Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chiropractic? Chiropractic is a health care field that focuses on helping patients enjoy their full potential for health and performance. Doctors of chiropractic make gentle adjustments to the bones of the spine to remove interferences (vertebral subluxations) that can hinder the body’s natural ability to heal.
What is the "cracking or popping" sound? The chiropractic adjustment of a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble between the joints, which makes a popping sound. This is commonly referred to as an "audible or cavitation," it is not your bones rubbing together. The same thing occurs when you "crack" you knuckles. The noise is cause by the change of pressure within the joint, which results in gas bubbles being released. There is usually minimal, if any, discomfort involved.
Do Chiropractic adjustments hurt? Although chiropractic adjustments are sometimes uncomfortable, they are not typically painful. You may feel a little bit sore after, as though you had a tough workout. Most patients look forward to their adjustments. The truth is, after an adjustment, immediate pain relief is not uncommon.
Are Chiropractors "real doctors?" Doctors of chiropractic are educated as primary-care healthcare providers, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments and joints of the spine and extremities) and the nervous system. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the healthcare professions. The typical applicant for chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Doctors of chiropractic are educated in neurology, anatomy, physiology, orthopedics, clinical diagnosis including laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging (x-ray, MRI, CT, etc.), exercise, nutrition, rehabilitation and more. Because chiropractic care includes highly skilled adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical technique training to master these important adjustment procedures. In total, the chiropractic college curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by the Council on Chiropractic Education, an accrediting agency that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. After graduating from chiropractic college, the doctor has to take 5 national board examinations. After passing the national board exams the doctor of chiropractic can apply their specific state licensing board which might require further testing prior to granting licensure.
Will I need x-rays? X-Rays are not taken with every person. The determination on whether Dr. Maltby will takes x-rays or not come from what he finds in the initial exam. There are some cases in which x-rays must be taken (i.e. Upper Cervical Care, auto accidents, etc.) For more information of x-rays you can visit the X-Ray page under the services tab in the menu at the top of the page.
Is Chiropractic Safe? Chiropractic is extremely safe and effective, when the adjustment is performed by a fully educated, trained and licensed chiropractor. The Chiropractor spends years and thousands of hours perfecting their adjustment skills. Dr. Maltby is always working on improving his ability to give the best and safest chiropractic adjustment he can.
Is Chiropractic treatment ongoing? The hands-on nature of chiropractic is what requires people to visit the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor, a person needs to be in the chiropractors office. In contrast, a medical doctors treatment often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of medication for weeks to months). A chiropractor may provide acute, chronic, and/or preventive care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary. Your doctor of chiropractic should tell you the extent of treatment recommended and how long you can expect it to last.
Is Chiropractic appropriate for kids? Kids respond very quickly to the chiropractic adjustment. From the moment they are born a child’s nervous system is growing, learning, and adapting to its environment. The chiropractic adjustment for kids is very gentle and only requires a light touch. For example, the birth process itself can be stressful on the infant and many parents choose to have their kids checked by a chiropractor as soon as they can. In fact, Dr. Maltby has 6 kids of his own. The first 2 were born before both him and his wife had graduated from chiropractic college and each were checked by a chiropractor(his father) within hours of birth. The other 4, who were all born at home, Dr. Maltby checked within minutes of them being born. The most common reasons that Dr. Maltby has seen in his office for an infant to get check are nursing difficulties, constipation, and sleeping issues, but these are not the only reasons.
Is Chiropractic Care expensive? There are numerous studies that indicated chiropractic care is one of the least expensive forms of health care. Among the research studies that show the cost benefits of using chiropractic care is a 4-year retrospective review of claims from 1.7 million health plan members. The data analyzed to determine the cost effects of the inclusion of a chiropractic benefit in an HMO insurance plan. The data revealed that members with a chiropractic benefit had lower overall total annual health care costs. Back pain patients with chiropractic coverage also realized lower utilization of x-rays, low back surgery, hospitalizations and MRI’s. Back pain episode-related costs were also 25 percent lower for those with chiropractic coverage.