If you have never been to a chiropractor before, you might be wondering exactly what to expect. It is easy to have many misconceptions about this kind of alternative medicine. As a matter of fact, if you have some trepidation about a visit to a chiropractor in the first place, it is easy to get worried rather than look forward to some much needed help. Here are the facts about understanding your very first visit to a chiropractor:
* You chiropractor will ask you about your current health problems. Much against the grain of popular opinion, she or he does not only want to hear about your back pain or shoulder aches, but also about frequent colds, susceptibility to infection, hearing problems, changes in weight, and even any cramping you might be experiencing. It is important that you state exactly what you are feeling, even if you think it might sound silly, since you do not know the proper medical terminology to couch your expressions in. The fact of the matter remains that much of chiropractic relies on the sensitivity of touch, and the more detailed your description of the problem and its manifestation, the more able the chiropractor will be to clearly understand what it is that troubles you and most certainly it will ease her or his way of finding the problem and also its source.
* The next set of questions asked will deal with your medical history, including your familys medical history. Included in this set of questions is a subset that deals with medical care you are currently receiving as well as care you have received in the past, no matter what the source of that care is. Be sure to talk about hospitalizations, consultations with dieticians, physicians, or anyone else with whom you have undergone treatment for your health. Your chiropractor will take detailed notes to ensure that nothing is missed.
* Next, your chiropractor will want to know about your job. She or he will not only inquire about the stress level of your job, but also ask about the exact kind of work that you do, whether you sit or stand while performing your job, which kinds of machines if any you operate, what you do for lunch, whether you walk at any time during your work day or are mostly sedentary, and quite possibly a host of other questions.

As you can see, the questions your chiropractor will ask deal with you as a whole person, not simply singling out your spine, a shoulder, or maybe a leg. While this may be part and parcel of common medicine, the very fact that chiropractic care is considered alternative medicine makes it different in this respect. Your chiropractor understands that there is more to your health issues than simply a sprained ankle, a slipped disc, or a vertebra that is out of alignment. The goal is to find out what caused the problem and how it can be corrected so that it will not trouble you again.

Perhaps you are new to town and looking for that great new chiropractor with whom to build a professional relationship. While it may be easier to find a new doctor after all, almost everyone has one that they like or in the alternative tell you to stay away from or even a new dentist, finding a new chiropractor is a bit harder. While chiropractics is an established science as well as an art, and while there are many reputable schools training future chiropractors, the fact that this kind of healing touch is still considered to be an alternative form of medicine has kept many people away from these practitioners. Add to this the fact that oftentimes the established medical establishment looks with something akin to suspicion and derision on this genre of practitioners, and it is not surprising that it is hard to find that great chiropractor to help your aching back.

Fortunately, if you follow a few simple steps, you will be rewarded with a gem of a practitioner! First and foremost, consider what you are looking for. Are you looking for a chiropractor who works in close concert with the established medical professions and will consider himself a team member in your care, together with your internist, cardiologist, and any other medical professional whom you choose to entrust with your care? Conversely, you may be looking for someone who will become the supporting pillar of your medical care, and who is more closely aligned with the members of the alternative medical community, and thus might feel more at home discussing your health with an aroma therapist and acupuncturist. Finding out the chiropractors philosophy of health care is just as important as learning about her or his skill level and areas of expertise.

Of course, there is no tool as telling about the chiropractic care you may expect to receive as an actual visit to the chiropractors office. Do you feel comfortable? Do you feel like you are being rushed? Are the magazines in the waiting room old? Do not laugh! Old magazines in the waiting room of physicians of any discipline have been shown to be equated with antiquated care, philosophy of treatment, and a general lack of communication with the patients. Once you see the doctor, ascertain if she or he is truly listening to you. Do you feel like the doctor is otherwise occupied, or are you consistently interrupted by assistants who need an answer on something? Does the doctor try to finish your sentences for you? Does she or he present you with a diagnosis or treatment plan that is radically different from the one your previous chiropractor had suggested? Keep in mind that this is not necessarily a bad idea; as a matter of fact, if you find that your previous chiropractic treatment has yielded little if any results, a new change of pace might be just what the doctor ordered! Yet if the previous treatment worked, find out why the new doctor wants to change course. Follow these tips, and finding a new chiropractor will be a cinch!

