Frequently Asked Questions
Do Adjustments Hurt?
Is Chiropractic Covered by Insurance?
Is Chiropractic Safe?
What is the Difference Between Medical Doctors and Chiropractors?
What kind of education and training do chiropractors have?
Once you go to a chiropractor, don't they make you keep going for the rest of your life?
What does it mean to provide diversified treatment?
What should I know about supplements?
How can you tell what is a “good” supplement for you and what is a “bad” supplement for you?
Do Adjustments Hurt?
If you have never been adjusted before, you may worry that adjusting hurts. A chiropractic adjustment is the specific application of force to correct alignment and nerve interference. It’s much more than twisting your neck or back in order to make a “popping” sound.An adjustment might feel strange at first, it is generally not painful. Early in treatment some patients report a little soreness the next day, as if they had worked out at the gym. This soreness is temporary and tends to fade as the muscles become accustomed to treatment. Usually, most patients report a feeling of relief, calmness, and a sense of well being after the adjustment; others feel improved mobility.
Is Chiropractic Covered by Insurance?
Our goal is to deliver the finest chiropractic care at a reasonable cost. In addition to accepting PPO and HMO (with PCP referral) insurance assignment, Dr. Horton is proud to be an in-network preferred provider with many of the major local insurance carriers.Horton Chiropractic also welcomes Medicare participants and Workers Compensation cases. Call 847.296.3877 to learn about the chiropractic benefits of your carrier.
Is Chiropractic Safe?
Because many people are unfamiliar with chiropractic care, occasionally some question the safety of chiropractic treatment.Chiropractic is recognized as one of the safest types of health care in the world. Numerous studies, including those funded by governments, universities and nonprofit research institutions, have proven it to be a successful primary therapy for neuromusculoskeletal conditions -- a therapy that is safer, in fact, than most medical procedures used to treat the same conditions. Chiropractic is also widely used as a complementary mode of care for a variety of other conditions and diseases and to promote overall health and well-being.
Occasionally some patients are not good candidates for chiropractic care. At Horton Chiropractic, all prospective patients are given full chiropractic, orthopedic, and neurologic examinations, as well as an in-depth consultation, computerized sEMG and thermogram, and x-rays (when necessary). At the conclusion of this comprehensive evaluation, any risk factors that a prospective patient might have are identified and communicated to the patient.
Additionally, we can look to the malpractice insurance companies to evaluate how safe chiropractic treatment is. Medical doctors in family practice pay 15-30 times more for malpractice insurance coverage than chiropractors practicing in the same area.
What's the Difference Between Medical Doctors and Chiropractors?
That's like asking the difference between a traditional physician and a dentist: they are different professions within the health care spectrum. Both chiropractors and medical practitioners are legally entitled to use the title "doctor". As the appellation MD means "Doctor of Medicine", so DC means "Doctor of Chiropractic".The role of chiropractic is complementary to other areas of primary health care. Chiropractic is not a replacement for medical care, but is a drug-free, non-surgical adjunct to other health care providers.
What kind of education and training do chiropractors have?
Chiropractors are educated as primary contact health care practitioners, with an emphasis on neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and treatment. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas: basic training in the biological and health sciences, specialized training in the chiropractic discipline, and extensive clinical training.Becoming a chiropractor requires a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education, including no less than 4500 hours of classroom and clinical instruction at an institution approved by the Council on Chiropractic Education.
Once you go to a chiropractor, don't they make you keep going for the rest of your life?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what sends patients back to the chiropractor a number of times. To be treated by a chiropractor a patient needs to be in his or her office.In contrast, a course of treatment from medical doctors often involves a pre-established plan that is conducted at home (i.e. taking a course of antibiotics once a day for a couple of weeks). A chiropractor may provide acute, preventative and/or maintenance care thus making a certain number of visits sometimes necessary.
What does it mean to provide diversified treatment?
All chiropractors are a little different. We are all different shapes and sizes and because chiropractic is a manual form of treatment, we practice with different techniques.All chiropractic techniques seek to reach the same conclusion: Help our patients heal by decreasing and eliminating nerve interference caused by spinal misalignment. After a thorough consultation, chiropractic, neurologic, and orthopedic examinations, x-rays (as necessary) and computerized studies , Dr. Horton creates a customized treatment plan for you. Dr. Horton primarily utilizes the more ”hands on,” Diversified style of adjusting to effectively treat her patients.
What should I know about supplements?
The first thing everyone should realize about vitamins, minerals and supplements is that they are not all created equal! Supplements vary greatly in quality, content, and bioavailability. Bioavailability is the ability for the body to use and absorb the supplement consumed.Studies show that of the supplements sold in the United States today, between one-quarter and one-third either do not contain that they say they do on the label, or they contain dangerous undisclosed substances in addition to what appears on the label.
How can you tell what is a “good” supplement for you and what is a “bad” supplement for you?
First, make sure the supplement you are considering is going to be helpful for your health. One must take eating habits, and any prior, current, or potential health concerns into consideration.Don’t rely on advertisements or sound bites from the evening news to make decisions on what supplements you should take and what supplement is right for you. Horton Chiropractic can help you decide what supplements are right for you.
Second, make sure the supplement comes from a reputable company that frequently tests their products for content and purity.