Frequently Asked Questions in Dubuque IA

Have you ever been recommended to go see a chiropractor from a friend or relative? Maybe you’ve been told to take your child to the chiropractor for an ear infection or because they were colicky. Well what is it that chiropractors do anyway? Before you schedule your first appointment let’s dive into what it is that chiropractors do to allow you to feel and function at your very best.Chiropractic is based on the fundamental connection between your spine and your nervous system. Most people assume chiropractic starts and stops at paid reduction or elevating headaches, that’s just the beginning. Chiropractors believe that structural abnormalities of the spine can lead to anything from vertigo, to infertility. By correcting these structural problems, also referred to as subluxations, you can not only begin to feel well, but also begin to express more health.

A Doctor of Chiropractic, or DC is a highly trained health care professional who specializes in the biomechanics of the human body. Chiropractors are experts at identifying neuromuscular problems that can be related to many different conditions, such as carpal tunnel, shoulder impingement, osteoarthritis etc. Treatment often focuses on improving strength, stability and range of motion in all areas of the body, with a primary focus on the spine. A wide variety of techniques, machines, or instruments can be used to help facilitate healing in the body. At Ideal Chiropractic Health Center we focus on the needs of each specific patient and customize care to tailor their health needs and goals. The connection between chiropractor and patient is a special one because it is a hands on healing profession, we pride ourselves on providing the most comprehensive chiropractic care in Dubuque, Iowa.

This is a very interesting question, and if you ask 10 different people you may get 10 different answers! The truth of the matter is chiropractors don't necessarily treat symptoms, really?! Yes really. Let's give you an example of a common symptom that is seen in the office, carpal tunnel or numbness and tingling down into the arms. An important question to ask with any symptom is why? Essentially what is the cause of the symptom? If the reason you are having numbness and tingling down the arm is because of a structural problem in your neck applying pressure to nerves then chiropractic can absolutely help! And the great thing is by working on the problem causing the symptom not only do you FEEL better but you are GETTING better/healthier in the process.

In essence chiropractors work on structural problems in all areas of the body but primarily the neck and back, to take pressure off the surrounding soft tissue, muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs and possibly nerves. This can not only help decrease pain and inflammation, but promote healing and health in the body.

From young to old, stiff to hypermobile, couch potato to professional athlete, if you have a spine you CAN benefit from chiropractic care. Often in the early onset of life, kids are brought in to overcome health challenges like colic, nursing issues, constipation or bedwetting. While older kids may get adjusted to help meet developmental milestones like walking and crawling, developing chronic ear infections or simply to ensure proper spinal hygiene while growing.

We want to make sure we work with parents to ensure their kids are well adjusted. It is far easier to raise healthy kids than it is to repair damaged adults. It's always encouraged to stay ahead of your pain and your problem instead of simply responding to symptoms or disease.

Pregnant women can benefit from chiropractic care, too. The Webster technique is a specific type of sacral adjustment designed to help mothers-to-be achieve a better pelvic alignment. Adjustments could alleviate pelvic pain and sciatica and even create more room for the baby to move, allowing a breech baby to rotate into a better position for delivery.

Even older adults are eligible for chiropractic care. As long as the patient is otherwise healthy, low-velocity adjustments could help with pain and mobility. If you have a spine and you live in Dubuque, Iowa you can benefit from chiropractic care at Ideal Chiropractic Health Center.

Many people have been adjusted throughout the Dubuque area and both Dr. Ryan Effertz and Dr. Katie Effertz have helped many people eliminate many health challenges. However, one worry that seems to prevent some men and women from getting care is whether or not chiropractic care is safe. Millions of Americans get adjusted every week who could testify to the safety and efficacy of chiropractic care. But don't just take their word for it, check out some peer reviewed studies found below.

Australian Study: Chiropractic is Safe
The first study(1) was published in Spine and involved 183 adults. Each participant was suffering from spinal pain, and half of the patients received real chiropractic adjustments whereas the other half were given two sham chiropractic treatments. Information was obtained after each real or fake adjustment to identify if any unpleasant reactions were caused by the actual chiropractic adjustments.

The doctors reported that none of the patients documented any significant unfavorable side effects in any way after receiving one or two sessions of chiropractic care. Some people did report that they had a headache (9% of patients) or muscle stiffness (about 1 out of 3) post-treatment, but the results were not of a serious nature.

Large US Survey Confirms that Chiropractic Adjustments are Safe
The second article(2), also released in the distinguished medical journal, Spine, was conducted in an effort to ascertain the safety of chiropractic care. The study group was much larger as it involved just under 20,000 individuals. Each participant received chiropractic adjustments of the neck, with over 50,000 total adjustments for all study participants.

Once again, the experts found no serious negative side effects. The authors computed the risk of total side effects to be approximately six out of every 10,000 consultations or every 100,000 treatment sessions. Plus, just as with the previous study, some people did report non-serious, milder, unwanted effects such as dizziness (less than 2%) or a headache (4 out of every 100), and this prompted the authors to determine that "the risk of a serious adverse event, immediately or up to 7 days after treatment, was low to very low."

Chiropractic Is Safe for Your Children
The third study(3) is unique from the first two reports, as it focuses on the safety of chiropractic care for children. In this case, researchers analyzed results reported by both chiropractors and parents involving 816 children who participated in 7,173 chiropractic adjustments.

Out of 5,438 chiropractic appointments made for the kids, chiropractors answering the survey reported only three cases where there were adverse effects. When parents were surveyed, they indicated only two adverse side effects out of 1,735 visits. Additionally, both chiropractors and parents reported "a high rate of improvement with respect to the children's presenting complaints."

Based on these three studies (and MANY, MANY more!), chiropractic care has been deemed safe and effective for everyone. To discover what chiropractic can do for you, call our Dubuque office and schedule an appointment today at (563) 845-7283.