Hanft Family Chiropractic

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chiropractic?
What techniques do you use?
What is an adjustment?
What is subluxation?
What kinds of conditions do chiropractors treat and help with?
Why don’t chiropractors recommend or prescribe medications/drugs?
What to do if you are in an accident?
Can chiropractors treat a “slipped disk?”
Do I have to be a patient forever?
Can Children receive Chiropractic Care?

Myths & Concerns

Spinal adjustments hurt.
Spinal adjustments are dangerous.
What about neck adjustments and the risk of stroke?
Chiropractors lack the same extensive education that medical doctors receive.
Chiropractic is not scientific.
Chiropractic care is expensive and not cost effective in the treatment of conditions.
You’ll have to be under chiropractic care for the rest of your life.
Chiropractors only treat back pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chiropractic?Top

Chiropractic was discovered in the late 1800′s in Davenport, IA (where Dr. Hanft got his chiropractic degree!). D.D. Palmer was working in an old building when he discovered a janitor who had a hearing problem. The short version is that D.D. placed his hands on this man’s spine, delivered a specific adjustment, and the man’s hearing returned, and thus “Chiropractic” was born.

Chiropractic literally comes from the Greek words “chiro” which means hands and “praktikos” which means “to use”. To Use One’s Hands! That’s exactly what most chiropractors do.

To understand why chiropractors are necessary, you have to look at what they use their hands to help. The human spine is a series of bones that house the spinal cord in nearly every living creature on the planet, including humans of course. Your nervous system, consisting of your spinal cord and brain, communicate with every cell, tissue, and organ in your entire body. The spine is in charge of protecting the spinal cord. Nerves travel through the middle of these bones (like a tunnel) and exit to go to certain tissues in the body. When these bones are properly aligned, the body can work at its fullest potential.

So why do you want the bones aligned? Chiropractors understand that a fully functional, uninhibited nervous system is vital to maximizing your health. When your spine is in proper alignment, this gives your body the best chance at achieving this high level of health. When your spine is out of its proper positioning, however, this can cause your body to not be working at full capacity. When chiropractors correct this mis-alignment, they give your body the best chance of healing properly and quickly, as well as attaining maximum function.

Many people do not realize how little is required to misalign the spine. For example, many everyday occurrences can cause spinal misalignment. These include picking up a child, working in the yard, stress, and more serious causes like car accidents and falls.

The truly scary aspect of all this is how good your body can be at hiding problems from you. From the minute you are injured, your body begins the process of protecting itself from further damage. Your body does this to prevent more short-term damage. Unfortunately, if left untreated, this process can also set in motion a chain of events that can lead to potentially serious and long-term damage, including chronic pain, loss of movement and mobility, and degeneration. Chiropractors believe that even though you may not feel pain, your body may still not be operating at its peak performance level.

So what does all this mean? Put simply, most chiropractors, including Dr. Hanft, believe that everybody should be checked for spinal mis-alignments on a routine basis. The reason for this is simple: Since it is often difficult to detect problems in our bodies before they become serious, the best prevention is to ensure all the bones in your spine are properly aligned at all times. This may require multiple visits and Dr. Hanft will work with you and your family to determine what schedule of care is ideal for you. Dr. Hanft will make recommendations that he believes will help you reach your maximum health potential. Remember, our goal is always the same: To treat you like we’d like to be treated, and that means doing everything we can to help you reach both your short-term and long-term health goals.

What techniques do you use?Top

• Wide variety of techniques offered
• Treatment of all ages (from birth on up)
• Low force options available

Hanft Family Chiropractic’s philosophy is that every person is unique and therefore requires a personalized health care program so that they can reach their maximum health potential. This means that one technique may not be the best option for everyone. Therefore, we offer a wide variety of techniques at the practice, and we are determined to find the right one for you and your family.

As always, we are open to suggestions. If for some reason a particular technique does not feel right to you, then we’ll work together to find one that does. In the end, we are here to serve you and that means helping anyway we can.

What is an adjustment?Top

An “Adjustment” is what most chiropractors utilize to help patients. Broken down into simpler terms, it really means chiropractors adjust or move certain bones in your spine to improve the function of your nervous system.

