Commonly asked questions...

How does Chiropractic work?  Chiropractic enables the body to heal itself by regulating the nervous system.  Nerve impulses flow from your brain and down your spinal cord.  Pairs of nerve roots branch off from between each spinal joint.  These nerves link your brain with every cell and tissue of your body.  Poor motion or positioning of the bones in your spine can impede nerve function.  Chiropractors call this a vertebral subluxation.  Chiropractic care will locate these areas and reduce their effect with a spinal adjustment.  Health often returns with better nervous system function.  For how long will I need Chiropractic care? Some patients depend on Chiropractic care when they have episodes of pain.  Others choose Chiropractic as part of their ongoing health care.  How long you benefit from care and how regularly you choose to attend is, of course, up to you.  How long until I get results? Sometimes results happen really quickly, for other patients it can take weeks or months.  Many factors affect our healing processes.  Within a week or so, most patients are able to experience encouraging relief from symptoms.  Long standing problems have often led to muscle weakness, soft tissue damage and degenerative changes.  These problems can take longer to be corrected, different people will respond at different rates.

Subluxation [88.33K] What is a subluxation?  This diagram will help your understanding.

What is a subluxation? If the bones of the spine don't move correctly, they can irritate the delicate nerves in the spinal cord.  If a joint moves too much, vertebrae can press against adjacent nerve tissue.  This interferes with the function of the nervous system, the communication between the brain and your body.  This is called a vertebral subluxation.  Muscles too, can become too tight or too weak.  Discs, ligaments and other connective tissue can become inflamed.  Bone spurs and arthritic degeneration can result, poor nervous system function can cause all kinds of health problems beyond headaches and backaches.  How do you get a subluxation? There are 3 basic causes: 1.  Physical - slips, falls, repetitive motions, improper posture or lifting. 2.  Emotional - stress, fear, anger, can all cause muscle tension and subluxation. 3.  Chemical - poor diet, alcohol and drugs.  Can a subluxation just go away on it's own? Yes, often our bodies will correct these minor problems as we move or sleep at night.  A healthy body will do this particularly well.  When subluxations don't resolve, you need to see a Chiropractic doctor.  How do I know if I have a subluxation? You may not know.  Subluxations are sometimes present well before any symptoms appear.  A Chiropractic examination will locate these and assess their severity.  Do I have a slipped disc? Actually a disc can't slip, because of the way it attaches to the vertebrae above and below it.  However, it can bulge, tear, herniate, thin, dry out or collapse.   Do I have a pinched nerve? Spinal bones can stretch, rub or chafe a nerve.  This is called a 'subluxation'.  The messages between the brain and body can be affected, producing unhealthy changes to affected organs and tissues.  Direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue only occurs in 10 - 15% of spine related problems.  Symptoms of this include numbness, burning or 'pins and needles' tingling.  Do children need Chiropractic care? Right from childbirth enormous pressure is placed on an infant's spine.  "Modern" intervention can have extreme consequences for a baby's spinal health.  Unexplained crying, poor sleeping patterns, colic and reflux and some of the signs of spinal subluxations in young infants.  Following this, the never ending falls and childhood accidents make regular checkups beneficial.  Research supports the use of Chiropractic care in many childhood conditions, from recurrent ear infections to ADHD.  Adjustment techniques are modified to best suit younger bodies and our children enjoy their visits.  Dr Moran has completed post-graduate studies in Paediatric Chiropractic and can provide you with more details.  What is SOT? Sacro Occipital Technique uses the relationship between the Sacrum (or base of the spine) and the Occiput (base of the skull).  It was founded in 1925 and has continued to be studied and researched around the world.  One of the functions of the sacrum is to pump Cerebro-Spinal Fluid (CSF) from the base of the spine back up the spinal canal to the brain and throughout the nervous system.  The occiput also helps with this.  The rhythmical motion which circulates the CSF is essential to good health.  CSF acts as the circulatory system of the brain and spinal cord.  What exactly is an 'adjustment'? Your Chiropractor will deliver a spinal adjustment to the offending spinal segment.  This is a specific, precise, corrective force,  which then allows for normal nerve transmission.  While we use the word force, this is usually very gentle, and never painful.  There are various techniques used to deliver the adjustment, Dr Moran will choose the technique most suited to your condition.  