Chiropractic Care Specialist In Oxnard, CA

Chiropractor Q & A

Why see a chiropractor?

People choose to see a chiropractor for a variety of reasons. From lower back pain and sciatica to neck pain and headaches, chiropractic care can treat a range of injuries. Chiropractic care can also help treat other issues affecting the body, including joint and knee pain, as well as assisting with overall strengthening and conditioning of the back.

Some people need treatment as the result of an injury or auto accident, but many people use chiropractic care to fight the effects of aging, repetitive motions, or other factors that can result in the misalignment of the spine. Pregnant women and people with high-activity jobs can especially benefit from chiropractic due to the extra stress on their bodies.

Chiropractic care is available at Kalani Total Health Center for people of all ages, from children to senior citizens.

What happens during chiropractic adjustment?

First, your chiropractor at Kalani Total Health Center will ask a few questions about your medical history while they perform a quick physical exam. They may recommend an X-ray or similar test before getting started, depending on your symptoms. Once your doctor has a clear picture of your overall health, the adjustment can begin.

Your chiropractor will ask you to lie down on a special padded chiropractic table. Usually, you’ll lie face down but this can change depending on the specific adjustment being performed. Your chiropractor will use their hands to provide a sudden force to a joint, pushing it beyond its normal range of motion to realign it.

During your realignment, you may hear a popping similar to what you hear when cracking your knuckles, or experience some brief, mild discomfort. This is normal and shouldn’t last long or be very painful. Chiropractic requires no anesthesia.

After your realignment, you may feel sore or fatigued, or have a mild headache while your treatment takes effect. These side effects should be short-lived.

What complementary care is often recommended along with chiropractic?

Sometimes your chiropractor may recommend that you combine your realignment with another treatment to relieve pain. These can include:

• Heat or ice
• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Electrical stimulation
• Exercise

Kalani Total Health Center offers all these treatments, including personalized nutrition plans to promote weight loss.

If you’re interested in high-quality chiropractic care or have questions about your back or neck pain, call the office or make an appointment online.

Adjustments

The adjustment is a safe, natural, noninvasive procedure used by the chiropractor to restore and improve health. Learning the art of adjusting is a skill that requires years of study and practice. Chiropractic doctors are the only health care professionals trained to deliver chiropractic adjustments.

What Is A Spinal Adjustment?

The spinal adjustment or spinal manipulation refers to the process in which the doctor of chiropractic skillfully applies controlled force into one or more “subluxated” vertebrae of the spine. The adjustment is also frequently used in the pelvic region to normalize the sacroiliac joints. The adjustment is usually delivered using the hands or through the use of a specialized mechanical tool.

When Should Spinal Adjustments Be Given?

Spinal adjustments are applied to certain vertebrae of the spine which are no longer in their proper position or where functioning has become impaired. Vertebrae which lose their normal position or proper motion are commonly termed vertebral subluxations. The chiropractor uses a number of unique tests and procedures to determine which, if any, vertebrae are subluxated. If subluxations are found, immediate correction is generally reccomended. Just like tooth cavities, subluxations are not always painful during the initial stages, so even those who are not experiencing back or neck discomfort should receive periodic spinal checkups.

What Do Spinal Adjustments Do?

Adjusting helps correct vertebral subluxations. Correcting subluxations reduces pain and inflammation, reduces muscle spasm and tension, normalizes spinal biomechanics and more importantly, can remove nerve irritation and interference which can improve overall health and wellness of the individual. Chiropractic adjustments are the only way to eliminate vertebral subluxations and only the chiropractor is trained to detect subluxations and deliver the chiropractic spinal adjustment to correct subluxations.

The Non-Spinal Adjustment

In addition to adjusting the spine and pelvis, almost every other joint of the body can be adjusted by the chiropractor. This includes the joints of the hands and feet, wrists and ankles, elbows and knees, shoulders and hips, ribs and the jaw. In fact, some chiropractors are even trained in techniques to adjust the joints (sutures) of the skull.

