Questions & Answers (FAQs)

Following are some of the most common questions we hear from people when we are at different events in the community. So we decided to write them out. If your question isn't listed below, call PROHealth Chiropractic at 860.432.7432 and schedule a FREE consultation with one of the doctors.

What is chiropractic care?
There's nothing mysterious about chiropractic. It's a natural method of health care that focuses on correcting the causes of physical problems, rather than just treating the symptoms. Chiropractic is based on a simple but powerful premise. With a normally functioning spine and healthy nerve system, your body is better able to heal itself. That's because your spine is the lifeline of your nervous system. It controls feeling, movement, and all functions through your body.

How does chiropractic work?
Chiropractic works by restoring your body's inborn ability to be healthy. When your nervous system is properly functioning, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are more adaptive and able to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and remove interferences to your nervous system (subluxations, or misaligned vertebrae.) With improved spinal function, there is improved nervous system function. The goal of the chiropractor is to remove interference that may be impairing normal health through specific chiropractic adjustments, allowing your body to help itself heal. A healthy spine and a healthy lifestyle are your keys to optimal health!

What type of education do chiropractic doctors receive?
Doctors of Chiropractic are well-educated. Chiropractic education and medical education are similar in many respects and different in others because chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery, and medical doctors do not correct vertebral subluxations. After graduating with a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) Degree, each candidate passes all four parts of the demanding National Board Examinations. Then, doctors apply to a governmental or professional licensing board and pass yet another test before being granted the privilege to practice. A chiropractor's education, however, never ends. Doctors complete regular postgraduate instruction for license renewal and stay current on the latest research and adjustment techniques.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is subluxated, "locked up," or not moving properly. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is to eliminate interference to the nervous system, improving spinal function and overall health. 

Can I tell if I have a subluxation?
Not always. A subluxation causes interference to the nervous system and decreases the body's ability to function normally. A subluxation is like a dental cavity - you may have it for a long time before symptoms appear. That's why periodic spinal checkups are so important, and they promote good health from the inside out.

Do children need chiropractic care?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns immediately checked for vertebral subluxation. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are adapted for the child's spine. Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off can be traced to the spine. Health problems that emerge in adulthood could often be prevented by having your children's spine checked by a chiropractor early. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and are healthier than their peers.

Can I adjust myself?
No. Since a chiropractic adjustment is a specific force, applied in a specific direction to a specific joint, it is virtually impossible to adjust oneself. It is possible to turn or bend or twist in certain ways to create a "popping" sound that sometimes accompanies a chiropractic adjustment. Unfortunately, this type of joint manipulation is usually counterproductive and damaging, often making the spine more unstable. Adjusting the spine is not for amateurs!

Are all patients adjusted the same way?
No. The doctor evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Each chiropractic adjustment builds on the one before. The resulting recommendations are based upon years of training and experience. Each patient's care is uniquely different from every other patient.

Is chiropractic safe?
Yes. Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. It is the result of a conservative and natural approach to health that avoids invasive procedures or addictive drugs. As proof, one simply has to compare malpractice insurance rates between chiropractors and other health care professionals. Malpractice premiums for chiropractors are one of the lowest of all healthcare professionals.

What causes the sound during an adjustment?
Actually, adjustments do not always produce a sound. Often, however, adjustments do create the sound of a spinal "release", or "popping" sound. The sound is caused by gas rushing in due to the vacuum created when the joints (not the bones) are moved. This sound is painless and totally harmless.

Is chiropractic care addictive?
No. If only it were, there would be more healthy people around and chiropractors would not get patients after invasive, irreversible surgeries and years of medications that haven't worked. It is possible to get used to feeling more balanced, less stressed, and more energetic as a result of regular chiropractic care. Chiropractic is not addictive, however, good health is.

Does chiropractic work for all types of health problems? 

No, however chiropractic care is successful with a very wide variety of health problems not necessarily considered "back" problems because of improved nerve system function. With a normal nerve supply the body's natural healing capacity can improve a variety of health problems.

Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
Anytime is a good time for a better functioning nerve system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. Adjusting methods are always adapted to a patient's size, weight, age, and condition of health. Dr. Sousa is certified in Webster Technique  and has received Certification by the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP). 

Why do chiropractors take x-rays?
Chiropractors take x-rays to reveal the internal structure and alignment of the spine. We are also concerned about underlying disease processes and disorders of the spine such as spinal deterioration, arthritis of the spine, abnormal development, bone spurs, disc disorders, tumors and spinal curvature. X-rays also provide a blueprint for correcting the spine back to optimal health and alignment.

Is a good work-out the same as getting adjusted?
No. Exercise is an important part of good health, yet without normal spinal function a workout can actually be damaging to the structures that support the spine.

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Adjusting Hours

South Windsor

Monday:

8:00 am-10:30 am

3:00 pm-5:45 pm

Tuesday:

3:00 pm-5:45 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-10:30 am

3:00 pm-5:45 pm

Thursday:

3:00 pm-5:45 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-10:30 am

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed