Frequently Asked Questions in Virginia Beach

Yes, chiropractors are doctors. We attend 5 years of graduate-level college to practice our discipline just as a dentist, podiatrist, or psychiatrist does. 

Chiropractic got started on September 18, 1895, in Davenport IA. Over 100 years ago a "magnetic healer" by the name of DD Palmer operated an office on the corner of Second and Brady Street in downtown Davenport, Iowa.  Dr. Palmer noticed that day that the janitor who worked in his building was nearly totally deaf.

This janitor was a gentleman by the name of Harvey Lillard.  Upon questioning, (probably very loud questioning) Harvey explained to Dr. Palmer that he had lost most of his hearing 17 years earlier when he was bending over and felt a "pop" in his upper back or neck.  Dr. Palmer examined the area and noticed a bump that he determined to be a spinal vertebrae out of position.  It seemed that Harvey noticed this bump right after he lost his hearing.  Having knowledge of anatomy, Dr. Palmer convinced Harvey to allow him to try to fix it by pushing the bone back into place.

History is uncertain as to whether it was one visit or several, but the result was Harvey got his hearing back!  From that point, DD Palmer changed his practice over to this new method of replacing spinal bones that were out of position and allowing all kinds of sick people to heal.  His practice grew and the profession of chiropractic was born.

I adjust the tone of your spinal cord, similar to tuning a guitar, to remove tonal shifts to improve your flow of life from the brain to tissue cell which enabled you to better express life. This allows your body to heal and function at your full innate God-given potential.

We look for interference on your nerves called subluxations. A subluxation is interference of your nerve's ability to send and receive messages. When this happens the nerve doesn't function properly anymore which interferes with messages between your brain and your body. When the brain isn't able to communicate with any part of the body, that part of the body doesn't function properly anymore. Over time that part of the body becomes sick or diseased.

Well, there's a solution. It's called an adjustment. Chiropractors locate and correct subluxation with an adjustment. We gently correct the interference on the nerve. This allows the brain to communicate with that part of the body again. After an adjustment, your innate, inborn ability immediately goes to work to help you heal better. Hopefully, you'll be able to feel more, not less. More healthy, more alive, more connected, more positive, and more energy.

Yes. A New Zealand government inquiry found that chiropractic adjustments are "remarkably safe." Compare the statistics. Adjustments are about 100 times safer than taking a common, over-the-counter pain reliever.

Everyone understands that drugs have side effects. What many people do not realize is that these side effects are often undesirable and sometimes lethal.  Drugs all have effects, some predictable and some not...some wanted and some not. Side effects are not really side effects but rather effects of the chemicals in the drugs that are considered to be what must be risked or tolerated for the desired effect of the drug.

What are the side effects of chiropractic? What we have heard from many patients is that there are unexpected benefits of chiropractic so we will call them side benefits instead of side effects. During the course of a person's initial care in the office, many if not all receive relief from the concern or condition that caused them to seek our help in the first place. Once the initial healing phase of care is complete, almost all patients make the decision to take a few additional steps to strengthen and stabilize their system so that the health concern that they originally consulted us for is far less likely to repeat. During this phase of stabilization is when we most often hear of the side benefits of chiropractic care. Here is a partial list of side benefits:

1. Sleep better
2. More energy
3. Relief from other aches and pains
4. Improved digestion and elimination
5. Greater clarity of thought
6. Improved outlook and attitude
7. Fewer colds and improved immune function
8. Greater stamina
9. Decreased need for some medications
10. Better overall health

Many factors affect the frequency of care needed. These include stress levels, physical activity, nutritional status, attitude, and response to care. We work to help you reach your goals as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

There are two reasons most people choose our office. The first is our hours and the flexibility to receive care in our office. 

The second is that we practice Tonal Chiropractic. Tonal Chiropractic refers to a refined and very gentle model of chiropractic that is focused on giving you the most precise and least invasive adjustment possible. This is important for two main reasons. The first being that since minimal force is used to adjust you, your body learns to do more with less and does not become dependent on a large outside force to stay in developmental growth. The second gift of Tonal Chiropractic is that adjustments are given in such a way that you do not plateau. This means that the longer you choose to receive this care, the more benefits you will notice in your life.

