Chiropractic is a healing art that works with the body's innate potential to heal itself.  Every function in your body is controlled and regulated by your nervous system.  Signals travel from your brain, down the spinal cord, and out to every cell, organ and tissue in your body.  Signals also travel back to the brain, giving information about how your body is working.  Improper motion or position of the bones of the spine can interfere with mind-body communication by irritating nerves and the tissues they control.  Precise and gentle spinal adjustments work to restore proper motion to the spine, improving mind-body communication.  Health often returns and symptoms decrease with improved nervous system control of the body. 

Many patients who come in to our clinic are wondering this same thing.  What is successful as far as care plans go is individual to each patient.  Some patients may see results within the first one to three visits, while in some other patients it may take longer.  The end result, and our goal as chiropractors, is to get each patient feeling better and living to their highest potential.  When your spine is out of alignment for a period of time, your muscles form around that misalignment, and for some it takes time for the muscles to retrain themselves.  Beyond our treatment plans, we encourage periodic checkups to make sure your spine is in proper alignment, much like a dentist would do for your teeth.  After all, when the spine is properly aligned, your nerves-your body's inner electricity-have uninterrupted flow in the body, which leads to optimum healing and overall health.  Above all, we respect our patients' choices and work with them to achieve their personal health goals.  

Some patients rely on chiropractic to help manage episodes of spinal problems.  Others include chiropractic as part of a plan of ongoing wellness care.  How long you benefit from care is entirely up to you.

Yes, most people utilize chiropractic care to help with back pain, neck pain, and headaches, but there are certainly other ways that chiropractic can benefit you.  Did you know that the signals coming from your brain travel down and out to your body through your spine?  and if your spine happens to be misaligned, those signals become affected.  Chiropractic aligns the spine so that your nerves, the transmitters of those brain signals, have a free flow of communication with the rest of your body.  When your spine is properly aligned, the communication from the brain to your body is wide open.  It's like broadband internet compared to dial-up, there's no comparison, right?  Chiropractic helps you get those communication lines open so your body can begin healing and perform to its full potential.  Some examples of other problems that chiropractic care may help are ear infections, heart burn, digestive issues, and much more.  

Doctors of Chiropractic, also known as chiropractors are well educated in the health sciences.  Their education starts with prerequisite courses from an undergraduate institution, and many states require a bachelor's degree.  Dr. Kathryn has a bachelor's of science degree in biology from the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse.  Chiropractors then complete a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from an accredited chiropractic college.  The program is about 3 and a half years long, year round, or 5 academic years.  This program consists of extensive training including anatomy, physiology, diagnosis, chiropractic technique, and clinic.  Dr. Kathryn is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, IA.  Chiropractors need to pass 4 parts of National Board exams as well as state requirements to receive their license to practice chiropractic.

A spinal adjustment is a correction to the spinal column.  A chiropractor uses their hands to apply a specific force to the spine in a precise direction that helps normalize spinal function.  Spinal adjustments are performed to unlock vertebrae that are locked into a stressed position.  This helps return the involved vertebra to a more normal range of motion.  

Yes.  Each adjustment is tailored to each patient's age, size, and unique spinal problem.  After years of training, chiropractors are highly skilled at delivering adjustments.  The chiropractor conducts a thorough examination to identify individuals for whom chiropractic care might not be suited.  A study done by the New Zealand government concluded that adjustments done by licensed chiropractors are "remarkably safe".  Each day, over a million people receive chiropractic adjustments.  Statistically, a chiropractic adjustment is more than 100 times safer than taking an over the counter pain reliever.  Chiropractic care is non-invasive and all natural, making it very safe.  

No.  Some people may be able to make their joints "pop", but that is not the same thing as an adjustment from a highly trained chiropractor.  Adjustments are specific and take years to master.  Chiropractors are trained to locate and adjust specific areas of the spine that are stuck.   When people "pop" themselves, they are stressing joints that already have a normal range of motion.

Yes.  The chiropractor personalizes each patient's care.  In a case like this, the surgically modified areas of your spine will be avoided.  Surgeries can sometimes cause instability above or below the site of surgery.  A lot of times, that will be the area of focus for your care.  

Yes.  We see many patients with decreased bone density or osteoporosis.  Chiropractic care is tailored to each indivdual patient.  There are different methods used to adjust the spine.  The method that Dr. Kathryn uses is best suited to accommodate your age, size, unique spinal problem, and any health issues you may have.

Yes.  Pregnancy is a great time to benefit from chiropractic care.  While it's always best to have a properly functioning nervous system, it's especially helpful during pregnancy.  Adjusting methods are modified to a mother's size, weight and condition.  During this time of weight gain and hormonal changes, many mothers seek chiropractic care because it is drug free.  Many report shorter and easier births.