Frequently Asked Questions
Chiropractic Questions
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic Care is a healthcare profession concerned with the diagnosis and correction or vertebral subluxation i.e.when one or more vertebrae (bones in your spine) move out of line creating pressure on spinal nerves. Although chiropractors have many attributes of primary care providers, chiropractic has more of the attributes of a medical specialty. Chiropractic as an American science is over 100 years old with its base wellness premise dates back to spinal manipulations being used in the 4th Century B.C.
What Symptoms Respond Well to Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
How is a Chiropractic Adjustment Performed?
Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a manual procedure implemented by a licensed chiropractor using his or her hands to manipulate the joints of the body (particularly the spine) in order to realign the joints and improve nerve function to the body. Chiropractic adjustments are often performed along with soft tissue work, rehabilitation, exercise and other physiotherapies using a highly controlled procedure. The chiropractor adapts the procedure to meet each patient’s specific needs. Patients often notice positive changes in their symptoms soon after receiving a chiropractic treatment.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?
Yes… Chiropractic treatment is safe and effective. While any form of health treatment contains a degree of inherent risk, there is little danger in chiropractic care when administered by a licensed practitioner. All states require that chiropractors be board-qualified, licensed, and regulated according to rigorous criteria. Statistics show that patient risk is significantly low for chiropractic treatment.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Appropriate for Children?
Yes… Children can benefit from chiropractic care. Since children are very energetic and experience many types of falls and blows from their daily activities, these injuries may cause many symptoms including back and neck pain, stiffness, soreness or discomfort. Chiropractic care for children is adapted to ensure a very gentle adjustment for the patient.
Electrodiagnostic Testing (EMG-NCV) Questions
What is Electromyography & Nerve Conduction Velocity? (EMG/NCV)
Electromyography is one of the procedures used to study nerve and muscle function. It can be helpful in evaluating the causes of numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, fatigue, and muscle cramping. The physician inserts a small electrode into a muscle to record the electrical activity of the muscle. The electrical activity of the muscle is picked up by the recording instrument and the physician then analyzes it by looking at a signal on the monitor and listening to the sounds the activity makes through the speaker. This test can help determine if there are abnormalities in the muscle or the nerve.
Why Should I do a EMG or NCV Test?
If you are experiencing pain or numbness in your arms, hands, legs or feet, the cause of the pain needs to be identified. If the cause is a nerve not working properly, either by being pinched or depressed, an EMG/NCV will pinpoint where the problem is in the nerve i.e. neck, elbow, wrist, lower back, knee, ankle, etc.
How are the Tests Performed?
Doctors that rutinely perform this test include neurologists, physiatrists, physicians, and chiropractors that have post doctoral training in the procedure. The test have two components, the first component the doctor or chiropractor will insert a very fine needle into different muscles and refer to the computer to record signals within the muscle tissure. The second part the provider will use an electrical device to record the time it takes for the electrical impulse to travel along the specific nerve being tested.
Is the EMG/NCV Test Safe?
Electrodiagnostic Testing, sepcifically EMG/NCV testing is a relatively safe diagnostic test with great clinical value to the treating provider. Overall the test takes between 20-40 minutes to complete depending on the nerves being tested and people typically tolerate this test very well
Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) Questions
What is Manipulation Under Anesthesia?
Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) is a non-invasive procedure increasingly used for acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, including: back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, muscle spasm, leg pain, arm pain, shortened muscles, adhesions and some long-term pain syndromes. It is also knows as Streteching Under Sedation which is often a less threatening term; however, it is the same procedure.
The patient is placed in a “twilight” state by an anesthesiologist. This allows a patient to tolerate stretching previously unable to be done by the chiropractor. The procedure is accomplished quickly and pain free helping to greatly improve or even restore range of motion.
What Conditions Benefit from MUA?
- Frozen Shoulder
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Fixed articulations - adhesions
- Chronic Sciatica
- Herniated disc
- Unresponsive muscle spasms
- Protruded disc
- Failed back surgery
- Chronic sprain/strain
- Bulging Disc
- Neuromusculoskeletal conditions
How do you Describe the Procedure?
The Manipulation Under Anesthesia procedure usually involves three consecutive days of treatment. The patient is treated with spinal manipulative therapy and stretching. The patient is relaxed, conscious and responsive allowing the chiropractor to administer more effective stretching and manipulation.
Strengthening and stabilization programs are initiated over the next few weeks. Post-Procedure care is important as the patient’s body adjusts to the stretches accomplished during the MUA procedure.
Where is the MUA Performed?
The Manipulation Under Anesthesia procedure is performed at an Outpatient Surgery Center. The patient receives the highest comprehensive, personalized care as well as the convenience and privacy of a same day surgical center. The facility includes fully-equipped, State Licensed and Medicare Certified operating rooms, Board Certified Anesthesiologists/ Anesthetists, monitored recovery rooms, spacious waiting areas for a patient's family and friends, plenty of onsite parking, handicap accessibility
Who Performs the MUA Procedure?
Those involved during the MUA procedure include the Board Certified Anesthesiologist, and our chiropractic doctors. Only a physician that has been certified in MUA can perform the MUA procedure. Our doctors are highly experienced, having helped to relieve the pain of hundreds of patients
*All information provided in the Suffolk Physical Therapy & Chiropractic, PLLC website (SPT&C) (the "Site") regarding FAQ's is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract or other covenant or agreement of any kind between SPT&C and any person or entity unless otherwise expressly specified. The references to Chiropractic Treatment, Electrodiagnostic testing, Manipulation Under Anesthesia, and Nutritional Counseling are intended to provide useful insight to potential patients. We take pride in delivering high quality professional services for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.