Chiro advice please - Mary??

[CW1992]

Hi! Brittney will be 10 years old next month. I would like her to see a chiropractor - she never has before. She seems to get so stiff this time of year. She usually is swimming daily or other sports but when she is taking a break from that you can sure see her stiffen up. I try and help her stretch out sometimes but she ends up giggling (she's pretty ticklish) and likes to act goofey and I guess so do I so we don't get anywhere! I'm wondering what a chiropractor will do exactly, how often, and if this sounds like a good solution. In a few months she'll be back to swimming everyday and that has always seemed to be the best for her. Any input would be much appreciated! Christy

[francine]

Christy - I hope you don't mind if I answer this even though it's addressed to marymom.... it's always good to have more than one opinion anyway right?

(1) ask your friends to see who they go to and trust - personal referrals are great but you still have to make your own judgement even with personal referrals

(2) ask if that chiro works on children. Any chiro who actively works on newborns will probably/possibly have a big child following

(3) go to that chiro yourself for a while so that you get to know him/her - get adjustments and feel the results so that you understand the work and go into it less anxious for Brittany's sake - bring Brittany with you so she can watch you and create a relationship with the chiro herself (the more relaxed she is while they do their work, the better off she will be and the more she will get out of the treatment)
She's old enough to have a complete understanding of the process. Have the chiro explain the process in detail.

(4) figure out - in advance - how much of an investment you are willing to make with chiropractic. Does your insurance cover it? and if not, does this chiro make you sign a contract and come so many times a week or month or can you come as needed, as often or as little as you like?



There are many different types of approaches they use:
some of them do fast quick adjustment where you hear a popping noise (bone cracking). Some of them use a little "punching tool" called an activator that does the type of adjustment with less force. Some of them do less "cracking" and more soft tissue stretching type of work. Some do very light non-invasive work (like cranio-sacral therapy). So another question to ask would be - what would a treatment consist of? Does the chiropractor 'massage' the area before and after an adjustment? or does he/she get right to the adjustment? How long does a treatment take? Are you there for a full half hour or are you in and out in a flash. Does the he/she use any other tools? Does he/she have an in-office xray machine? ultrasound? electrical stimulation? hydrotherapy? (just out of curiosity)

Also - find out what school they went to - find out if that school is a reputable school or not. Here in PA there is this one very 'bad' school and many local chiropractors are from that school. You have to be very careful in this area - so that's where this warning comes from.

And then when all is said and done - trust your gut!

hope this helps,
francine

[CW1992]

Thanks Francine - (oh - and I'm wanting any feedback from anybody that is willing to please help me) I didn't realize there were different techniques, etc.. (I have no chiro experience at all!)I guess I was imagining it being more like a massage to loosen her up. I didn't want to start looking for a chiro without knowing anything about them. No one that I know of sees one but I'm sure there are some available around here. Also - I saw a booth in the mall that was set up that looked like a tanning booth only it used water while the person lay on their stomach. I guess that's a form of hydro therapy? It appeared more geared towards adults and the entire body. What type of chiro technique have others used that seemed to work the best? She mainly just gets stiffness in her shoulder area - no pain though. Thanks for your help!

[CW1992]

Thought I better clarify! No I was NOT going to put Brittney on display in the mall water booth - just was curious if that was what hydro therapy was if the chiro office would use that term when I am making phone calls. - - trying to get a visual:)

[francine]

Christy -

Structural work (chiropractic) can be very beneficial and even more benficial if done with soft tissue work (some sort of massage/bodywork) at the same time. What I mean by this is... if a bone is subluxated (out of place), well, what pushed it out of place and what is holding it out of place. Did IT move out on its own and now the muscles are caught in this new situation? Or did them muscles tighten and MOVE the bone out of place... it's like a Catch 22. So the best results come from someone who can do both and does them both at the same time. Someone who will loosen up the soft tissue layer and THEN makes the structural adjustements.

Another alternative would be for Brittany to start getting bodywork/massage treatments. This is a good age for this - she's very aware of her body and will appreciate the added awareness from being touched in this way and stretched, etc. But as always - the catch is that insurances do not usually cover this work and it's quite pricey.

Hydrotherapy would be any treatment that included water... whirlpool, therapy pool, hydroculators, compresses, etc.

Be aware of specific gimics. Many practitioners (all kinds of practitioners) buy expensive 'toys' to "build revenue" (that's how they are marketed to us! - not to HELP people but to -build revenue- sick huh?)...

trust in the 'hands' - a hands on treatment has so much benefit, benefit beyond what can be written about

-francine

[marymom]

http://www.activaTOR.COM
thats the type of adjustments we get regularly- my mom swears by the hands on also but I found a great chiro that specializes in moms and chilldren that works primarily with the activater
PERFECT! It very well may take a few adjustments before it begins to take- what generally happens is that the immediate alignment is good but the body falls back into the old "pattern" of alignment so the idea is to get adjusted very regularly untill this pattern is changed to the healthy appropriate pattern...I think
Max and I were going every few weeks because thats how often we needed it- most of the other kids go once every 6 to 9 months- She suggested Max be seen only every other monmth now but I bring him in with me so I have her do him...he is kind of funny because he likes to get on the big table now like big people and well, its very cute,
The charge for Max is like 15$ its 35 for me tho-hope this helps- Francine tips are good ones too, I would have said the same things except for the part about PA I wouldnt have known that, but if Im ever there, ill try and remember!
If you want to talk to others who use chiro let me know and Ill have them email you-

[CW1992]

Thank you! I will read up on it from here and let you know what we decide to do. Thanks for all of the help in getting started!
Christy