Bartlett Palmer is the son of the famed father of chiropractics, Daniel Palmer. Very little is recorded about his formative years, with the exception of the fact that his mother died when he was merely four years old. Unable to cope with her death, his father engaged in a number of relationships with women and also married a number of them. At the same time, he began to further intensify his research into spiritualism and magnetic healing. In the course of time, he also worked with the alignment of the spine in an effort to heal others, and as such his first major successful breakthrough occurred in 1895, when Bartlett was 14 years old, and the elder Mr. Palmer was able to cure a man of deafness simply by manipulating his spine.

Heavily influenced by what he witnessed, young Bartlett would soon follow in his fathers footsteps and also attended the Palmer School of Chiropractic which his father had founded in 1897. At the young age of 21 he took over the running of the school from his father who was found guilty of practicing medicine without a license. What sets him apart from his fathers area of practice and expertise is that instead of pressing onward and fighting the system, he would use it to flourish and grow the new discovery. Refining the training process, he became known as a renowned teacher of chiropractic, which at times had him at odds with his father.

Later on, Bartlett would venture out into business and in addition to being a chiropractor of standing in society; he also invested wisely and purchased a radio station and later on a television station. Being a bit of an eccentric, he would go on to openly showcase his wealth by being one of the first ones in his neighborhood to get around by automobile, while also becoming something of a celebrity because of his collection that featured memorabilia connected to the late President Abraham Lincoln. In 1961 Bartlett died, and in a very real way a piece of medical history died with him.

His legacy still stands, however; his radio station, named WOC for wonders of chiropractic, was once fabulous for letting the residents know about the miracles that chiropractic care could have in store for them. Today it is owned by Clear Channel Communications which is well known for owning a large number of stations across the United States. Very few listeners know what the call letters stand for, and every so often this little piece of history is commented upon in the local Davenport newspapers.

Another part of the legacy that lives on is the education that Bartlett Palmer gave to countless chiropractors in training. Many have gone on to become teachers themselves. Even those who went into private practice have taken the knowledge of both the elder and also the younger Palmer, and shown the world that alternative medical practices are not only here to stay, but can boast of a good many success stories!

When chiropractics first began with Daniel Palmer, there were no schools, no course of study, and not much research that would enable others to come to similar conclusions. Fortunately, when Mr. Palmer realizes that he was on the cutting edge of alternative medical healing, he and his son Bartlett after him, chose to go ahead and found a school that would permit interested individuals to take up a course of study that would enable them to not only understand the reasoning behind chiropractic care, but to also turn around and practice this new art themselves with the tools discovered by Mr. Palmer. Granted, he came under close scrutiny for practicing medicine without a license, but when the medical establishment sought to stop the practice of chiropractic care altogether, it soon became obvious that it would be impossible to put the genie back into the bottle. The unease between conventional medicine and alternative healing continued with occasional flare ups until the United States government in coordination with the governing bodies of the chiropractic movement laid down the guidelines that would permit a chiropractor to hang out a shingle and open a practice.

Becoming a licensed chiropractor in the United States is an achievable goal if you are not afraid of some hard work. You will need to successfully finish a Doctor of Chiropractics degree program at an accredited university or college where you will receive the kind of education that entitles you to the degree by both the United States government and also the Council on Chiropractic Education. Generally speaking, the latter offers a number of guidelines that must be met in order to permit a student to sit for the various exams that will entitle her or him to finally round out the course of study with an internship. When you are shopping around for a school to attend for your courses of study, make certain that its curriculum meets or exceeds the guidelines of the Council on Chiropractic Education and that it is accredited by the United States. There are currently no home study courses available to earn this degree.

Successful graduation from an accredited school with reward you with a degree naming you a Doctor of Chiropractics and you will now be eligible to receive a license in every state including Puerto Rico and also Canada. Many foreign countries will also accept the American degree and allow you to apply for licensing. To receive a license to practice, you will need to successfully finish a number of examples, namely the physiotherapy exam consisting of parts one, two, and three as well as the practical exam part four. Obviously, these guidelines may change and be updated from time to time, and individual states may also choose additional tests which are to be administered to receive a license to practice chiropractics within the state border. In addition to the foregoing, a licensed and practicing chiropractor will usually have to keep up with a minimum amount of continuing education on a yearly basis to ensure that the license will remain in effect.

Scoliosis is the kind of ailment affecting the spine that can be seen with the naked eye. Referring to an aberrant curvature of the connected vertebrae, this condition may present either because there is another condition which is already affecting the muscles or because it is a birth defect. Sadly, scoliosis is not the kind of condition that can be treated solely with chiropractic care, but instead it is a study in true interdisciplinary cooperation.