Like the joints of the spine, joints in the extremities can also become misaligned and fixated. Chiropractic adjustive techniques can restore and enhance extremity joint functioning which can increase the life of the joint and keep wear and tear to a minimum. This is of special interest to athletes who generally demand optimal joint performance from highly stressed joints. Adjusting provides an immediate increase in joint range of motion and also supplies the joint with nutrients, as motion is the only way to bring nutrients into the joint cartilage and flush out waste products.

Did your mother ever warn you that cracking your knuckles would give you arthritis? If she did, we’re sorry to say that she was wrong! Research has actually shown that individuals who habitually crack their knuckles over their lifetime actually lower the incidence of arthritis in their knuckles compared with those who do not. Researchers believe the knuckle cracking increases joint nutrition and maintains joint motion, both of which are essential for a healthy joint.

Conditions Treated

Common Musculoskeletal Conditions Treated

Chiropractic has provided immense relief to millions of individuals suffering from back and neck ailments. Chiropractic has also provided relief from many other musculoskeletal conditions from knee and ankle problems to carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow. In fact, musculoskeletal pain or discomfort in any area of the spine or extremity qualifies for chiropractic care. If a condition exists which is better suited for treatment by a medical specialist, chiropractors are fully trained to identify such conditions and make the appropriate referral. However, most patients suffering from musculoskeletal complaints can and are successfully treated with chiropractic every single day.

Common musculoskeletal conditions treated:

• low back pain and stiffness
• neck pain and upper back pain and stiffness
• mid back pain and stiffness
• headaches and migraines
• leg pain, weakness, numbness and tingling
• arm pain, weakness, numbness and tingling
• extremity joint pain and dysfunction
• carpal tunnel syndrome

Common Injuries Treated

Chiropractors commonly treat all types of injuries and recognize the unique findings associated with each. For example, it’s important to understand that auto injuries often involve a delayed onset of symptoms which commonly surface weeks and even months post-accident. In work injuries, chiropractors routinely look beyond the actual injury and address such things as workstation setup, ergonomically correct equipment, and proper work techniques. For sports injuries, chiropractors often check for biomechanical and muscle imbalances as a routine part of the treatment plan. Treating the whole person and optimizing health is what chiropractic is all about.

Common injuries treated:

• automobile accident and whiplash injuries
• on-the-job and lifting injuries
• sports/athletic injuries
• slip and fall injuries
• chronic injuries

Non-Musculoskeletal Conditions Treated

In addition to musculoskeletal problems, chiropractic treatments have also been shown to benefit many individuals suffering from “medical” ailments such as chronic ear infections in children, menstrual pain and irregularities in women, and arthritis in the elderly. Although chiropractic care is not a specific form of treatment for such conditions, research has shown that many medical conditions are actually caused by irritation to spinal nerve roots which share an intimate relationship with the spinal structures. By restoring proper nerve functioning by normalizing spinal structure and function, we believe some individuals suffering from these medical ailments can obtain relief from chiropractic.

Non-musculoskeletal conditions which studies have shown benefit from chiropractic:

• asthma
• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• dizziness and disequilibrium
• dysmenorrhea
• infantile colic
• low energy levels
• otitis media (ear infection)
• ulcers

Frequently Asked Questions

It is extremely common to have questions when it comes to chiropractic care, as much of the world is still unfamiliar with this holistic approach to healing. Whether you have questions about your current treatment or questions about starting a treatment plan, here at Kalani Total Health Center we are happy to provide you with answers.

Can children or expectant mothers be treated by a chiropractor?

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. Chiropractic adjustments can be beneficial to all ages, and is very safe. Similarly to treating an elderly patient, we would alter the pressure and force used during the adjustment to an appropriate level for the child. In our office, children as young as two and three come in for regular adjustments and remain patients of ours for many years. Some even start in the womb! Pregnant women are also encouraged to visit our offices, as adjustments are a great and all natural way to deal with pain caused by pregnancy.

What is a subluxation?

The term subluxation refers to the change in alignment of one or more of your vertebrae, resulting in functional loss. The result of subluxation will often take weeks or even months to surface, and usually does so in the change of mobility or pain in the problematic area. Regular spinal adjustments can help monitor and maintain optimal levels of comfort and health for your body.

