Frequently Asked Questions

Chiropractic is safe, gentle and unbelievably effective and the 3rd largest health-care system in the world. The nervous system is known as the “master control system”, controlling EVERYTHING that happens in the body. Interference to the nervous system caused by misalignments of the spine (known as vertebral subluxation) significantly robs the body of its ability to function at 100%, and is the cause of many common health conditions people suffer from every day. By realigning the spine, chiropractic allows the body to function free from interference, just as nature designed. The body requires no help, just no interference.

Just like we go to the dentist for regular check-ups, everyone should get his/her spine checked. Less than 10% of your nervous system perceives pain, the other 90% is responsible for allowing your body function properly; it is possible to have nerve interference and feel perfectly healthy. How you feel is a poor judge of your health. By the time symptoms appear, many spinal problems are advanced. Chiropractic focuses on correcting the underlying cause of the problem (vertebral subluxations) and showing you ways to keep from recreating the same problems in the future.

A vertebral subluxation is a condition where the spine shifts out of it’s nice healthy position, placing damaging stress on the nerves, the spinal cord, the discs and the vertebrae, causing dysfunction, and in some cases pain. Left uncorrected, it can lead to degeneration (wear and tear) of the spine and a lifetime of poor health. This is because pressure on the nervous system is just like putting a kink in a hose – if there is pressure on the nerves the body cannot function and heal at optimal levels.

Symptoms such as headaches, back pain, neck pain and stiffness, pain in your shoulders, arms or legs, numbness in your hands or feet, are the most common signs of subluxations. But like a tooth cavity, most people have a subluxation long before they notice any symptoms.

Through gentle adjustments, Chiropractor’s help to restore the spine to its nice healthy position so the nervous system can function and heal at its full potential. Where necessary, we also prescribe specific exercises and traction to be completed at home to help our practice members get the maximum benefit from their adjustments, and minimize the effects of repetitive activities on their spine and nervous system.

An adjustment is a gentle force introduced into the spine intended to release a vertebral segment from its abnormal motion and/or position there by reducing the vertebral subluxation. Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless, and many patients report relief after their adjustments. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation, which usually goes away within 24 hours.

Our Chiropractor’s have a range of different techniques, which enables them to safely take care of people of all ages. They utilize manual techniques, which are what chiropractic was founded on, and more modernized techniques, which use the assistance of a drop table, and other specialized adjusting instruments. The type of care that we give is determined by both the patient’s preference and the condition of their spine. Some of the techniques are so gentle that even babies and those who have advanced osteoporosis are able to have chiropractic care.

No, it is a common misconception that your joints must make a noise to be properly adjusted. However, quite often when your vertebrae are adjusted, the smooth articular (joint) surfaces become separated, creating and then releasing a small vacuum of gas, making a noise. This is the sound made when you ‘crack’ your knuckles. Your chiropractor is concerned with the position of your vertebrae, not with the noise that may occur.

No. Your chiropractor has their own chiropractor for regular tune-ups. Each adjustment is specific and localized. Your spine should not be ‘cracked’ by any one that has not had the proper training as you can end up doing long-term damage.

Generally not. Our Chiropractors pride themselves on being very safe, thorough and effective. In order for them to do this a thorough consultation and examination, which may include x-rays will be performed, and they will want to review these findings before they perform any adjustments.

This is a question that only your Chiropractor can answer only after a thorough consultation and examination has been performed. His/her recommendations will be based on the severity of your health concerns, the condition that your spine is in and what you want to achieve from your chiropractic care.

We do x-ray the majority of people before starting chiropractic care to ensure the safety and specificity of our care. These however do need to be clinically justified, and this is determined during the initial consultation and examination. For your convenience we have our own x-ray facilities onsite at our Feilding clinic, and if necessary these can be taken at the time of your initial consultation. For those visiting our Levin clinic, If x-rays are required we will refer you to the Broadway Radiology clinic in the Levin Medical Centre. Should you have any recent x-rays please bring these to your initial consultation.

Doctor’s of Chiropractic (DC’s) must complete a five year university degree and as such are primary health care providers. This means that like your general practitioner (GP) they have comprehensive knowledge of all systems of the body and diagnostic procedures. This enables the chiropractor to thoroughly evaluate a patient, address disorders relating to the spine, take and analyse x-rays and determine the need for referral to another health care provider. They have received extensive demanding and ongoing professional education on par with a medical doctor, focusing more on the nervous system than the effects on pharmaceutical drugs on the body.

NO. Chiropractic is non-invasive and therefore drug and surgery free. Chiropractors maintain that the body has a built-in capacity to restore health within certain limits (innate intelligence), and base their care on this principle. The first response in most illnesses and injuries should be conservative care (such as chiropractic), rather than drugs and surgery. Chiropractic's principles make it possibly the safest and most appealing of the healing arts.

No. As with any other health service the choice of how long you choose to benefit from chiropractic care is ALWAYS up to you. However, what we find is that once patients understand the relationship between their spine, nervous system and overall health many choose to have regular chiropractic check ups, in the same way they get their teeth checked or their car serviced.

Absolutely. At Quantum Chiropractic we check many babies and children to ensure that their spines are growing healthy, straight and strong. Our practice members range from just days old, to those in their nineties. Regardless of age, the vertebrae can become misaligned, and this can disturb the delicate spinal cord and nerves, which control the youngster's muscles and organs. The birth process is often the cause of the very first subluxation, and in a study of births requiring intervention by a Doctor (such as forceps, induction or excessive force) 95% sustained upper neck injuries. And the average child’s life isn’t exactly stress free – the average 5 year old has had approximately 2000 falls, of which 200 are considered serious – all of these minor (and sometimes major) traumas have a compounding effect. Many childhood conditions such as ADD, asthma, ear infections, growing pains, scoliosis, recurrent colds and flu can be caused by misalignments of the spine, and many spinal problems found in adults could have been prevented had they taken care of their spine and nervous system from a young age. An early chiropractic check-up may detect many spinal problems while they are still easily correctable, and could be one of the most valuable gifts a parent could give their child.

We see many pregnant women at Quantum Chiropractic. Chiropractic care can make for a more comfortable pregnancy and labour. Because of the additional weight and stress on the framework of the body, chiropractic adjustments can help lower the incidence of pain in the low back and legs, and between the shoulder blades. Chiropractic care is also important for the pregnant woman to ensure the spine and pelvis is well aligned for a smooth delivery process.

Yes! Chiropractors care for their patients using safe, gentle and scientifically validated techniques. We aim to educate all our patients to inform them how and why Chiropractic is safe and appropriate for people of all ages, especially babies and children.

Osteopaths/physiotherapists work with the soft tissue, doing things like massage and don’t generally take x-rays. They also treat different parts of the body. Chiropractors remove interference in the nervous system. Caused by the bones of the spine putting pressure on them. They do this by detecting, correcting and preventing of vertebral subluxations (spinal misalignments), which helps improve the bodies over all health, naturally.

No, a patient does not require a referral from anyone before visiting our Clinic.

Chiropractic as we know it today, was founded in Iowa in 1895 by Dr. David Palmer.

The first initial consultation and examination is $45, from there the doctor will determine whether any further tests need to be done, such as x-rays, and there is an additional fee for this. And then it is $40 per adjustment. (Adult)

Chiropractic comes from the Greek words “cheir” (hand) and “praxis” (action).

True health is when you’re body works the way it was meant to –mental, physical and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease.

Here at Quantum Chiropractic we do not require you to get changed into a gown for your adjustment. However any bulky clothing, such as a heavy winter jacket or thick jersey maybe asked to be removed.