Frequently Asked Questions

The word chiropractic, from the Greek, literally means “done by hand.” There is no cutting and no harsh chemicals used with chiropractic manipulation of the spine. Treatments simply involve one human applying hands to another’s body. Chiropractors believe the body’s musculoskeletal structure must be aligned correctly to prevent health issues. Chiropractic care draws upon this belief, which is why chiropractors often focus on the condition of your spine. Each patient receives care tailored toward their unique symptoms.

The typical applicant for chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of professional graduate study are the standard. Doctors of chiropractic are educated in orthopedics, neurology, physiology, human anatomy, clinical diagnosis including laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, exercise, nutrition rehabilitation and more. Because chiropractic care includes highly skilled manipulation/adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical technique training to master these important manipulative procedures. In total, the chiropractic college curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical experience. Graduates must also pass the four levels of National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (Parts I, II, III IV – practical) exams and a physical therapy exam in order to treat patients. As part of their education, chiropractic students also complete a residency working with real patients in a clinical setting, supervised by licensed doctors of chiropractic. Once chiropractic students graduate, they have to pass four sets of national board exams as well as state board exams in the states where they want to practice.

Degree Requirements

These basic educational requirements for graduates of both chiropractic and medical schools show that although each has its own specialties, the hours of classroom instruction are about the same. (The class hours for basic science comparisons were compiled and averaged following a review of curricula of 18 chiropractic colleges and 22 medical schools.)

Minimum Required Hours

Chiropractic adjustment is a manual procedure that utilizes the highly refined skills developed during the doctor of chiropractic’s intensive years of chiropractic education. The chiropractic physician typically uses his or her hands--or an instrument--to manipulate the joints of the body to restore or enhance joint function. This helps to resolve joint inflammation reducing pain and increasing joint mobility and nerve function. Chiropractic manipulation is a highly controlled procedure and is adapted to meet the specific needs of each patient.

Many Chiropractors, including Gateway Family Chiropractic, treat children and babies. In fact, some parents bring their children in for visits shortly after birth. If you wait until your child gets older, you may notice they have neck or back pain. These are common complaints regardless of whether your kids lead active or sedentary lifestyles. Active kids can knock their spine out of alignment as they run, jump, or fall. Kids who log plenty of screen time often experience neck pain or aches in their wrists. So, yes, chiropractic care is appropriate for children.

Chiropractic care is generally safe during pregnancy, but it’s a good idea to double check with your OB/GYN before scheduling an appointment. Many patients find that chiropractic treatments help alleviate the aches commonly associated with pregnancy. Doctors David and Michael Hughes are versed in prenatal adjustments and have had much success with the alleviation of pain as well as other common issues associated with pregnancy.

Chiropractors help to correct spinal misalignments that can cause health problems. Through regular adjustments, counseling on proper nutrition, exercise, and posture, the chiropractor can help you and your family be structurally and functionally sound. The number one "illness" in children is everyday falls and accidents. Youngsters take numerous tumbles -- learning to ride a bike, or even just jumping and running around. If your child takes part in athletic activities, the "sack" of a quarterback could twist a young spine, pitching a ball can throw a vertebra out of alignment or falling in gymnastics or cheerleading could misalign the pelvis. These underlying injuries, if left uncorrected, can cause serious problems like spinal curvature or chronic pain as the child grows into adulthood. Doctors of chiropractic can do more than correct these problems. They can also help improve performance on and off the field by helping the body to function at its optimum level, naturally, and holistically (characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease).

Most patients experience a popping or cracking sound during spinal manipulation. This is not dangerous, and it typically does not cause discomfort for patients. This sound occurs because gas and fluids are moving through your spine. Your body depends on fluids to lubricate the bones between each section of your spinal joints, so it’s normal to have this fluid in your skeletal system.

We’ll let you know! Chiropractors, including the team at Gateway Family Chiropractic, perform a thorough evaluation before recommending treatment. This evaluation includes a thorough examination with multiple tests, a posture screen, and x-rays, as needed. We then compile all this information into a 10-15 page report that is yours to keep. The doctors will go through this report with you in detail explaining what the findings are. Click here to schedule a free consultation or one of our new patient appointments.

It’s a common misconception that chiropractic care is expensive. Many of our patients pay a sum similar to an insurance co-pay, but they say it’s better than covering the cost of a surgical procedure. You may also find chiropractic care more affordable than the numerous medications and injections some patients receive before visiting a chiropractor.

If the cost of chiropractic care concerns you, let us know. We can help develop a treatment plan that meets your medical needs without draining your bank account.

Patients visit us for a variety of conditions, ranging from minor ailments to severe conditions that haven’t benefited from conventional medicine. Here are some conditions that we treat at Gateway Family Chiropractic:

• Neck, back, shoulder, leg, and foot pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Headaches and Migraines
• Sciatica
• Asthma
• Neuralgia
• Herniated discs
• Fibromyalgia

This is not a full list of ailments we treat. Talk to us if you have a condition that isn’t on the list, and we’ll let you know how we can help.

Chiropractors treat a wide range of symptoms that impact your physical and emotional well-being. Our team helps patients effectively manage the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Cramping
• Tingling
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Inflammation
• Limited range of mobility
• Exhaustion

Many patients also notice their mental health improves after a chiropractic session. Living with chronic pain can trigger bouts of depression and anxiety, and many patients confess they felt hopeless about the future until they visited our office. We help alleviate your discomfort so you can get back to living life on your terms.

Some patients only visit us a handful of times. Other patients require weeks or months of consistent care. The amount of time required for your recovery depends on a number of factors, including the severity of your condition and the level of improvement you want. Some patients want their pain to reach a manageable level, while others want to visit us until it disappears completely. Talk to us about your goals so we can develop a treatment plan tailored toward your wishes.

Sciatica often strikes when patients are 30 to 50 years old, but we also treat teens and seniors with this debilitating condition. It refers to pain that travels throughout your sciatic nerve, which is the largest nerve in your body. Your sciatic nerve runs from your lower back to your feet.

When your sciatic nerve becomes irritated, injured, or compressed, it reacts by producing excruciating pain. Ice packs and heating pads occasionally help, but sciatic pain often requires treatment from a skilled chiropractor.

A chiropractor can perform diagnostic tests to pinpoint the root of your nerve pain and then proceed accordingly. This may mean performing a spinal adjustment to ease a herniated disc back into its designated spot or recommending spinal decompression therapy. Some chiropractors also treat sciatic pain with lasers or electrical stimulation.