Below are some frequently asked questions about Chiropractic health and what you should expect from your visit. At the bottom are some additional resources if you would like to learn more.

F A Q

Will I experience pain when being adjusted?

Each patient's experience with a chiropractic adjustment is different. It depends on your current physical condition and what symptoms you are having. Dr. Hodge will perform an adjustment specific to your case and will do what is best for the patient. Following a chiropractic adjustment, patients may experience no change, a sense of relief, or more discomfort. This will all depend on how your body responds to being adjusted.

How much will my appointment cost?

At this time, you may call our office at (269)-682-5060 for information regarding the cost of your appointment.

 

What is the popping sound I hear during an adjustment?

The popping sound you may hear with an adjustment is called a cavitation. This is the release of gas from a joint space which releases pressure within the joint. Not all adjustments will create an audible response.

How long will it be before I experience positive results from my treatment?

Every patient case is different depending on the nature of their injury. Most chiropractic patients begin seeing relief after one or two weeks of treatment. Some patients feel better shortly after an adjustment, where others may take longer depending on their symptoms and how long those symptoms have been present.

 

Additional Resources

Chiropractic and Children

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"Facts supporting the use of chiropractic for children."

Cost-effectiveness of chiropractic care

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"A 2014 systematic review found “some economic advantage of manual therapy relative to other interventions used for the management of musculoskeletal conditions, indicating that some manual therapy techniques may be more cost-effective than usual GP care, spinal stabilization, GP advice, advice to remain active, or brief pain management for improving low back and shoulder pain/disability."

"Low back and neck pain are extremely common conditions that consume large amounts of health care resources. Chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation and mobilization, are used by almost half of US patients with persistent back-pain seeking out this modality of treatment. Does the availability of chiropractic care improve the value of health benefit plans?"

Non-Musculoskeletal conditions

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"A 2014 systematic review found that evidence suggests that spinal mobilization in asymptomatic populations has an excitatory effect on the sympathetic nervous system, regardless of which segment is mobilized."

"The aim of this study was to measure the effects of a managed chiropractic benefit on the rates of specific diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the treatment of back pain and neck pain.

Safety of Spinal Manipulative Therapy/Chiropractic Care

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"Although this 2014 study is a preliminary report with a small sample size (n=30), it appears to be a promising direction for assessing the safety of SMT via tissue damage markers analysis. The study found that cervical or thoracic manipulation did not produce significant changes in these markers."

Soft Tissue

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"A 2014 prospective cohort study of pregnant women with low back pain found that most pregnant patients undergoing chiropractic treatment reported clinically relevant improvement at all time points. Patients reported no serious adverse events."

Special Populations - Pregnancy

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"A 2012 systematic reviewed stated, 'studies that monitored both subjective and objective outcome measures of relevance to both patients and parents tended to report the most favorable response to SMT, especially among children with asthma.'"

Special Populations - Pediatrics

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"Hawk et al. provides 'a general framework for what constitutes an evidence-based and reasonable approach to the chiropractic management of older adults.'"

Special Populations - Geriatrics

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"In 2010 and 2014, evidence was found for the effectiveness of SMT for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain in adults."

Spine Related Pain

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"Chiropractic care appeared relatively cost-effective for the treatment of chronic LBP. Chiropractic and medical care performed comparably for acute patients. Practice-based clinical outcomes were consistent with systematic reviews of spinal manipulation efficacy: manipulation-based therapy is at least as good as and, in some cases, better than other therapeusis. This evidence can guide physicians, payers, and policy makers in evaluating chiropractic as a treatment option for low back pain."

"Objective: To assess the cost outcomes of treatment approaches to care for back problems in a major self-insured workforce, using published guidelines to focus on low back pain."

"Chiropractic best-practice recommendations indicate that DCs should provide patients with appropriate counseling on health promotion and disease prevention that is consistent with recommendations from agencies such as the US Preventive Services Task Force."

Wellness, Health Promotion and Prevention

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