8 Essex Way. Suite 204 Essex Junction. VT 05452
Phone: (802) 878 1229 Fax: (802) 878 1209
FAQs
Chiropractic Services
IS CHIROPRACTIC SAFE?
Yes.
Chiropractic care is a non-invasive way to relieve pain and restore optimal spinal, nervous system and joint function. Doctors of Chiropractic pay at least 4 times less for malpractice insurance than a General Practitioner. Malpractice insurers would not charge so little if chiropractic wasn't extremely safe. You can feel confident that you will receive safe and effective treatment under chiropractic care.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF CHIROPRACTIC?
The goal of chiropractic is to correct motion restrictions of the spine and other joints within the body and to provide lifestyle guidance that will:
• Relieve pain
• Promote healing
• Restore normal joint function
• Prevent joint deterioration
• Reduce the likelihood of re-injury
• Enhance overall health and well being
WHAT IS THE AUDIBLE SOUND HEARD DURING AN ADJUSTMENT?
During an adjustment gases escape from within the joint space and makes a sound similar to that of the gas being released when a soda can is opened. Hearing this sound means that the joint is moving freely. The ease in which a joint moves into its neutral position denotes the health and mobility of that joint.
ONCE YOU GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR, DO YOU HAVE TO GO FOREVER?
No. This is a common misconception. At Alternative Roots Wellness Center, we believe in patient education regarding the benefits of chiropractic care. Once the options are explained, treatment is carried out based on your choice. We also suggest routine chiropractic care to prevent joint deterioration, improve nervous system function and decrease recovery times if an injury should occur. Just like you would check in with your dentist to maintain dental hygiene, we recommend that you get a chiropractic evaluation at least four times per year.
WHAT ADJUSTMENT STYLES DOES YOUR CHIROPRACTOR USE?
Our chiropractor uses many different adjustment styles and techniques which include: diversified adjustment, applied kinesiology, activator, non-force adjusting, flexion distraction, and drop technique. The variety of techniques used in our office allows us to address a patient’s unique needs on an individual basis.
HOW LONG DOES AN APPOINTMENT LAST?
Initial chiropractic appointments are about 45 minutes to 1 hour. Each subsequent appointment is approximately 20 minutes.
WHEN CAN I EXPECT TO FEEL BETTER?
Every patient is different and we all heal at different rates. However, positive changes should be noticeable within the first 3-6 visits, and often occur sooner. Most treatment programs are completed within 6-12 visits. Frequency of care depends on each individual's specific condition, their current health status and their compliance with prescribed home exercises and stretching routines.
HOW MUCH WILL MY TREATMENTS COST?
Most insurance companies cover our treatments. You can contact your insurance company and ask them about the chiropractic services covered under your policy’s plan. During the first visit we will contact your insurance company to verify your benefits prior to treatment. We also have cash plans available to make treatment more accessible and affordable.
HOW ARE DOCTORS OF CHIROPRACTIC EDUCATED?
Like all primary health care providers, doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive education and training before becoming licensed professionals. Students must complete their undergraduate degree requirements, with a strong emphasis on the core sciences such as chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and physics.
The professional program leading to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree is very demanding. In total, the chiropractic curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency which is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Chiropractic students concentrate on the core sciences, including, anatomy, physiology, pathology, histology, biochemistry, and many more subjects at a highly detailed level.
Their education continues into the advanced clinical sciences including orthopedics, neurology, examination procedures, differential diagnosis, and X-ray interpretation. Through this entire process, aspiring doctors gain knowledge of the philosophy and practice of health care and chiropractic.
During clinical internships student doctors perfect all skills learned in their technical adjusting classes. Finally, all doctors of chiropractic must pass the rigorous national board exams and state exams before entering the field.
HOW CAN I FIND THE RIGHT DOCTOR OF CHIROPRACTIC FOR ME?
We suggest that you take a proactive approach to your health. Always take the time to consult with a few different possibilities before settling on the primary care physician, dentist or chiropractor of your choice.
Evaluate your needs and health care goals together. A healthy relationship can develop if the two of you have the same goals in mind. Never hesitate to express your concerns and find someone willing to discuss all forms of treatment options with you.
To find a doctor in your area, search for the Vermont Chiropractic Association website and search their doctor list.
CAN NECK ADJUSTMENTS CAUSE STROKE?
Analysis of data published over many years shows that your chance of a stroke is about 1 in 1 million - 5.25 million. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning, being killed on a bicycle, or dying from taking aspirin, than you have of being seriously injured by a chiropractic adjustment from a highly trained professional.
