Welcome
Chiropractors have been providing safe and effective health care for over 100 years. The practice of spinal manipulation has been practiced for thousands of years! From ancient China to Greece, many health problems have been treated using spinal manipulation. In one particular writing of Hippocrates (The Father of Medicine 460-370 BC) "Manipulation and Importance of Good Health," he wrote: "Get knowledge of the spine, for this is the requisite for many diseases."
Thomas Edison once said "The doctor of the future will give no medicine but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease."
Low back pain and headache treatments are what most people think of when they hear chiropractic, but chiropractors treat many different conditions.
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 moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of
the spinal cord and nerve roots. Back pain, as well as certain varieties of
headaches, are often the result of joint dysfunction. If your joints do
not function properly they may begin to adversely affect surrounding tissues,
including nerves and muscles. This frequently results in pain and dysfunction
elsewhere in the body, including the vital organs. A chiropractor can identify
dysfunctional joints and restore normal motion and function to the surrounding
tissues. The chiropractic adjustment also stimulates the body's own natural
pain-relief response which is why people often feel much better after an
adjustment!
Dr. Brandon L. Neff also performs a variety of alternative therapies to alleviate the symptoms of chronic sinusits. Sinusitis, or inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, is due to viral, bacterial and/or fungal infections. It may also be due to allergic reactions as a response to environmental irritants. Sinusitis can be classified into two main categories: Acute and Chronic. Both can be bacterial or nonbacterial. Recent studies have shown that treatment of sinusitis with antibiotics is not as effective as previously thought (Stalman W, van Essen G, et al. Maxillary sinusitis in adults: An evaluation of placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Family Practice. 1997;14(2): 124-8, Boyum A. Acute sinusitis in adults. Postgraduate Medicine. 1998;103(6): 154-168, Dohlman AW, Hemstreet MW, et al. Subacute sinusitis: Are antimicrobials necessary? J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1993;91:1015-23). Antibiotic therapy should be reserved for those cases where the symptoms are particularly severe, systemic involvement is suspected or when the patient fails to respond to conservative care within a reasonable period of time. Patients with chronic sinusitis may particularly benefit from alternative treatment options, especially if they have already experienced relative treatment failure with antibiotic therapy. Dr. Neff performs several techniques which have demonstrated clinical effectiveness in treating the cause and symptoms of sinusitis.
What should I expect on my first visit?
Your first visit to a chiropractic office will involve filling out a form with background information about you, your symptoms and prior health history. Some of your current symptoms may be related to an injury that occurred many years ago (a minor car accident may not present symptoms for several years).
You will receive a thorough examination consisting of palpation (the doctor is highly trained to manually examine your muscles and joints) as well as neurologic and orthopedic tests to identify the source and mechanism of pain. This also helps the chiropractic physician to determine the appropriate treatments. At Neff Family Chiropractic, we follow the evidence-based model of care (also adopted by the medical profession) to diagnose and treat.
In some circumstances, an X-Ray may be taken to assist the doctor in the determination of the underlying cause of the symptoms and to properly manage your specific needs. An X-Ray is never taken to satisfy curiosity and will only be recommended when we feel it is appropriate to the management of your specific case. Laboratory work is also ordered when appropriate.
Finally, you will
receive a chiropractic adjustment. The doctor will apply an appropriate and
gentle thrust to restore motion to restricted joints and facilitate your body's
own natural healing process. You might hear a popping sound (also known as a
cavitation). This is the harmless release of microscopic bubbles of carbon
dioxide gas found in the synovial fluid that lubricates your joints. This is a
normal occurrence and it should not be cause for alarm.
Neff Family Chiropractic also utilizes a variety of physical therapy modalities (electrical muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, massage, hot and cold packs, specific exercises, etc) to help you return to pain-free activity.
Research Supports Chiropractic
Although empirical and anecdotal evidence suggests that chiropractic is both safe and effective, a growing body of scientific data supports chiropractic's effectiveness. The studies listed below are a small fraction of the studies published on the efficacy of chiropractic.
The RAND study The Duke Study The Boline Study
The Koes Clinical Trial The Nelson Migraine Study The Colic Study
The AHCPR Guideline A Study of Education The Abt Study
The Manga Study The IPA Study The Burton Study