FAQs

A Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) is a natural healthcare provider who focuses on improving the structure and function of the spine in order to help the body heal itself naturally. Chiropractors make adjustments to the spine in order to remove vertebral subluxation.

A vertebral subluxation occurs when a vertebra has shifted out of alignment or when a vertebra is biomechanically not moving properly. Vertebral subluxations are a problem because they can cause irritation of the spinal nerves, resulting in back pain and organ dysfunction.

A chiropractic adjustment is a gentle force delivered by hand to the vertebra as a means to correct the structure and function of the spine. The intention of the spinal adjustment is to improve the function of the central nervous system.

Yes, chiropractors have a doctorate level of education. Chiropractors are held to some of the most intense educational standards of any health field. In fact, their education standards are very comparable to that of a medical doctor. After completing a strong emphasis on basic sciences in undergraduate college, chiropractors attend a four-year chiropractic college. This means that chiropractors are primary care physicians. In other words, you don't have to have a referral to see a chiropractor.

Chiropractic was founded in 1895 by D.D. Palmer in Davenport Iowa. D.D. Palmer delivered the first chiropractic adjustment on deaf janitor named Harvey Lillard. D.D. postulated that a misaligned vertebra in Lillard’s neck was causing nerve impingement and was affecting his hearing. After a series of adjustments to the spine, Lillard’s hearing was restored back to normal. Since the discovery of chiropractic by D.D. Palmer in 1895, the profession has grown to be the largest natural healthcare profession in the world, has changed the lives of millions!

Chiropractors make adjustments to the spine, usually done with their hands, in order to remove misalignments called vertebral subluxations. When chiropractors adjust subluxations in the spine, it helps the central nervous system work better, along with decreasing pain, improving mobility and preventing spinal degeneration.

People who decide to see a chiropractor report several benefits from their care. These benefits include less pain, improved flexibility, more energy, better sleep, less sick days and better athletic performance. In addition, chiropractic can help save patients money by preventing expensive surgeries, injections, and medications.

The number of adjustments a patient needs to fully recover depends on a number of factors including the condition of the patient’s spine, how long they have had it for, their day to day activities and their overall level of health. The doctor is able to provide the best recommendations for care once a thorough health history and spinal examination have been performed.

Since chiropractors are primary care physicians, you can call a chiropractor near you at any time, without a medical referral. The easiest way to find a chiropractor near you is by doing a google search, asking your community network or a trusted friend or family who they see.

Yes, chiropractors are trained to treat patients who have been in car accidents resulting in whiplash, headaches and neck pain associated with the car accident. Since chiropractors are primary care physicians, you do not need a medical referral to see a chiropractor after your car accident.

Whiplash is most commonly caused by a motor vehicle accident in which the person is in a car that is not moving and is struck by another vehicle from behind. It is commonly thought the rear impact causes the head and neck to be forced into the hyperextended (backward) position as the seat pushes the person's torso forward - and the unrestrained head and neck fall backward. After a short delay, the head and neck then recover and are thrown into a hyperflexed (forward) position.

A careful spinal examination along with any necessary imaging is the best method of diagnosing a whiplash injury.

Symptoms of whiplash can take hours, days or even weeks to manifest. The most common symptoms of whiplash include headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, jaw pain, dizziness, and visual disturbances. Chiropractors are trained in diagnosing whiplash injuries as well as treating the symptoms associated with whiplash injuries.

While whiplash injuries are not always immediately evident, they are actually considered one of the most common injuries sustained during car accidents. The strain that the forces causing whiplash injuries place on the spine are capable of causing damage to the muscles, ligaments, and nerves responsible for supporting the head and neck. If a whiplash injury is not corrected, it can lead to a host of health concerns later in life, including early spinal degeneration, chronic headaches, and neurological dysfunction. Our team at Connection Chiropractic in Minnetonka MN will create an individualized treatment plan that encompasses chiropractic adjustments and passive therapies to help the patient make the fastest recovery possible.

Yes, in Minnesota every auto insurance policy has Personal Injury Protection coverage regardless of which driver is at fault. Personal Injury Protection is designed to help cover medical expenses from an auto accident.

Yes, many pregnant women seek chiropractic care for low back pain during pregnancy. In addition to helping with low back pain, it can also help balance the pelvis and result in a smoother delivery of the baby.

The popping sound during an adjustment is simply nitrogen gas bubbles being released in the joints of the spine.

More parents are deciding to bring their children to chiropractors for numerous reasons. The most common conditions parents seek a chiropractor for their children are ear infections, scoliosis, colic, allergies, and wellness check-ups.