New Patients

Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self- healing organism. The brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body control these important functions.

All of the tissues and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill-health when your nervous system is working properly.

A common interference to the nervous system is due to the 24 moving, weight bearing bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal position or motion of these bones will irritate the nerves, tissues, and muscles surrounding these bones resulting in impaired nervous system function. This results in pain or other abnormal bodily functions.

Chiropractic care is like “orthodontics” for the spine. Clinically, repeated chiropractic adjustments re-train the vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments to their proper alignment and range of mobility. Just as the time required for braces to achieve correction depends on the condition of an individual’s teeth and mouth structure. The time required for proper spinal alignment to occur depends on the condition of the individual patient’s spine, their job duties, their hobbies, their posture, and many other lifestyle factors.

Does your M.D. ever prescribe you just one pill? Does a physical therapist expect stretch and strengthen your muscles in one visit? Of course not. Therefore chiropractic adjustments are the same.

You cannot expect to receive long lasting results with a quick fix. In order to obtain the best long term results, a series of treatments are typically recommended. Throughout your treatment plan, Dr. Siraguso will perform periodic re-evaluations and outcome assessments to measure your progress.

Chiropractic results vary. Some patients enjoy immediate results while others find that their recovery takes several months or longer. Some problems may have been around for a long time and only recently may have become symptomatic. These long-standing problems are often associated with muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine. It takes time and dedication to make changes to our bodies. “Health is a process, not an event!”

Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. All the cells, tissues and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health when under the proper control of your nervous system. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove interferences to your natural state of being healthy.

A common interference to the nervous system is the 24 moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses.

With improved spinal function there is often improved nervous system function. Your chiropractic doctor can help remove interferences that may be impairing normal health.

Since the primary focus of your care is improved nervous system function, chiropractic can have a positive effect on many health conditions not normally thought of as “Back” problems.

The “popping” or “cracking” noise is simply the release of gas from a joint when bones move. Similar to when you “pop” the cork on a champagne bottle, or remove a suction cup from a window.

Helping to restore proper spinal biomechanics and improved nervous system function begins with a case history. This gives the doctor a background about your health.  For example, previous surgeries, accidents, the onset of your condition, and other details affecting your current health.

After reviewing your history and discussing your specific problem, a thorough orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic examination is performed. X-rays may be taken to uncover structural and functional problems associated with the spinal column. These examinations help identify areas of spinal malfunction and resulting nervous system deficit.

The findings of these examinations are explained and a plan of chiropractic adjustments may be recommended. Progress is monitored with periodic examinations and follow-up reports.

The word “doctor” comes from the Latin word meaning teacher. Therefore, regardless of your doctor’s unique clinical approach, he or she has a strong commitment to patient education.

Today’s Doctor of Chiropractic is well educated.

The science of chiropractic requires a special emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, X-ray, spinal adjusting techniques, and related subjects. This demanding curriculum prepares chiropractic doctors to locate the Vertebral Subluxation Complex and help correct the resulting nervous system dysfunction.

To graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, each candidate passes the demanding National Board Examination. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass a still more difficult test before being granted the privilege to practice. Chiropractors must receive a bachelors in science before entering the 4 year Doctorate program.

A chiropractic education never ends. Doctors complete yearly postgraduate instruction for license renewal and to stay current on the latest scientific research.

Many patients consult a chiropractic doctor because they think they have a pinched nerve. A “pinched nerve” diagnosis is a simple way to state a very complicated condition.

Abnormal spinal function caused from physical trauma, emotional tensions, or chemical toxins can affect the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots. Nerves are irritated (facilitative lesion). This is caused when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by a loss of spinal curve, inflammation, or irritated by malfunctioning spinal joints.

Technically, a disc can’t “slip.”

The intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage type material situated between spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine. A soft jellylike center is contained by outer layers of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs allow normal turning and bending.

A disc cannot “slip” because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below. However, discs can tear, bulge, herniate, or worse, rupture from trauma or injury to the spine. This can be quite painful, as the soft center of the disc leaks, which can result in pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.

While results cannot be guaranteed, many patients have avoided needless surgery or a dependency on pain pills, by choosing chiropractic care for their disc related health problem.

A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is subluxated/misaligned or not moving properly.

This adjustment adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The adjustment also activates certain position and motion sensing nerves called “proprioceptors” and “mechanoreceptors” which are found in abundance in your spinal joints, your knees, and your feet and ankles. These nerves are very powerful and important to your survival. Without them you would have a hard time knowing which way was up or down. Also, you would not know whether or not your hand was moving towards a hot stove.

When these powerful nerves are activated by a chiropractic adjustment they can shut down or “reset” the nerves that are causing pain or muscle spasm. This is one reason why some patients experience immediate relief for certain conditions. The overall purpose for the safe and natural procedure is improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved health.

The spine can be adjusted in many ways.

Usually the doctor’s hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a gentle brief and highly-accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow and constant pressure.

Each chiropractic doctor becomes highly skilled in the delivery of a variety of adjusting approaches after years of experience, making chiropractic care safe and effective for the whole family.

The doctor evaluates each patient’s unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience.

Every patient presents a uniquely different spinal pattern. For example, some patients who complain of headaches may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in their fingers, when the actual problem is in the neck. 

Patients notice that their chiropractic care is delivered with confidence and precision. Each visit builds on the one before. And while visits may seem similar, each patient’s care is uniquely different from every other patient.

It is virtually impossible to adjust oneself since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction, to a specific spinal joint.

It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a “popping” sound, like the sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive, often making an already unstable area of the spine even more unsteady. Therefore, adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!

Receiving an adjustments from a Doctor of Chiropractic is the best way to benefit from your pain. Even your doctor must seek out the services of another colleague to help restore and maintain proper spinal function.

In the words of the New Zealand governments inquiry, chiropractic care is “remarkably safe.” This  information is especially relevant to help put potential new patients at ease.

Chiropractic has an excellent safety record.  It is the result of a conservative approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs.

To help reveal areas of the spine that may be causing nervous system malfunction a thorough case history and examination is performed. This information will be used to determine the best course of care for each patient.

Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health that is proven safe and effective.