Most Asked Questions

by Dr. Andrew T. Brady, Chiropractic Physician

Every month I typically get the same handful of questions from either existing patients, new patients or someone who is just curious about chiropractic. I want to share some of the best ones with you.

Question 1: What’s the difference between cracking my own back and an adjustment?

When someone feels the need to “crack” their own back or neck, it is usually your body trying to tell you there is a misalignment or subluxation (joint dysfunction interfering with healthy nerve function). The problem – aside from the fact that it can be dangerous – is that when you crack your own back or neck, you are rotating the bones above or below the one that is misaligned, making them “hyper-mobile,” which can create spinal decay, bone spurs, degeneration and further nerve interference. This may provide very short-term relief, but the urge will quickly return, because you are not actually correcting the misalignment. A specific chiropractic adjustment corrects the actual misalignment and restores proper function. Even chiropractic physicians cannot adjust themselves.

Question 2: If I come see you, will I have to get adjusted the rest of my life?

I often answer this question with a question: If you start eating healthy, will you have to do it the rest of your life? If you start seeing a dentist, will you have to see them the rest of your life? If you start working out, will you have to do it the rest of your life? If you start stretching, will you have to do it the rest of your life? The simple answer is when it comes to wellness and prevention, you must continue all these things for as long as you want the benefit. If you dabble and try these things off and on, will you ever realize the full benefit? No. Many chiropractic physicians like to beat around the bush when they are confronted with this question. To be blunt, yes. You have to see a chiropractic physician the rest of your life if you want to maintain a subluxation-free spine and all the health benefits that come along with it.

Question 3: I’m scared to get my first adjustment. Is it safe?

Yes, but you already knew I was going to say that. Let me put the safety of a specific chiropractic adjustment into perspective. My malpractice insurance premium was $2,056 for the entire year. The American Medical Association reported last year that an OBGYN can expect to pay $150,000 per year, and a general practitioner can expect to pay anywhere from $30,000 to $50,000 per year. Based on these figures, in the eyes of insurance companies, you are WAY more likely to get injured by going to see your “normal” doctors than by a chiropractic physician. With that said, there are good doctors and bad doctors in any specialty; seek out a chiropractic physician who puts your safety first and does a thorough evaluation. If you are receiving adjustments from someone in another specialty who took a few weekend seminars on how to do so, that is probably negligent on your part. There are a lot of those out there. I have 14 articles that have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals that have been written by a panel of Medical Doctors that prove how safe chiropractic care is.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at DrBrady@SpineIntegrativeWellness.com or give me a call!

Spine Integrative Wellness Article – Most Asked Questions | (234) 284-8002