DOES A CHIROPRACTIC APPOINTMENT REQUIRE A REFERRAL FROM AN M.D.?
No.
Federal and state regulations define chiropractors as first contact physicians. Following a consultation and examination, the doctor of chiropractic will arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan under chiropractic care, or refer the patient to the appropriate health care provider.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND CHIROPRACTIC?
Doctors of chiropractic believe in a holistic (“total person”) approach to healing, which typifies the progressive and changing attitude towards health. It is based on the concept of “maintaining health” versus “treating disease”. Chiropractic philosophy includes:
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recognition that a dynamic relationship exist between lifestyle, environment and health
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understanding and treating the source events that promotes illness in order to correct it, rather than simply treating the symptoms related to the disorder
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recognition that the nervous system is the central core of the body and that it’s complex relationship is tied to the function and processes of the entire system
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a hands-on and patient centered model to restoring proper function by directly impacting structural corrections
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an emphasis on early diagnosis and interventions of conditions before they can manifest into chronic disorders
IS CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT SAFE FOR CHILDREN?
Yes.
Physically active children experience many stresses to their body during falls and insults from the activities of daily living and from participating in sports. It is always healthier to address any possible injuries before they affect the child such as neck pain, stiffness, soreness or any discomfort. Chiropractic care is always adapted to the individual patient. It is a highly skilled treatment, and in the case of children, very gentle.
HOW IS A CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT PERFORMED?
The Chiropractor uses their hands to manipulate joints in the body where the normal joint mechanics are dysfunctional, resulting in pain, discomfort, reduced motion and overall reduced function. This procedure utilizes the highly refined skills developed and honed during the intensive years of chiropractic education. It is a controlled procedure which is adapted to meet the individual needs of the patient. Patients often note positive changes in their symptoms immediately following treatment.
Nutrition Services
HOW LONG DO NUTRITION APPOINTMENTS LAST?
Our new patient nutrition appointments usually run about 60-90 minutes and our follow up nutrition appointments last 20-30 minutes.
DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE PLANS FOR NUTRITION CONSULTS?
No, we do not.
Accepting insurance plans would require us to drastically alter our appointment set up and reduce the time we take to talk with you about your health concerns. Credit or debit cards, checks and cash are all acceptable methods of payment for your nutrition appointment. If we are working together online, then we accept credit cards via Paypal which is a secure online payment portal.
WHY DO YOU PREFER RECEIVING OUR PATIENT INTAKE PAPERWORK AT LEAST ONE DAY IN ADVANCE OF THE APPOINMENT?
When we set up an appointment with you, we will email the required paperwork over to email address you provide. If possible, we would like to receive this paperwork at least a day in advance to when we will meet. This is not mandatory but it does give us some extra time to research your specific complaints in more depth and see if any related new information has been published. You are welcome to email, fax or mail the paperwork to us.
If you are unable to do so, please bring in your paperwork with you and arrive 10-15 minutes early so that we can go over your information without cutting into your allotted appointment time if possible.
DO WE HAVE TO PURCHASE SUPPLEMENTS ONLY FROM YOUR OFFICE?
No, you do not.
You are welcome to look for supplements outside our office and we will also help you review brands if we are able. However, please keep in mind that we do intensive research into the companies and individual products that we carry in the clinic. This means we know these supplements well and are confident in their quality and efficacy to help you out. We cannot make the same guarantees for products purchased elsewhere.
CAN WE PURCHASE SUPPLEMENTS FROM YOU EVEN IF WE ARE NOT CLIENTS OF ALTERNATIVE ROOTS WELLNESS CENTER?
No, you cannot.
Contrary to popular belief, not all supplements are safe for everyone. We believe in the targeted and specific use of supplements based on your individual need which is accessed through an appointment with us.
HOW DO WE SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR NUTRITION CONSULTS IF WE ARE NOT LOCAL?
Please call or email us so that we can discuss your concerns and get you into our appointment schedule. If you live in a different time zone (we are located on the US East Coast), please let us know so we can determine what times will suit us best. We will email all the paperwork over to you and walk you through the whole process as needed.
DO I NEED TO INSTALL ANY SPECIAL PROGRAMS OR APPLICATIONS ON MY COMPUTER FOR AN ONLINE NUTRITION APPOINTMENT?
If you prefer setting up an appointment with us via Skype, an online video chatting program, then you will need to download the latest version of Skype. You can do that from their official page. We also offer our services over the phone if you would rather not install any new programs on your computer.