A better question would be for you to ask yourself, "What would my state of health be if every cell and system in my body was working together in harmony the way nature intended?" What if you regularly got enough sleep, ate nutritious foods, exercised, and managed stress properly? Chiropractic is designed to help you in two main ways. One being the adjustment which helps your body work in better harmony, and the other is empowering you to make healthier lifestyle choices by teaching you a unique chiropractic Above-Down-Inside-Out (ADIO) perspective.

Chiropractic is not a treatment or cure for any disease, syndrome or medical condition. What you focus on grows in your experience. There are already plenty of practitioners focusing on disease. Tonal Chiropractic focuses on empowering you to experience more vibrant health. The power to heal from any disease is already inside you, but the real gift of Tonal Chiropractic is in helping you express a more vibrant life whether you have a diagnosed medical disease or not. This enhanced expression can lead to improvements in your overall quality of life, performance ability, and happiness.

Yes. Naturally, your chiropractor will avoid the surgically modified areas of your spine. Surgery has been known to cause instability above or below the involved area. More than likely, this will be the focus of your chiropractic care.

Yes. In fact, this care is especially suited for pregnant women because of how gentle it is. Pregnancy may be one of the best times to benefit from chiropractic care. While it's always best to have a properly working nervous system, it's especially helpful during pregnancy. Adjusting methods are modified to a mother's size, weight, and condition. During this time of weight gain and hormonal changes, many mothers seek chiropractic care because it is drug-free. Many report shorter and easier births.

Well, I have great news. We accept insurance for people who have it. We also have affordable rates for military and for those without insurance. Our fees are usually lower than those copays with high deductibles.

Unless you graduate from a chiropractic college then no. Even I have to go to another chiropractor to get adjusted which I do at least once a week.

We are able to assess and adjust you while you are fully clothed.

Absolutely, care is safe and effective for all ages. Even today's "natural" childbirth methods can stress an infant's spine. Colic, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits may be signs of spinal distress from the birth process. Pediatric adjustments are gentle. Knowing exactly where to adjust, the amount of pressure applied is no more than you'd use to test the ripeness of a tomato.

Chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree and a state license. Doctor of Chiropractic programs typically take 4 years to complete and require at least 3 years of undergraduate college education for admission.

Special fluids lubricate each spinal joint. Some adjusting methods can produce a sound as the gas and fluids in the joint shift-like opening a soda or a bottle of champagne. The sound is fascinating but isn't a guide to the quality or effectiveness of an adjustment.

No two people are alike, but the body typically heals very quickly after being adjusted. In fact, most patients only need a few adjustments to begin to heal better and as a result, feel better. But if you are not taking care of other areas of your health like eating healthy, anti-inflammatory foods, getting at least 15 minutes of exercise a day. Sleeping six to eight hours a day. Staying positive with daily prayer and or mediation. If you don't do those things it's going to take longer to heal.

Unless you are addicted to health, then no. Once you are healing and feeling better. What gets you well can keep you well. And you are likely to return to the office with your family for regular chiropractic checkups. The latest scientific research shows getting your nervous system checked once every 7 to 14 days not only helps you heal better and feel more. That's why we suggest you get your nervous system checked weekly like I do with my own family.

I love helping people. I had a kiddo come in a few months ago with ADHD with concentration and focusing problems. Now he is off his medication and is being offered accelerated classes in math and science. His mom is overjoyed at the changes he has had and how his life is still improving.

It's a rewarding experience successfully taking care of practice members when traditional methods don't work.

The problems we see presenting the most are sick kids. It is young ones with reflux, colic or reoccurring ear infections. It can be older kids or young adults with ADHD, sensory problems, anxiety/depression, or seizures to name a few.

People should see us because we find the underlying cause of the problems they are experiencing. We see a lot of patients and families who have exhausted all efforts in "handling" health problems themselves. When that didn't work, they then followed traditional referrals in the health care system, often spending incredible amounts of money on medications and/or surgeries that often caused more issues than they healed. Simply put, we often see people who are at the end of their ropes. They've tried everything "man-made" that they could think of, (and sadly), by the time they see us many of them have suffered for months, even years, because of it. The most common statement we hear from our patients is, "I wish I had known about this sooner."