Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
What type of education do chiropractic doctors
receive?
Doctors of Chiropractic are well-educated. Chiropractic education and medical
education are similar in many respects and different in others.  Chiropractors do not
prescribe drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral
subluxations. After graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) Degree, each
candidate passes the demanding four part National Board Examinations. Then,
doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and must pass a more
difficult test before being granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractor's education,
however, never ends. Most doctors complete regular postgraduate instruction for
license renewal and to stay current on the latest research and adjustment
techniques.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction,
applied to a joint that is subluxated, "locked up," or not moving properly. The purpose
of this safe and natural procedure is to improve spinal function and overall health.

Is chiropractic safe?
Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative and
natural approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. As
proof, one merely has to compare malpractice rates between chiropractors and other
health care professionals. Chiropractors' malpractice premiums are a small fraction of
those for medical doctors.

What causes the sound during an adjustment?
Actually, adjustments do not always produce a sound. Often, however, adjustments
do create the sound of a spinal "release", or "popping" sound. The sound is caused by
gas rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly
separated. This sound is painless and totally harmless.

Can I adjust myself?
No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to
a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself correctly and accurately. It is
possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a "popping" sound that
sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint
manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable spine
even more unstable, and can sometimes be dangerous.

Is chiropractic care addictive?
No.  It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more
energetic as a result or regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive; good
health, however, is.

Can a person who had back surgery see a
chiropractor?
Yes. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who had spinal surgery discover a
return of their original symptoms months or years later. They then face the prospect
of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is know as "Failed Back Surgery
Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent repeated back surgeries. In fact, if
chiropractic care is initially utilized back surgery can often be avoided in the first
place.

Does chiropractic work for all types of health
problems?
No, however chiropractic care is successful with a very wide variety of health problems
not necessarily considered "back" problems because of improved nerve system
function. With a normal nerve supply the body's natural healing capacity can improve
a variety of health problems.

Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find
that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for
themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patients size,
weight, age, and condition of health.

What is the difference between a chiropractor and
an osteopath?
Chiropractors base their care on the detection correction, and prevention of vertebral
subluxations (spinal misalignments). We use specific spinal adjustments to correct
the spine, to improve nerve system functions and reduce nerve interference.
Osteopaths use drugs, surgery, and other traditional medical therapies and only use
manipulative procedures to increase joint flexibility.

What makes Chiropractic right for me?
At Kinetx Chiropractic, we understand that pain is your body's way of telling you that
something is wrong.  Our chiropractic approach is focused towards delivering an
accurate diagnosis and conservative treatments to correct the cause of your problem,
minimizing the likelihood of recurrence.  Initial treatments focus on pain relief,
restoring mobility and initiating the healing process.  As you begin to find relief from
our treatments, we modify your care with gradually increasing intensity to correct
imbalances in the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems.

Kinetx Chiropractic  specialists address your problem from several angles and
viewpoints, bringing these results together for a complete and personalized treatment
plan. The therapies and methods we utilize are ALL evidence-based and medically
proven.  Our solutions involve a natural approach to help strengthen your body and
help it to safely heal itself.  You can expect your visits to be thorough, refreshing and
enjoyable and the Kinetx Chiropractic team caring, every step of the way.

During your time with us, we’ll evaluate your posture, work ergonomics, sleeping
habits, lifting mechanics, and nutritional intake.  Kinetx Chiropractic Group
specializes in providing our patients with the tools to better care for yourself in terms
of health, longevity and general well-being.  We may choose to evaluate your gait
using a TOG Gaitscan, an advanced force plate that measures foot mechanics.  We
also provide custom made orthotics to those in need.  While you’re recovering at
home, we’ll build you a home exercise routine or advance your current plan it and
make sure it’s safe.  Our Exercise Specialists are available for consultations, personal
training at your gym and home visits.


What's my first visit like?

Before you arrive?
When you call for an initial appointment, our front desk receptionist will ask
for general information to begin your file.  It will be helpful to have your
insurance card available.  Our office is easy to locate, but don’t hesitate to ask
our receptionist for directions if you have any questions.  You may be asked to
arrive 15-20 minutes early to complete additional paperwork, which we can
email or fax this to you ahead of time if you’d prefer.  It’s also helpful to bring
any recent lab work, diagnostic testing or imaging results along with you to
your visit.  You can expect your first appointment will take approximately
about 60-75 minutes.

Examination
Our doctors will provide a thorough examination on your first visit, including
physical, orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic assessment. Functional
testing will be used(and is the benchmark for evaluation) to find where the
"quality" of movement has been lost. Your posture, strength, range of motion
and general health will all be evaluated before diagnosis and treatment.

Report of Findings
You’ll then be prescribed after a diagnosis is well established, explained, and
your questions have been answered.  In some cases, tests such as X-ray, MRI,
and blood-work will be ordered.  In the instance that your condition warrants
co-management, or could be better treated by a different specialist, we will
make an appropriate referral.

Treatment
A thorough review of your treatment plan will be provided.  The selection of
various chiropractic, massage, physiotherapeutic modalities and specialty
therapies will be prescribed based upon your physical condition and personal
goals.  Initially, only the most gentle chiropractic techniques are utilized on
our patients with gradual levels of increasing intensity as your body requires.

For some patients, the initial examination and treatment will result in mild
soreness, similar to exercise-induced soreness.  For other patients, pain relief
and improved mobility is found after the first treatment.  This varies from
patient to patient, similar to beginning a new exercise program.  We also
provide our patients with home care instructions on your first visit.

Before you leave
At the end of your treatment, we will discuss your insurance coverage and
payment options.  We are in-network with Personal Choice, Keystone,  Blue
Cross, Blue Shield, Highmark, Health America,  Amerihealth.

Between your appointments
We expect compliance with work and exercise restrictions, postural
modifications and stretches to speed your road to recovery.  If you miss an
appointment, you’ll need to make it up to ensure you get better on time.  If
you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to call the office.  


Is Chiropractic effective?
“In our randomized, controlled trial, we compared the effectiveness of manual
therapy, physical therapy, and continued care by a general practitioner in
patients with nonspecific neck pain. The success rate at seven weeks was
twice as high for the manual therapy group (68.3 percent) as for the continued
care group (general practitioner). Manual therapy scored better than physical
therapy on all outcome measures. Patients receiving manual therapy had
fewer absences from work than patients receiving physical therapy or
continued care, and manual therapy and physical therapy each resulted in
statistically significant less analgesic use than continued care.”
– Hoving et al, Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)


What areas are close to the office?
Frazer, Downingtown, West Chester, Frazer, Wayne; anywhere along the main
line as 202 makes it an easy trip.  We challenge you to find a better equipped
center with more knowledgeable people in that area.  We have patients that
make the trip from Pottstown, Lancaster and Upper Darby.
We Treat;
Neck pain
Lower back pain
Headaches
Pinched nerves
Sprains/Strains
Herniated discs
Whiplash injuries
Sciatica
Muscle aches
Carpal tunnel
syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Shoulder problems
Arthritis
Knee pain
Sports injuries
Stenosis
Fatigue