Some adjustments are quick while others require slow, constant pressure.   Did you know? Chiropractic is the second largest licensed health care profession.  What training do Chiropractors do? The Chiropractic degree is a 5 year intensive university course which entitles graduates to use the title of Doctor before their name.    Their studies are more concentrated on anatomy and physiology of the nervous system than those of any other health professional.  They are trained, supervised and examined on their manual adjusting techniques for several years before graduating.  How are Chiropractors regulated? Chiropractors are required to be government-registered in the state in which they practice.  Dr Moran is registered with the Queensland branch of the Chiropractors' Association of Australia.  How safe is Chiropractic? Chiropractic has excellent safety records.  It is non-invasive and avoids pharmaceutical drugs and their possible side effects and reactions.  The New Zealand Government's inquiry reported Chiropractic care as "remarkably safe".  Will I need x-rays? Probably, but not definately.  X-rays are extremely useful for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan and it is often better for all concerned that these are taken.  However,we don't like to x-ray unnecessarily, and we don't make any profit from them, as many Chiropractors do.  Dr Moran will write a referral and these can be bulk billed for you at a local centre.  Will I be treated on the first visit? Yes - Dr Moran does treat on the first visit, after a comprehensive assessment of your needs  I'm pregnant - will Chiropractic help me? This is one of the most common reasons for women to visit us.  The biomechanical changes associated with pregnancy can place considerable stress on the spine.  Regular Chiropractic adjustments will help your body to cope and to eliminate some of the pain that can occur at this time.  How much does it cost? Please refer to 'Prices and Treatment Schedules'.  Your first visit is a longer appointment and will cost more than following appointments.  Is there a problem with adjusting myself? Yes, sometimes joint manipulation can make an already unstable area more unstable.  You need a professional diagnosis to know which area needs adjustment and the best method for this.  What else can I do to get better quickly? Get proper rest Don't sleep on your stomach Eat nutritious food Losing weight, when appropraite, will help reduce the stress on joints Learn to sit, stand and lift with correct posture Follow your Chiropractors recommendations and keep your appointments  Is Chiropractic dangerous if I am older? Dr Moran will adjust the technique used to ensure you are comfortable and get the desired results.  Many of our older patients report improvements with arthritic symptoms and chronic health problems after regular Chiropractic care.  They also prefer to avoid over-medication and the side effects of pharmaceutical drugs where possible.  Restoring better spinal health can help improve your mobility, energy levels and appetite.  What makes that popping sound? Gas and fluids in the joint shifting.  You don't necessarily need this sound for an effective adjustment though.  What if I have Osteoporosis? You can still have Chiropractic care - the adjustment method will be selected according to your needs.  Will my joints become loose? No - we will only adjust joints that are 'locked up'.  Your Chiropractor is well trained to deliver the exact amount of energy needed in exactly the right place to enable a joint to move freely again.  This takes years of practice and training and is very safe.  Can Chiropractic 'wear out' my joints? No - bones don't rub on each other, they are enclosed in a capsule of fluid that prevents rubbing.  When the spinal bones are wrongly positioned or not moving properly, the joints above and below will move too much.  The adjustment will mobilise the stuck joint and stabilise the area.   Will you work with my Doctor? Absolutely.  With increased research showing the benefits of Chiropractic care, and public demand for alternatives to drugs and surgery, many Medical Practitioners are referring patients to Chiropractic care.  Dr Moran works closely with several, local Medical Practitioners and has procedures in place to provide your Doctor with all the information, progress updates and research that he or she needs to feel confident to work alongside him.  What do I tell people who don't believe in Chiropractic? Chiropractic works on scientifically proven facts:  The nervous system controls every cell of your body.  Nerve impulses flow from the brain, down the spinal cord, and to every organ and tissue.  Impulses are also sent back to the brain to confirm that things are working as they should.  The moving bones of the spine can irritate the nerves close to them.  This interferes with the exchange of information.  Poor health results from poor nervous system control of your body.

Organ Chart [311.46K] See how the function of your organs is affected by your spinal health.