Generally speaking, the first indication that scoliosis is apparent obviously comes with a curved spine. The curve might go either to the left or the right, but it is painfully obvious. Interestingly, this condition is not always a birth disorder but may be dormant until a later time, such as adolescence, at which point a sudden appearance of a hump may indicate the problems the spine is experiencing. Adding to this diagnosis is the fact that suddenly hips and shoulders are no longer even but may be lacking symmetry.

At this time a physician is usually sought out for help. While some patients will first go to a chiropractor, the latter will generally emphasize the need for another medical professional to also make a diagnosis since oftentimes surgery is necessitated by the presentation of the scoliosis. When the consultation with the chiropractor occurs after a diagnosis is made by a medical doctor, the reason is usually two-fold: the goal is either to avoid surgery or to support the surgeries that have already occurred and the medications that have been prescribed. While the former generally speaking is an unlikely though not impossible scenario, the latter is a wise decision on the part of the patient.

The chiropractor will appreciate having access to your x-rays simply to confirm the exact location of the problem. Additionally, any surgical procedures performed should be amply documented, preferably with a prognosis for results and a summary of results actually obtained, and also an exact summary of the medications prescribed, the frequency of injections, and the outlook for progression. Sadly, in younger patients progression is much more likely than in adult onset cases, yet each case revolves on its own facts and there is no guarantee of stemming the effects of scoliosis.

Quite often chiropractors report that they have great success when treating neuromuscular scoliosis, and in addition to mild manipulation the stress is put on weight bearing exercises which also focus on maintaining and perhaps even increasing the ability of the spine to move. The goal is to avoid an occurrence of a slip which may actually lead to a decrease of the range of motion instead of an increase. While it is rare that this happens, it is a very real danger if the exercise regimen is not strictly followed and the patients spine is permitted to remain idle and without proper strength training. There are actually times when a chiropractor will suggest the use of light muscle stimulation with the help of a low electric charge, yet this is rarely recommended without the chiropractor and physician first communicating about the long term outlook and short term goal setting.

Not too long ago chiropractic care was scoffed at by internists and other physicians. Yet as time went on and chiropractics established itself more and more as part and parcel of acceptable healthcare, it soon became obvious that chiropractors attained real results in their care of patients, and soon the word spread and many patients flocked to the waiting rooms of chiropractors all across the country. Physicians noticed that some patients were relieved of long time ailments and suddenly no longer needed weekly shots or monthly prescriptions but instead took up new hobbies or returned to their ways of life they felt were impossible to ever get back to just a few short months before. Before long, chiropractics came under close governmental scrutiny and with the institution of proper licensing and educational requirements, nothing stood in the way of open access to chiropractic anymore or so many thought.

Insurance agencies were a lot slower to permit chiropractic care to fall under the umbrella of covered medical expenses and as such they managed to severely limit patient access to chiropractors. Yet after a while this hurdle, too, was overcome and today insurance companies recognize chiropractors as primary care physicians. While this is a very positive step for patients, it has been a bit of a challenge to chiropractors of the old school who still view themselves as alternative healers and have little use for other medical disciplines. While this may have caused problems for a few, the majority of chiropractors embraced their new found status and have found great ways of sharing their findings with others while at the same time incorporating their findings, tests, assessments and medical histories collected into their files and into the overall care of their patients.

Chiropractors as primary care physicians now assess health risks of patients who may present a multitude of ailments, some of which are dependant on proper medical care involving medications. As such, they are not only responsible for assessing the possible problems that a patients health history may present, but also for compiling a comprehensive record of health information, acting as a clearing house for such health related facts, and for consulting with other healthcare providers on an as needed basis to ensure that facts are made available to anyone who is involved in the patients overall care. In addition to this sometimes hard to fathom balancing act lies the idea that as a chiropractor and thus a member of the medical arts, it falls to the chiropractor to engage in lifestyle counseling of the patient, and as such there are sometimes differences between the ideas of the chiropractor with her or his roots in the alternative healing community and the more conventional physicians whose philosophy may quite possibly be better living through chemistry. Involving the patient in the care will make it possible for the chiropractor to become that primary care physician, ensure that the patient receives the care she or he has contracted for, and also the alternative healing angle that is so desirable.

