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Move Better. Function Better. Feel More Like Yourself.
Chiropractic care focuses on the musculoskeletal system, including the spine, joints, and the way your body moves and functions.
At Innovative Medical Center, chiropractic care is not treated as a stand-alone answer for every ache or pain. Our Fresno chiropractic team evaluates your symptoms, health history, movement, and examination findings first, then determines whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.
When needed, chiropractic care can also be coordinated with functional rehabilitation, medical care, spinal decompression, or other services available within our integrated practice.
More Than a Stand-Alone Chiropractic Office
Because chiropractic care is part of our integrated medical practice, we have more than one approach available when a condition requires it. Some patients may benefit from chiropractic care alone, while others may have needs better addressed through functional rehabilitation, spinal decompression, medical evaluation, or a coordinated combination of services. The goal is not to fit every patient into the same treatment plan. It is to understand what is contributing to your symptoms and recommend the services that make sense for your individual needs.
Your first visit gives our team an opportunity to understand what you are experiencing, how it is affecting your daily life, and what you have already tried. We will review your health history and perform an appropriate examination, which may include evaluating movement, range of motion, joint mobility, posture, and other factors related to your symptoms. If chiropractic care is appropriate, we will explain what we recommend, why we recommend it, and what the goals of care will be before you begin treatment.
What Can a Chiropractor Help With?
People often visit a chiropractor because pain, stiffness, or limited movement is making everyday activities more difficult.
Chiropractic care may be considered for certain musculoskeletal concerns involving the spine, joints, and movement, including:
- Back pain
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Reduced spinal or joint mobility
- Certain types of sciatica or radiating pain
- Musculoskeletal discomfort following an injury
- Certain headaches associated with the neck
- Postural and movement-related concerns
- Joint stiffness or mobility limitations
The same symptom can have different causes, so an evaluation is important before determining whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a hands-on approach to musculoskeletal health that commonly includes spinal manipulation or mobilization, often referred to as a chiropractic adjustment.
During an adjustment, a chiropractor applies a controlled force or movement to a joint with the goal of improving joint motion and function. Chiropractic care may also incorporate other techniques based on the patient’s condition and treatment goals.
Research has focused most heavily on spinal manipulation for low-back pain. Evidence suggests it may provide modest improvements in pain and function for some people with acute or chronic low-back pain. Research also suggests that manipulation or mobilization may be helpful for some types of neck pain.
What Happens at Your First Chiropractic Visit?
Your first visit begins with understanding why you are there.
Our team will review your current symptoms, health history, previous injuries, treatments you have already tried, and the ways your condition is affecting your day-to-day life.
Your chiropractic evaluation may include an examination of areas such as posture, movement, joint mobility, range of motion, and other findings relevant to your symptoms.
If diagnostic imaging is clinically appropriate, certain imaging can also be completed in-house. If you already have recent X-rays, MRI results, or other relevant medical records, bring them with you for review.
After the necessary information has been gathered, we can determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate and explain the recommended next steps.
What Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Do?
A chiropractic adjustment uses a controlled movement or force applied to a joint.
The specific technique, amount of force, and area being treated can vary based on the patient, the findings of the examination, and the chiropractor’s clinical judgment.
The goal is not simply to create the familiar “popping” sound associated with chiropractic adjustments. The focus is on joint movement and musculoskeletal function.
That popping or cracking sound can occur when gases within a joint rapidly change pressure during movement. The sound itself is not the goal of treatment, and an adjustment does not necessarily need to make a sound to be effective.
Does Chiropractic Care Hurt?
Chiropractic treatment should be adapted to the individual patient and their condition.
Some people experience temporary soreness, stiffness, or discomfort following spinal manipulation, particularly after an initial visit. These effects are generally mild and short-lived. Serious complications have been reported but are rare, which is one reason a proper health history and clinical evaluation are important before treatment.
Tell your chiropractor about your medical conditions, medications, previous surgeries, injuries, and any concerns you have before treatment begins.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe?
Chiropractic care is generally considered to have a favorable safety profile when appropriately performed by a trained, licensed professional, but no healthcare treatment is completely without risk.
Certain medical conditions or circumstances may affect whether spinal manipulation or a particular chiropractic technique is appropriate.
That is why we do not believe chiropractic care should begin with an adjustment. It should begin with an evaluation.
Your health history, symptoms, examination findings, and other relevant medical information help your provider determine whether treatment is appropriate and which approach may make sense for you.
Chiropractic Care and Functional Rehabilitation - Do You Need One, the Other, or Both?
Chiropractic care and functional rehabilitation serve different purposes, although they may complement one another for some patients.
Chiropractic care primarily uses hands-on techniques to address joint and musculoskeletal function.
Functional rehabilitation focuses more heavily on active movement and may work on strength, stability, mobility, balance, coordination, and movement patterns.
Some patients may only need one approach. For others, addressing both joint mobility and the way the body moves and supports itself may make sense.
Your examination helps our team determine what is appropriate rather than automatically combining services.
How Long Will I Need Chiropractic Care?
There is no universal number of chiropractic visits that is right for every patient.
The appropriate length and frequency of care depend on factors such as your condition, how long symptoms have been present, examination findings, health history, goals, and how you respond to treatment.
At IMC, your care plan should have a purpose. We will explain why visits are being recommended, what we are working toward, and how your progress will be evaluated.
Care can then be adjusted based on how you are responding.
Can chiropractic care help back pain?
For some patients, yes. Research suggests spinal manipulation may provide modest improvements in pain and function for some people with acute or chronic low-back pain. It is one of several non-drug treatment approaches that may be considered for low-back pain.
Can a chiropractor help with sciatica?
It depends on what is causing the symptoms. Sciatica describes pain associated with irritation or involvement of the sciatic nerve, and there are multiple potential causes. Research on spinal manipulation for sciatica is more limited than research for general low-back pain, so an examination is important before recommending treatment.
Do I need X-rays before chiropractic treatment?
Not necessarily. Imaging should be based on your symptoms, health history, examination findings, and clinical need rather than automatically being required for every patient.
If imaging is appropriate, Innovative Medical Center is able to complete certain imaging in-house.
Can I come to IMC only for chiropractic care?
Yes. You can contact Innovative Medical Center specifically for chiropractic care.
Being an integrated practice does not mean every chiropractic patient must participate in additional services. If another service may be beneficial based on your evaluation, our team will explain the recommendation and why it is being made.
Do I need a referral to see your chiropractor?
In most cases, you can contact Innovative Medical Center directly to schedule a consultation. If you plan to use insurance and your individual plan has referral or authorization requirements, those requirements may differ.
Can chiropractic care be used with physical therapy or rehabilitation?
Yes, chiropractic care and rehabilitation may be used together when clinically appropriate. Chiropractic care and rehabilitation address different aspects of musculoskeletal function, so some patients may benefit from a coordinated plan while others may only require one service.
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