Frequently Asked Questions in Waterloo

A chiropractor is a healthcare professional that specializes in diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular conditions. They treat subluxations which are misalignments of the spine and extremities to help reduce nerve and muscular pressure. They receive special training in adjustment techniques to place vertebrae and other articulations into their proper alignment.

Chiropractors are not medical doctors. Chiropractors are doctors recognized by federal law and the Department of Health and Human Services. Like other doctors, chiropractors must earn a degree from an accredited college or university. A chiropractor usually has four years of undergraduate training where they graduate with a premed major. From there they must take four years to attend a chiropractic graduate program. They must sit and pass a board exam to earn a practicing Dr. of chiropractic license. After graduation and receiving the license they must continue to receive training and education to keep their license.

A chiropractor treats subluxations. This is a misaligned vertebra or extremity putting pressure on nerves interfering with normal nerve transmission. Everyone thinks of a chiropractor helping back pain, but there are many conditions in which chiropractic care has been shown to help. Some of the other conditions are: headaches, neck and shoulder pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, asthma, digestive issues, hip and knee problems, sinusitis, TMJ, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, migraines, sleep disorders.

Chiropractic care is very safe. In our office we treat patients from infants to elderly. There are specific gentle techniques we use as well as manual manipulation. We find that the sooner we see a patient with a subluxation and correct it the sooner they will be on their journey to better health. A great example of this is the traumatic event that takes place for babies during childbirth. Correcting subluxations at this time in their life helps tremendously with colic, ear infections, and rest. Conversely in the elderly, if we correct subluxations they normally have better mobility and slows arthritis.

All our doctors at Vanderloo Chiropractic use the activator method, impulse instrument, and the Palmer package which incorporates manual manipulation of the spine. The activator method and the impulse electric adjustor is a very specific gentle technique used to correct the spine and extremities. The Palmer package incorporates techniques learned at Palmer College where there is more manual manipulation of the spine that corrects & mobilizes.