I'm better at helping some types of people than others
"Chiropractors can specialize, just like medical doctors can. So when you're looking for a chiropractor, be conscious of what their area of expertise is, and find one that specializes in what you have going on. Some of the specialties include pediatric, pregnancy, nutrition, acupuncture, sports, and scoliosis." —Jane Leavell
We're not "bone doctors"
"Most people think chiropractors work primarily with bones, when in actuality we work more with the circuitry of the nervous system to restore and maintain normal function as much as possible. Chiropractic treatments are designed to stimulate the nervous system and activate brain function." —Robert Blaich, DC, general practitioner in natural health care
Make sure you know these 10 secret reasons for your persistent back pain.
"Popping" your back isn't the same as getting an adjustment
"You may be able to twist in such a way to feel a 'pop,' but this isn't adjusting anything. Rather, the noise is just air bubbles moving in the joint space. You can even cause damage to your spine and nervous system trying to pop your own back." —Heather Van Wyhe, DC, F.A.S.A. of the Oklahoma Chiropractors' Association
Don't blame me if you're not seeing the results you want
"Chiropractic can help with many things, but if you leave our offices and eat fast food, drink soda, smoke, and fill your bodies with processed and sugar foods, it's going to hinder your ability to heal and you won't get the best results. Patients who eat high amounts of processed foods, sugary treats, and fast foods do not hold their adjustments." —Heather Van Wyhe
You can help fight inflammation and pain eating some of these 16 foods.
Newborns especially need to be adjusted
"Being born is a very natural event but also a very traumatic event in each of our lives. We want babies to be adjusted so that the brain and nervous systems develop to their fullest potential, so that children are never sick and can sleep throughout the entire night. (And mom and dad do as well!). Babies who are adjusted don't tend to have to deal with high fevers and ear infections." —Heather Van Wyhe
Stop hiding stuff from me
"To help you, we need a clear history of health concerns. Try not to leave anything out. While some information may not seem relevant to a current health complaint, there may in fact be some other factors from a past health concern that can help resolve what may seem to be a new complaint. Our job is to connect the dots, and sometimes things that seem irrelevant are in fact important." —Shannon Patterson, DC
How you get home from the appointment is important too
"Too many patients race out of the office to sit in a car in rush hour traffic. Instead, take a few minutes after your appointment with your chiropractor to go for a short mindful walk. Let the adjustment settle in before moving back into the busy pace of your life." —Shannon Patterson
Ignore your mother-in-law and that guy on the Internet
"Friends, family, and Internet posters suggest many methods to help you feel better, and you may be tempted to do them in addition to or instead of my advice. For instance, you may be told to do yoga or Pilates or that strengthening your core will cure your back pain. The problem is that there are many reasons why someone has back pain, and you need individualized advice. There is no cookie-cutter fix for low back pain." —Matthew Cooper, DC
You can even consider trying some of these home remedies for back pain relief.
Don't make me nag you about doing your homework, I'm not your mom
"Patients need to have an active role in their health—I cannot be a miracle cure. To get the best results you have to do your home exercises, correct your posture, eat healthfully, and follow my directions when you're not in my office." —Scott Schreiber, DC, board certified in rehabilitation and clinical nutrition
Always ice, never heat
"Patients always prefer heat on a sore spot after a treatment because it feels better at the time. The problem is that when you have acute injuries to the joints, putting heat on the back can cause more swelling and prolong healing time. So putting ice on the initial injury will help my job be a little easier and help injuries recover faster." —Joseph McNamara, DACNB, FACFN, DC, BS and owner of McNamara Chiropractic in Cumming, Georgia
Don't miss these 15 everyday habits that are actually ruining your spine and you didn't even know it!