Dogs, just like their owners, can suffer from subluxation. It is therefore not surprising that quite a few specialists have begun to advertise their services as bona fide animal chiropractors. While this is a positive development after all, it is great that chiropractic care for animals is now available there is also room for error, and some who hold themselves out to be animal chiropractors really are not. Sure, they may have a rudimentary understanding of veterinary science, but they do not know the fine points of an animals anatomy. On the flipside, they may be well versed in human chiropractics, but know little of animal chiropractics. Here are some signs that you have found a practitioner you should avoid:
* The professional you are visiting is not specifically trained in animal chiropractics. This may be either a veterinarian who is dabbling in chiropractics or a human chiropractor who wants to expand her or his clientele. There are bona fide courses of study for those who would engage in this profession, and successful completion is rewarded with a certificate.
* The professional you are visiting does not have any veterinary background. This is oftentimes found in chiropractors who are seeking to train themselves to become animal care providers, but they are lacking the in depth knowledge in the methodology as well as the facts needed to adequate diagnose problems.
* If you find someone who is both trained and also certificated, take a look at their methods. If the professional proceeds to pull the dogs legs or even the tail, it is a good indicator that she or he is lacking hands on training or expertise, and it is probably best to move on. Avoid those who are good with horses but have never treated a dog before. The same is true the other way round as well. Many animal chiropractors are general practitioners, but some specialize and it is hard to infer knowledge from one species to another.
* If the veterinary chiropractor is content to take your word for the ailment and fails to examine the dog prior to engaging in vertebrae adjustments, it is best to move on. While you know your dog best, a veterinary chiropractor needs to examine the animal to ensure that there are no underlying causes for the change in gait such as a cracked or broken bone which could be aggravated by any attempts of manipulation or adjustment.

Speak to your trusted veterinarian to recommend a practitioner. Perhaps friends or family members know of a veterinary chiropractor who is great with certain types of animals, and you can go ahead and make an appointment. Similarly, if you do not know anyone who can make a recommendation, go ahead and contact local dog breeders for suggestions and advise. Last but not least, contact the licensing agencies which certificate animal chiropractors to give you names and phone numbers for practitioners in your area. You will find that finding the right chiropractor for Rover is just as important as finding the right practitioner for you!

Pregnancy and back pain go hand in hand. After all, the mother to be is suddenly carrying about thirty pounds of extra weight in front of her and this does not only contribute to a change in posture but also to an increase in stress on the lower back. There is probably not a pregnant woman on this earth who has not experienced lower back pain as part and parcel of at least one of her pregnancies, and the odds are even worse for those who already have some latent back irritation brought on by a host of other daily life issues as well as preexisting medical conditions. With the shift of the center of gravity, posture changes even more, and now not only the increasing weight of the pregnancy affects the way a woman carries herself, but the bodys attempts of counterbalancing furthermore aggravate the posture as well as the spine.

Your chiropractor has some words of advice for those who are pregnant and suffering from back pain and also shoulder pains:
* This is the time to wear flat shoes which support your feet and ankles. Do not give in to the fashion fads that dictate heels even to pregnant women! There is nothing glamorous about being pregnant and wearing footwear that will hurt your body rather than support it.
* Now more than ever lifting needs to be done with the knees and not your lower back. While it is best to avoid lifting altogether, this is not entirely possible if you already have a toddler at home.
* Do chair exercises to prevent your leg muscles from cramping.
* Sleep on your side which is probably something that your doctor is already telling you to do but also place a pillow between your knees. You will be surprised how much this little act will do to alleviate your lower back pain.
* If you carry around heavy bags consider purchasing a backpack with wide, padded straps to carry the load on your back.
* If your back hurts to such an extreme that it interferes with your quality of life, contact your doctor and ask about undergoing chiropractic treatment. Generally speaking, chiropractic adjustments are a safe procedure during pregnancy, but just like with anything else, you will want to run it by your doctor first. When you do get your doctors okay, make sure that you contact your chiropractor to find out if she or he has experience treating pregnant patients. Choose a care provider who has experience in this area!

Obviously, there will be some back pain that simply cannot be adjusted away, but the good news is that after giving birth the majority of back pain sufferers indicate that their back pain went away almost overnight. Others will benefit greatly from chiropractic care at that point, and many a chiropractor actually suggests that you should come in within a month or so after giving birth to get your spine adjusted. Waiting longer might make it a bit harder since all the ligaments are now stiffening again.

