. Ronning and Lake City Chiropractic are preferred providers for all of Western Washington insurance plans.

Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from an MD?

No, the patient does not need referral by an M.D. before visiting a Dr. of Chiropractic. Chiropractors are first contact physicians, and are so defined in federal and state regulations. Following a consultation and examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive at a diagnosis under chiropractic care, or refer the patient to the appropriate healthcare provider if he feels that the patient’s condition is outside the scope of chiropractic practice.

Is chiropractic treatment safe?

Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest drug-free, noninvasive therapies available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise. Current literature shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours. Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck, restoring range of motion in reducing muscle spasm, which helps relieve pressure and tension.

Neck manipulation is a remarkably safe procedure. While some reports have associated upper cervical neck manipulation with a certain kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection, there is not yet a clear understanding of the connection. The occurrence appears to be very rare — 1 in 5.85 million manipulations — based on the clinical reports and scientific studies to date. If you’re visiting your doctor of chiropractic with upper-neck pain or headache, be very specific about your symptoms. This will help your doctor of chiropractic offer the safest and most effective treatment, even if it involves referral to another health care practitioner.

It is important for patients to understand the risks associated with some of the most common treatments for musculoskeletal pain — prescription and over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)– as these treatments may carry risks significantly greater than those of chiropractic manipulation. According to a study from the American Journal of gastroenterology, approximately 1/3 of all hospitalizations and deaths related to gastrointestinal bleeding can be attributed to the use of aspirin or NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen.

Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

Yes, children can benefit for chiropractic care. Children are very physically active and suffer from 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. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.

Are chiropractors allowed to practice in hospitals or use medical outpatient facilities?

Chiropractors are being recognized to admit and treat patients in hospitals and to use outpatient clinical facilities (such as labs, x-rays, etc.) for their non-hospitalized patients. Hospital privileges were first granted in 1983.

Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?

The majority of all insured American workers have coverage for chiropractic services in their health care plans. For example, the federal government’s office of personnel management offers chiropractic coverage for federal employees in both the mail handlers and the BCBS benefits plans. In addition, there is a chiropractic benefit in federal workers compensation, and chiropractic care is available to members of the Armed Forces at more than 40 military bases and is available at nearly 30 veterans medical facilities.  In addition, in the state of Washington all health insurance plans provide chiropractic coverage except for DSHS which only covers chiropractic care for those under the age of 18.

What type of education do chiropractors have?

Chiropractors are educated as primary contact healthcare practitioners, with an emphasis on musculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Educational requirements for Dr. of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant had a chiropractic college has already acquired four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, requirements become even more demanding — 4 to 5 academic years of professional study are the standard. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training.

In total the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency that is fully recognized by the US Department of Education.

How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?

Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractor typically uses his/her hands to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to reduce pain, and restore or enhance joint function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure that rarely causes discomfort. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet the specific needs of each patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.

Why does it take more than one visit?

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. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last. Overall the length of your treatment plan will depend on a number of factors, including the length of time you’ve experienced a problem, your general health, your exercise habits, the nature of your work and/or daily activities, and your level of commitment to getting well. Treatment can range from a couple of visits for a simple condition to several months for total rehabilitation.

What is the typical first visit like?

After making an appointment you will fill out some health history forms and then meet with the doctor. During the initial visit a health history and examination will be used to identify orthopedic and neurological problems. If needed, further diagnostic tests will be recommended. We will then develop a personalized treatment plan to help you recover. If we believe your condition would better benefit from another type of treatment we will refer you to the appropriate specialist.

How long will my treatment take?

For the most part about 20 to 30 minutes for your first visit to just a few minutes for follow up visits. However, every case is unique and some patients may require more in-depth treatment.

Why is there a popping sound when the joints are adjusted?

Adjustment of a joint may result in release of a gas bubble between the joints that makes a popping sound — it’s exactly the same as when you “crack” your knuckles. The noises is caused by the change of pressure within the joint that results in gas bubbles being released. There is no pain involved.