What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body.The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving boned of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissues and organs throughout the body. Doctors call this the vertebral Subluxation Complex. Vertebral meaning the bones of the spine. Subluxation meaning less than a total dislocation. And Complex, meaning consisting of more than one part.Chiropractic is the science of locating offending spinal structures, the art of reducing their impact to the nervous system, and the philosophy of all things natural.
How Does Chiropractic Work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, or organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove interferences to your natural state of being healthy.A common interference to the nervous system is the 24 moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses.With improved spinal function, there is often improved nervous system function. Your chiropractic doctor can help remove inferences that may be impairing normal health.Since the primary focus of your care is improved nervous system function, chiropractic can have a positive effect on many health conditions not normally thought of as “back” problems.
What Do Chiropractic Doctors Do?
Helping to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system function begins wioth a case of history. This gives the doctor a background about your health, such as allergies, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details affecting your current health.After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopedic neurological, and chiropractic examination is performed. X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functional problems associated with the spinal column. These examinations help identify areas of spinal malfunction and resulting nervous system deficit.The findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic adjustments may be recommended. Progress is monitored with periodic examinations and follo9w-up reports.Since the word “doctor” comes form the Latin word-meaning teacher, regardless of your doctor’s unique clinical approach, he or she has a strong commitment to patient education.
What Type of Education Do Chiropractic Doctors Get?
Today’s Doctor of chiropractic is well educated. The science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-Ray, spinal adjusting techniques, and related subjects. This demanding curriculum requires Chiropractic Doctors to locate the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and help correct the resulting nervous system dysfunction.To graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, each candidate passes the demanding National Board Examination. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass a still more difficult test before being granted the privilege of practice.A chiropractic education never ends. Most doctors complete post-graduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest scientific research.
What Is An Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, “locked up”, or not moving properly. This adds motion to the joint, helping the bones to gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved health.There are many ways to adjust the spine. Usually the doctor’s hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief and highly – accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow and constant pressure.After years of training and clinical experience, each chiropractic doctor becomes highly skilled in the delivery of a variety of adjusting approaches.
Are All Patients Adjusted the Same Way?
The doctor evaluates each patient’s unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience. Some patients who complain of headaches, may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in their fingers, when the actual problem is the neck. Ever patient presents a uniquely different spinal pattern.Patients notice that their chiropractic care is delivered with confidence and precision. Each visit builds on the one before. And while visits may seem similar, each patients care is uniquely different from every other patient.
Can I Adjust Myself?
Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific spinal joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust ones self.It is possible to turn of bend or twist in a certain way to create a “popping” sound, like the sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counter-productive, often making an already unstable area of the spine even more unsteady. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!The best way to enjoy the healthful benefits of chiropractic is to receive adjustments from a Doctor of Chiropractic. Even your doctor must seek out the services of another colleague to help restore and maintain proper spinal function.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
In the words of the New Zealand’s government inquiry, chiropractic care is “remarkably safe.”Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative approach to health that avoids evasive procedures or addictive drugs. A thorough case history and examination help reveal areas of the spine that may be causing nervous systems malfunction. This information will be used to determine the best course of care for each patient.Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health and that is proven safe and effective.
Can I Speed the Healing Process?
While there aren’t many short cuts to speed your body’s natural healing process, there’s a lot you can do to give yourself the best chance of a quick recovery. Learn proper sitting and lifting methods. Specific exercises may be suggested to help retrain the muscles that support your spine.Proper rest is an important aspect of the healing process, too. Get the appropriate amount of rest your body needs and avoid sleeping on your stomach.During the healing process, proper nutrition is even more important then ever. Make sure you eat balanced meals, and if you’re overweight, now would be a good time to slim down and reduce unnecessary stresses to your spine.Perhaps most important of all, keep your appointment s and follow your chiropractic doctor’s recommendations for optimum results.
Why Do Children Need Chiropractic Care?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for the Vertebarl Subluxation Complex. Later, learning to walk, ride a bicycle, and other childhood activities can cause spinal problems. While a bandage and some comforting words can help a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the child’s spine is the unique domain of a chiropractic doctor.Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as “growing pains” can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults.Naturally, chiropractic-adjusting procedures are modified to a child’s spine. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children.
Am I Too Old For Chiropractic Care?
More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity.Restoring better spinal function can help improve mobility, vitality, endurance and appetite. Many patients report improvement with arthritic symptoms and other chronic ailments often associated with the aging process.The adjusting technique used by your doctor will be modified for maximum comfort and results.As we get older and wiser, the simplicity and effectiveness of chiropractic care becomes more and more obvious.
How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care?
Spinal problems neglected since early childhood, may require ingoing supportive care for optimum spinal function. These long standing problems are often associated with muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine.Most patients find that periodic chiropractic checkups help keep them in tip-top shape. Those who are active have stressful jobs, or want to be their very best, find that a schedule of preventive visits are helpful in the maintenance of good health. Some patients seek chiropractic care only when their ache or pain becomes unbearable. While this style of “crisis management” is usually most costly and time consuming, our office stand ready to help all patients, regardless of their health goals. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you.
Do I Have a Pinched Nerve?
Many patients consult a chiropractic doctor because they think they have a pinched nerve.Because of the way your spine is designed, abnormal spinal function caused from physical trauma, emotional tensions, or chemical toxins can affect the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots.While commonly associated with the spine, the pinched nerve (compressive lesion) is actually rare. Researchers suggest that only 10 % to 15% of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue ! This can result in numbness, burning, or a “pins and needles” feeling.More frequently, nerves are irritated (facilitative lesion). This is caused when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by a loss of spinal curve, or irritated by malfunctioning spinal joints.
Do I Have a Slipped Disc?
Technically, a disc can’t “slip.”The intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage – type material situated between spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine. A soft, jelly like center is contained by outer layers of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs help allow normal turning and bending.Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and blow , a disc cannot “slip.” However, trauma or injury can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniated, or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful, as the soft center of the disc leaks, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord. While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided needless surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by choosing a chiropractic care for their disc – related health problem.
Dr. Chandra Sasseville, D.C., DICCP
A Lewiston native, has been serving the L/A community since 2004. Dr. Sasseville, loving wife and mother of three, is a graduate of St. Dominic’s Regional High School and St. Michael’s College, Colchester, VT. Dr. Sasseville completed her Doctorate of Chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. While completing her doctorate program, she volunteered to provide chiropractic care to residents of Bolivia and Nepal as part of an outreach program offered by the college. Dr. Sasseville graduated in October 2002 with honors and was recognized for exceptional diagnostic skills… [Read More]
Dr. Ted Stratman, D.C., FIAMA
A Nebraska native, has been serving the local community since 2006. He graduated from the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1998 and completed his Doctorate of Chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa in 2002. Dr. Stratman has continued to pursue knowledge in rehabilitative procedures since graduating. He spent three weeks in Vietnam studying and providing humanitarian care to the people of Vietnam. Dr. Stratman was awarded a Fellowship in Acupuncture from the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture in 2006… [Read More]
Dr. Nia Megquier DC
Grew up on the beautiful Mount Desert Island in Bar Harbor, Maine. She graduated as an honor student from MDI high school in 2006 with the desire to work in the healthcare field. She had received chiropractic care throughout her high school career, as she was an avid softball pitcher and volleyball player. Chiropractic helped Dr. Nia with multiple sports injuries, low back pain, and helped her to perform at her optimal level in all aspects of her life. She graduated Cum Laude from University of New England in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Biology.[Read More]