Frequently Asked Questions
What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly.
What conditions benefit from chiropractic care? Do I have to be in pain to see a Chiropractor?
Although chiropractic is used most frequently to relieve low back pain, studies have found it to be effective for a variety of conditions, such as migraine headaches, neck and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and infantile colic. In our office, however, we do not concentrate on actually "treating" these types of conditions, but rather, we work on removing the interference which prevents your body from utilizing its already-present healing ability.
Regular adjustments are important even when you are not experiencing pain. Some of the benefits of being adjusted regularly are: improves sleep, relaxes muscles, improves posture, increases flexibility, decreases stress and tension, strengthens immune system, helps relieve pain and headaches, slows spinal degeneration. This is why we offer the Unlimited Chiropractic Plan to our members. Having a well-aligned spine is no accident . . . so Get Well and Stay Well!!
Does Chiropractic hurt?
Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. The patient may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment which lasts only seconds.
Is Chiropractic safe?
Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The risk factor is estimated to be in excess of one million to one.
What kind of education and training do doctors of chiropractic have?
Chiropractors receive an education that emphasizes neuromuscular diagnosis and treatment. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas of learning; basic training in the biological and health sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, clinical and radiological diagnosis); specialized training in the chiropractic discipline (theoretical studies, practice, diagnosis and applications); and extensive clinical training.
Have any studies been published showing what chiropractic is effective for?
Several studies have documented the effectiveness of chiropractic in relieving back pain. More recent studies have shown chiropractic to be effective in treating infantile colic and migraine headaches.
What can I expect on my first visit?
At Cruz Chiropractic Care, we are very unconventional in our approach to handling your health-related needs. We will perform an initial assessment of your overall health and make recommendations as to how to best address your specific situation. We will then begin to adjust you right away in order to "close the gap" between your current state of dis-ease and your optimal bodily performance.
What adjusting technique do you use?
Diversified technique is what is most commonly used in Chiropractic offices. This is a very gentle and comfortable form of adjusting and can address most joint manipulation needs. In some instances, however, Dr. Cruz may use either an Activator or an Arthrostim which is also very gentle and extremely effective. Watch the video below which will demonstrate how efficient the Arthrostim is as seen through videoflouroscopy.