FAQ
We aim to empower individuals to achieve optimal health and well-being through personalized chiropractic care and functional nutrition, fostering balance, vitality, and a pain-free life naturally.
FAQ
WHY SEE A CHIROPRACTOR?
According to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, “Chiropractic is a healthcare discipline that emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.” Simply put, chiropractic care is a non-invasive and holistic approach to healthcare. It is an effective treatment option for dozens of different conditions, including headaches, back and neck pain, sciatica, vertigo, migraines and ear infections, just to name a few.
HOW IS YOUR PRACTICE DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL CHIROPRACTORS?
With traditional chiropractic, spinal manipulation is performed on the spinal joints anywhere from the head to the pelvis and sacrum with the goal of aligning the spine in its natural position. Since these adjustments are done through physical manipulation, they often involve the twisting, cracking and popping techniques that most people associate with chiropractors.
Atlas Orthogonal, on the other hand, focuses on the alignment of the atlas vertebra. Adjustments are non-manipulative and completely painless. Atlas orthogonal chiropractors use an instrument that is so gentle and precise, adjustments are barely felt, if at all. Although atlas orthogonal focuses on adjusting the top part of your spine, each adjustment brings your entire spine into alignment and can relieve upper cervical (neck) pain as well as pain and discomfort in the mid- or lower back area, and even down into the legs and feet.
WHAT IS THE ATLAS?
The atlas is the very first vertebra in your spine. It connects your head to the rest of your spine. Very small and ring-like in appearance, the atlas surrounds the lower extension of the brain stem. For this reason, if the atlas becomes misaligned, it can pinch off nerve supply that feeds from your brain to any number of places in the body, causing pain, discomfort and even disease.
WHAT IS THE ORTHOGONAL POSITION?
When the atlas is in the orthogonal position, it is exactly 90 degrees to the skull and the cervical spine (the neck portion of the spine). This is the optimal position that allows the rest of the spine to align correctly. We have found that symptoms not directly related to the physical location of the atlas, such as lower back pain, arm pain and leg pain, can be treated by setting the atlas in the orthogonal position and restoring proper function to the body.
WHAT IS SUBLUXATION?
A subluxation, or a Vertebral Subluxation Complex, is the misalignment of a vertebra causing irritation of a nerve. When subluxation is present, the nerve becomes choked and may not function properly. A subluxation can occur at any area of the spine, causing the body to function at less than 100%.
WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF SUBLUXATION?
Subluxation can prohibit muscles, joints, and organs from getting crucial messages from the brain. Misalignment of the atlas affects the rest of the spine and body. Think of the spine like a chain – if the first link is twisted and turned, each link down the line also turns slightly, thereby disrupting the entire chain. Consider the atlas the first and most important in the chain. In this way, even lower back and leg pain may be directly related to an atlas subluxation because of the chain effect.
WILL ATLAS ORTHOGONAL HELP MY CONDITION?
Atlas orthogonal is an effective treatment option for dozens of health conditions. When a misalignment of the spine blocks normal nerve function, the body can experience pain, discomfort and even secondary conditions, such as tinnitus, fibromyalgia, acid reflux and even hypertension. To find out if your specific condition could be caused by a misalignment of the spine, please call us to schedule a free consultation. You can also read the article titled, “Top 10 Health Problems Atlas Orthogonal Successfully Treats.”
IS ATLAS ORTHOGONAL SAFE??
Atlas orthogonal is extremely safe due to the gentle, non-manipulative nature of atlas adjustments.
ARE ATLAS ADJUSTMENTS PAINFUL?
The atlas orthogonal precision adjusting instrument uses principles of percussion force to push your atlas gently back into alignment. During an adjustment, you will lie on your side and the doctor will place the tip of the instrument just under your earlobe. You will hear a clicking sound and your adjustment is complete. These adjustments are completely pain-free.
ARE YOU GOING TO CRACK AND POP MY NECK AND BACK?
No. Atlas orthogonal adjustments are completely non-manipulative and involve no popping or cracking of the neck or back.
WHAT IS SPINAL DECOMPRESSION?
Spinal Decompression Therapy involves stretching the spine, using a traction table, with the goal of relieving back pain, leg pain, cervical (neck) pain and/or arm pain. This procedure is sometimes called non-surgical decompression therapy (as opposed to surgical spinal decompression, such as laminectomy and microdiscectomy).
I'VE ALREADY HAD BACK SURGERY, BUT I STILL HAVE PAIN. CAN ATLAS ORTHOGONAL OR SPINAL DECOMPRESSION HELP ME?
Yes. Even if you have had multiple spinal surgeries, atlas orthogonal and/or spinal decompression can bring you real relief from back pain.
ARE ATLAS ADJUSTMENTS AND SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY EXPENSIVE?
Atlas orthogonal adjustments and spinal decompression therapy are very affordable, even if you don’t have medical insurance. Please see the article “Is Atlas Orthognal Affordable?” for more information.
DO YOU OFFER ANY OTHER SERVICES?
As a doctor of functional medicine, I also offer nutritional counseling to my patients. In addition, I have a large selection of high quality natural supplements available for purchase at my office.
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE?
Functional Medicine is a science-based, personalized healthcare approach that assesses for and treats underlying causes of illness through individually tailored therapies to restore health and improve function. It looks at the body as a whole, a singular integrated system, rather than a collection of organs and system that should be divided into specialties. Functional Medicine also involves “lifestyle medicine,” in which the patient takes an active role in improving their health by using food as medicine, and by using proven stress reduction techniques.
