Frequently Asked Questions about Chiropractic

We hope you’ve had an opportunity to explore our web site and learn about the advantages of chiropractic care and how we can help you at Parkland Chiropractic & Healing Center. However, if you’re anything like us, you might have skipped around the web site in random fashion and haven’t found exactly what you’re looking for. If that’s the case, you may find it right here in our FAQs. If you still have questions when you’re done, please give us a call at 954-227-0088. We’re pretty sure we’ll have the answer, and if we don’t, we’ll find it out!
 

What exactly is “an adjustment?”

An adjustment is primarily a hands-on method of gently manipulating spinal joints that are out of alignment or aren’t moving properly — situations that irritate nearby nerve tissue and compromise the signals that nerves exchange with your brain. How adjustments are made depends on each person’s unique situation. Sometimes, a quick, accurate thrust in a specific area is optimal. Other times, a slow, constant pressure is appropriate. Chiropractors also make use of specialized tables with moving sections, and other specific instruments. Dr. Neil Scharf has equipment to augment the adjustments he performs by hand.

Do adjustments hurt?

Actually, a lot of people find that just the opposite occurs. Many feel immediate relief after an adjustment. Others feel improved mobility. Of course, there are sometimes instances in which inflammation or muscle spasms may delay these positive effects. However, Dr. Scharf is trained in all types of adjustment techniques and he often uses a combination to provide maximum results. He explains every move that he makes, and always stays within his patients’ comfort levels.

Is chiropractic care only about adjustments to the spine?

No. Adjustments are key to optimal recovery and continuing health, but there are a variety of additional strategies and services we provide. Dr. Scharf’s staff includes a licensed massage therapist, plus a technician trained to apply electric muscle stimulation and ultrasound. In addition to adjustments, Dr. Scharf may combine several of those therapies, plus heat and ice, rehabilitative exercises and stretches. He will discuss the best approach for your unique situation during your first visit.

Does Dr. Scharf prescribe medication for pain?

Dr. Scharf will advise you on how best to control painful symptoms by using natural methods, such as the application of ice, heat, stretching and strengthening exercises, or a combination of several strategies, but he does not prescribe drugs. That’s because chiropractic care is a holistic approach to health care intended to restore and maintain the integrity of your nervous system.

Should I get X-rays before treatment?

It depends. X-rays and other types of images can be helpful, especially after trauma to the body. Dr. Scharf will talk to you about the advisability of X-rays or other images after his initial diagnostic examination. If X-rays are called for, they can be taken right in the office.

How long does it take before I feel better?

The time involved in the healing process depends on the nature of your particular problem and how severe it is, how long that problem has existed, your age, and other factors. Quite a few patients find immediate relief with their first visit or two. Others take longer. Dr. Scharf will never rush the process, and he’ll always make sure you’re comfortable with the treatment plan he recommends.

I get a lot of headaches. Can Dr. Scharf help me with that?

It’s very likely that he can. In fact, chiropractic doctors treat many of the same conditions that medical doctors do, but without drugs or surgery. Headaches are one great example. They often occur because spinal bones in the neck may be out of alignment. When that happens, the nerves, muscles and even blood supply to your head can be affected. If you’re a good candidate for chiropractic treatment, Dr. Scharf will perform specific adjustments to help normalize your spinal function, improve circulation, and reduce nerve irritation. What he can do for you, of course, is first dependent on a thorough diagnostic exam, which may include X-rays.

Someone told me that chiropractors even treat children. Is that true?

Absolutely! We’ve had great success in treating children for many conditions, such as bed-wetting, ear infections, asthma — even ADD and ADHD. You see, today’s birthing procedures can put tremendous pressure on a child’s spine. Although modern techniques have certainly reduced problem deliveries, birth trauma can still occur. Uncorrected spinal problems during early stages of development frequently contribute to the chronic, hard-to-correct subluxations seen in adults. Techniques for adjusting children are, of course, modified to suit each child’s size and unique spinal problems.

What about pregnant women? Is chiropractic care beneficial for them, too?

Indeed it is. Changes in posture during the various stages of pregnancy tend to put a lot more strain on the spine, which often results in a variety of problems. Studies have shown that 50 percent of all women complain particularly of low-back pain during pregnancy. Others suffer impaired mobility, insomnia, headaches, and more. Chiropractors have the ability to correct pelvic and spinal alignment, which promotes significant relief. We treat pregnant women and children with regularity.

Does chiropractic care make sense for athletes?

It sure does. As a matter of fact, chiropractors have been an official presence in the care and treatment of American athletes at the Olympic Games for more than a quarter-century. Dr. Scharf routinely treats semi-professional and professional boxers, football and basketball players, and other adults involved in athletics. But he also treats teens who participate in high school sports, plus children involved with soccer teams and peewee leagues. Part of our services include sports physicals.

Is chiropractic health care a life-long commitment?

Chiropractors first work to reduce pain, then to correct underlying causes, and finally to help people prevent relapses of previous conditions. Those are the essential “building blocks” that most patients find of the greatest benefit for building on the success of an initial visit. But what kind of strategy works for you is your choice. Some of our patients come on a regular basis, and have done so for years. Others come more irregularly. We believe the best option is for routine check-ups and adjustments, in the same way that you might routinely get check-ups and adjustments for your car. It’s an individual decision.

Are chiropractors “real” doctors?

They most assuredly are. As is true of medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, dentists and veterinarians, chiropractors earn the title “doctor” at the conclusion of rigorous and extensive educational training, plus a clinical internship similar to a medical doctor’s “rotation.” Chiropractors, who comprise the second largest health care profession in the United States, must also pass a state licensing exam in order to practice. In addition to all of those qualifications, Dr. Scharf earned a license of physiotherapy training from the National College of Chiropractic in Lombard, Illinois.

I don’t have health insurance right now. Can I still see Dr. Scharf?

Our first concern is to make sure you get the help you need. And, though most of our patients have health insurance plans to defray expenses, we’re always receptive to working out payment plans for people who don’t. Just talk to us!

How can I learn more about the principles behind chiropractic care?

Our web site provides good summaries of what chiropractic are is all about, what kinds of conditions chiropractors treat, and even the history of how it all came about. You might also find our glossary of chiropractic terms of interest. But visit our links page as well. We have a number of authoritative resources for you there, along with some helpful community and government links.
 

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