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Table
of Contents
What makes Winchester-Hilgefort
Spine & Joint Center different from other chiropractic
clinics?
Our clinic
is a diagnostic and treatment center for human performance.
Our clinical goals demand more than pain relief. We work with
patients to restore function, maintain proper joint mechanics,
and resume daily activities-maximizing performance while minimizing
risk of recurring injury and doctor visits.
Our
clinic differs from traditional chiropractic functions in
that we offer only evidence-based treatment protocols. If
the technique is not clinically proven, it is not offered
in our practice. Further, we provide our patients with more
than adjusting. Current medical research has proven that an
integrated health care approach involving muscle and joint
manipulation, rehabilitation, and therapeutic exercises offers
patients the most effective and long-lasting results.
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Why should I see
the doctors of Winchester-Hilgefort and not my family doctor
for back or muscle pain?
Dr. Winchester
and Dr. Hilgefort have undergone extensive studies and specialized
training in the fields of musculoskeletal anatomy, biomechanics,
sports injuries, and rehabilitative exercise. As a result,
when it comes to sudden or chronic injuries of the joints
or muscles, the doctors of Winchester-Hilgefort Spine &
Joint are best suited to meet your needs.
According
to Jens Chapman, M.D., a professor of orthopedics and neurological
surgery at the University of Washington, "Chiropractors
are a satisfying choice to manage acute back pain." Further,
a 2002 study funded by the Agency for Health Care Research
and Quality reported a third more patients are satisfied with
the back treatment and advice they get from chiropractors
compared with medical doctors.
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Aren't all chiropractors
the same?
NOT AT
ALL! Many people are surprised to learn that most chiropractors
practice differently. Based on our studies, travels and clinical
research we understand that the combination of joint and muscle
manipulation, rehabilitation and therapeutic exercises offers
patients superior, results-oriented care. Because there were
no clinics operating under this philosophy in the Midwest,
we established our own.
Our
knowledge of anatomy and the body's mechanics coupled with
our Motion Palpation Institute techniques provides us with
the insight to know when a joint should be adjusted, when
muscular or rehabilitative therapy is appropriate and when
an integrated treatment program is necessary. For our patients,
our comprehensive, evidence-based approach produces results
in an efficient timeframe (with most of our patients excused
from care between one and five visits depending on the complexity
of their condition).
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Will I have to come
back for a long time?
No. Our
greatest reward is returning patients to their active lifestyles
in the shortest timeframe possible. We base our care on the
patient's individual needs and case complexity-not on predetermined
treatment plans. In addition to reducing patients' tension
and discomfort, we teach our patients ways to prevent this
tension or injury from returning. Our active care approach
requires patient participation. The closer you follow our
recommendations the faster and longer you are likely to remain
free of pain and enjoy maximum performance.
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How do I know when
I have completed my treatment?
The end
of treatment is usually based on the achievement of mutual
goals established by you and your doctor. In addition to achieving
pain relief, we encourage our patients to focus on reaching
activity and performance goals as a measurement of care completion.
Why? The temporary relief of pain does not always lead to
long-term success. While many of our patients enjoy immediate
pain relief following a treatment, it may take a follow-up
visit to completely address the dysfunction and prevent this
injury or tension from recurring. Clinical research proves
that our active approach to health care will lead to lasting
physical improvements if performed according to your doctor's
instructions. Thus, adhering to your doctor's treatment programs
can prevent future office visits and costs.
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What effect does a chiropractic
adjustment have on joints?
Research proves that chiropractic manipulation can actually
prevent arthritis by restoring proper motion to the joint.
Medical textbooks will tell you that it is the loss of motion
that causes joint damage and arthritis. Further, the restoration
of joint function provides the cartilage and disc (in the
case of the spine) with improved blood supply. Better blood
supply means better bodily nourishment and overall physical
health.
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What makes the "crackling
noise" when an adjustment is delivered?
While some people get nervous about the noise an adjustment
may produce, the sound is not derived from the bones themselves.
The audible stems from a lubricant, called synovial fluid,
which is made up of dissolved gases located in every joint.
An adjustment releases the build up pressure and these gases,
which were created by the joint's restriction. The emission
of these nitrogen gases produce the "popping" sound
often heard when an adjustment is administered – not
from the movements of joints.
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Should an adjustment ever
hurt?
Most chiropractic
adjustments are painless. In fact, adjustments help most patients
enjoy immediate pain relief. However, if the patient has suffered
from a recent injury, adjustments can sometimes cause slight
discomfort as the tissues surrounding the dysfunction are
usually inflamed. That is why our doctors offer a combination
of muscle and joint manipulation to treat complex cases and
minimize discomfort.
Other patients may experience sensations in their muscles
or extremities following an adjustment. This is a normal reaction
caused by the relief of pressure that was once plaguing nerves.
Some scientists also associate this feeling with an increase
in circulation achieved once the irritant is removed from
the nerve.
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Is it safe to adjust myself?
Concern has been raised over the safety of people who try
to adjust themselves. Research proves that only chiropractors
can ensure an adjustment is performed safely. Why? Often times,
the "self adjustment" is producing movement in joints
near the restricted area – causing harmful friction to
surrounding joint structures and further aggravating the restricted
area. The best advice: Don't try to do it yourself. Seek the
expertise of your chiropractor.
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Do chiropractors refer patients
to other specialists?
Like other doctors, chiropractors belong to a large and growing
network of health care professionals. Our doctors are well
educated, recognizing risk factors and signs of disease. If
our patient’s need is best addressed by a medical doctor
or specialist, we refer the patient every time. Likewise,
medical doctors in the community have served as an excellence
referral source for our clinic when their patient’s
needs are best met with our comprehensive chiropractic services.
This referral network is a win-win for our patients and Lincoln
County residents.
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Last revised: 1/24/05
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