Not only humans can benefit from the treatment options available from chiropractor, but animals will be able to benefit as well. At this point in time, horses and dogs are common treated by specially trained veterinarians who have also undergone a course of study in animal chiropractics. It is important to understand that treating an animal and treating a human with chiropractics are two entirely different approaches; thus, even the most gifted chiropractor with a human clientele will require additional training before beginning to treat animals. Another caveat to consider is the fact that for many humans chiropractic care is an alternative to established medicine, and many favor the use of holistic medicine as a whole. Yet for animals, veterinary care is a requirement that should not be negated in favor of chiropractic care. Instead, good chiropractic care can make a wonderful addition to the arsenal of tools available to your veterinarian!

Pet any dog and you will feel its spine underneath the fur. Watch your dog run and jump, and you can see some of the amazing twists and turns the pooch will make when chasing a Frisbee, stick, or simply a fly. Yet have you ever wondered if the animals spine could get out of whack just like your own? If so, the short answer is yes and this is where the veterinary chiropractor comes in. If your dog suddenly walks oddly, it is probably because its body is trying to move in such a way as to avoid pain. Unlike humans, animals do not complain and they cannot pop pain pills, so they seek to move in such as way as to avoid the painful spasms of a torn muscle, ligament, or sprained joint. If you find that your dog is simply not moving the way it should, there might be an underlying reason. Here are some more symptoms that could indicate a spine that is out of alignment and needs help:
* Your dog walks with its tail tucked between its hind legs.
* As your dog is sitting or standing, its posture is different from usual.
* Your dog suddenly sits down gingerly rather than simply plopping down next to you.
* Your dogs gait suddenly appears different; there are indicators of stiffness; the animal might be hopping at times rather than walking normally.
* Perhaps the most telling of all signs is a lameness that is not confined to one extremity but instead seems to be affecting different limbs at different times.

If you find that your dog is suffering thusly, you should alert your veterinary specialist who ideally should also be trained in animal chiropractics and who will work with your dogs spine to bring it back into alignment. While there are no special gadgets available to hold your dog while the vet works on it, the animal will usually be standing under restraint while the spine is manipulated in such a manner as to coax the misaligned vertebra back into its spot. Soon, your animal will be its old self again.

While it appears that for men it is the athleticism that first drives them to pursue a career in chiropractic care, it appears that for women it is chiropractic medicine that inspires them to branch out and explore other avenues. Perhaps it is the fact that the close study of an alternative form of medicine provides a certain personals strengthening, or maybe it is simply the idea that a person predisposed to work for the greater good of others already has an innermost strength that may drive her to seek out greater things, the women of he chiropractic field are no shrinking violets.

Take for example Suzanna Hupp who is a survivor of the Lubys massacre. When in 1991 a former navy and merchant marine named George Hennard entered the cafeteria where Suzanna and her parents were having lunch, nobody suspected that this day would have lasting consequences. Within a span of merely 10 minutes, he murdered 24 patrons in cold blood, while many of them would have been able to defend themselves, had they been allowed to carry their firearms concealed on their persons. The same was true for Suzanna, whose gun was locked in her car, in keeping with the law of the state. The doctor of chiropractics suddenly became emboldened and made a run for the outside, believing her mother was behind her, but when she turned she saw Hennard kill her parents. Since then she has turned from being a successful chiropractor to becoming a Republican and also member of the Texas House of Representatives, where she worked tirelessly for those who wish to legally carry concealed weapons. It is anyones guess what she will do after 2007, when her term will expire.

Another woman of chiropractics is Melissa Bellin, well known to all WCW aficionados where she was known as one of the Nitro Girls. For all those who might not have kept up with wrestling, and the world of professional wrestling dancing, Melissa is in a league with Kristina Laum and Stacy Keibler. She has an outgoing personality that delights in interactions with others and as such she is not only known for her wrestling career, but also for her work with the pop musicians of Diversity 5. In spite of her acumen for show business and the fact that the audience simply adored her, she soon chose to return to her roots and now works as a chiropractor.

In Canada, where chiropractic medicine has its roots, Ruby Dhalla is quite possibly the most famous chiropractor around. Being a liberal at heart, she early on learned what it is like to live in a country that is riddled with violence when she learned of the Sikh shooting that took place at the Golden Temple. She contacted then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and begged for a peaceful resolution. Since then she has studied political science, became a member of the Canadian government, graduated with a doctor of chiropractic medicine, and now owns a large number of clinics devoted to chiropractic care in Canada.