Is chiropractic care the same for everyone?

Not one bit. Each patient that steps into our office is dealing with different areas and levels of pain. Individualized care and treatment plans are created to fit the needs of each individual. Some of our patients are here because of an accident, while others simply wish to feel more comfortable on a day-to-day basis. The beauty of chiropractic care is that it can be crafted and molded to fit the needs of many different scenarios and individuals.

Is chiropractic treatment safe to receive after back surgery?

It is best to wait several months before seeking chiropractic care after back surgery, but adjustments can be very beneficial to those recovering from spinal surgery. If pain returns after your surgery, chiropractic services may help in ways that surgery did not. It is always best to consult with the physician who performed the surgery before seeking out the help of a chiropractor.

What is that popping sound I hear during my adjustment?

You won’t hear popping or cracking sounds during every adjustment. When you do, don’t worry. That popping sound isn’t anything you need to be worried about and is completely normal. The sound is caused by the release of trapped gas in your joints.

What conditions can chiropractic care help with?

A few of the obvious ones are of course back and neck pain, migraines and headaches, as well as balance and mobility. However, did you know that it can also help with bowel regularity, ear infections and colds, asthma, diabetes, and even blood pressure?

Why are x-rays necessary?

They aren’t always. The x-ray simply allows the chiropractor to get a better look at or rule out any underlying problems.

Myths and Misconceptions

It is not uncommon for misunderstandings and misguided information to surround the world of chiropractic care. Similarly to other holistic styles of treatment, chiropractic treatments are often considered to be a secondary option to pain or a luxury not required for daily comfort. In an effort to remove that stigma, we have provided you with some helpful information to clear up any confusion regarding chiropractic care.

Myth: Chiropractors are not real doctors

Fact: To practice in the United States, a chiropractor is required to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree (DC). Following undergrad schooling, four to five years of additional schooling are required. These years of schooling include hours of classroom, clinical, and laboratory internships. A chiropractor must also pass four sets of national board exams to officially obtain their license and be able to practice within the U.S. When all of their schooling and testing is completed, a chiropractor has a degree not dissimilar to that of a common medical doctor.

Myth: Getting a chiropractic adjustment is painful and unsafe

Fact: While a brief moment of discomfort is common in those with very severe tightness in the neck or back, most patients express feelings of immediate relief after the adjustment is done. It is not advised for someone who has little to no experience in the area of chiropractic care to perform an adjustment on another person, but when it is done by a professional with years of schooling, there is nothing remotely dangerous about being adjusted. Chiropractic adjustments are a safe, natural, and non-invasive way to treat pain. The use of steroids or other pain remedies are often ruled out in favor of chiropractic care. The holistic approach to pain remedy also allows young children, expectant mothers, and even the elderly to enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care without the after effects of strong medicine.

Myth: Chiropractic care is expensive

Fact: Chiropractic care is not only less invasive, but it does not cost any more than traditional medicine. With the lack of harmful drugs and painful surgeries, chiropractic care can create a way of life that can elongate life expectancy and help strengthen your immune system.

Myth: You must continue seeing a chiropractor for the rest of your life to remain out of pain

Fact: After your initial examination, the regularity of your visits will differ depending on the issues of the individual patient. Similarly to see your dentist or your eye doctor, you wouldn’t expect the state of your spine to remain the same without the occasional check in with your chiropractor. While newer patients do return on a weekly basis, your visits can become more spread out as time goes on. While you do not have to make adjustments a regular part of your life, we have patients who ask to come back weekly, sometimes even multiple times a week!

Myth: Chiropractic care is only for back pain

Truth: While the neck and the back are often the main focus of a chiropractor, the maintenance of spinal care can affect so many other aspects of the body’s health. Regular adjustments can help strengthen the immune system and reduce the chances of getting sick further down the road. Regular adjustments have been known to help with migraines, ulcers, diabetes, autoimmune disorders, fatigue, and ear infections in children. Expectant women have also experienced a improvement with pregnancy-related pain.

For further chiropractic information and questions, please visit https://www.acatoday.org/Patients/Why-Choose-Chiropractic/What-Research-Shows