At Hanft Family Chiropractic, adjustments will most often be performed by Dr. Hanft using only his hands. Specifically, Dr. Hanft will apply a small amount of force to a specific area of your spine. Adjustments are rarely painful, and Dr. Hanft will communicate with you every step of the way to ensure your comfort throughout the entire process. To fully harness the power of the chiropractic adjustment, Dr. Hanft feels you, as the patient, must be as comfortable as possible and he’ll do everything he can to ensure that comfort.

There are other methods of “adjusting” that Dr. Hanft uses less frequently in the office. One involves a small chiropractic device called an “Activator.” This tool, held in one hand, can also deliver an adjustment to the spine and can be valuable tool in your personalize care plan.

The last technique, called Lumbar Flexion/Distraction, utilizes a special table to take pressure off certain structures in the low back. This technique or adjustment is extremely low force, and can produce effective results for sufferers of low back pain.

What is subluxation?Top

A subluxation is the misalignment of at least one spinal bone compared to another which, as a result of this misalignment, causes one or more of the following:

• Nerve irritation
• Nerve encroachment (putting pressure where the nerve exits the spine)
• Swelling of the joint spaces between the vertebrae
• Muscle tightness or spasm of the surrounding area
• Abnormal pressure or pulling on muscles, tendons and ligaments
• Twisting, tilting or tearing of the intervetebral disc
• Tearing of the supportive ligaments causing too much motion
• Compression of the joint space allowing too little motion
• Sometimes this complex can be very severe (such as after an injury) and sometimes it can be long term (such as in arthritic conditions). In most instances, a subluxation will cause pain.

What kinds of conditions do chiropractors treat and help with?Top

Doctors of chiropractic treat neuro-musculo-skeletal problems (nerve, muscle, bone) such as low back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and pain involved after accidents. Chiropractic care is also very effective in the treatment of headaches, especially tension headaches. In children, chiropractic has proven to be very affective in treating ear infections (otitis media), as well as colic.

Chiropractic doctors should not treat, cancers, bone infections, HIV, fractures, or any neurological active lesion (i.e. neuroblastoma) and should refer these cases to proper physicians. However, this does not mean if patients with these problems present with chiropractic problems also, that they cannot receive chiropractic treatment. Concurrent chiropractic care would bolster their nervous system and may give them an even better chance at successful treatment of the illness or injury.

Why don’t chiropractors recommend or prescribe medications/drugs?Top

Chiropractic was founded on principle that the body could heal itself, and chiropractic attempts to facilitate this natural healing rather than introducing a foreign substance to aid in healing. Despite what gets portrayed, every drug or medication has side effects. The definition of a side effect is “a peripheral or secondary effect, especially an undesirable secondary effect of a drug or therapy.” The very nature or action of a medication is designed to change something in your body. Antibiotics attempt to kill of bacteria in your body. In the process, they also destroy healthy normal flora, bacteria that actually help us to remain healthy. Anti-inflammatories, such as Advil and Aspirin, are designed to reduce swelling and pain, but as a result of this action, they can cause bleeding in the stomach which can cause serious complications and even death. Again, instead of altering the body and treating conditions that way, chiropractic believes in allowing the body’s own nervous system to heal the body by removing any interference that misalignments of the spine may be causing.

What to do if you are in an accident?Top

If you are involved in an automobile accident or other type of accident that causes immediate pain or immobility, see a physician immediately and even go the ER if that’s the only option available to you. Many people come to a chiropractic office for care long after an accident, making the symptoms more difficult to treat. This makes correction and proper healing much more difficult to accomplish. Injuries are best treated within the first 5-7 days with chiropractic care. If the only care you are getting is painkillers, hot packs and massage, you are missing an important part of getting well. Correcting the spine is vital in limiting the damage both short and long term.

Keep this in mind: there is an abundance of scientific literature available stating that a rear-end collision by a car traveling 5 mph can cause significant whiplash and damage to the spine and associated tissues (muscles, ligaments, etc). Yes, just 5 mph! Do not discount seemingly insignificant events as just that. Permanent damage has been reported due to these accidents, and that further illustrates the need of seeing a physician (chiropractor, medical doctor, osteopath, etc) regarding the accident.

Can chiropractors treat a “slipped disk?”Top

There is actually no such thing as a “slipped” disc. The intervertrebral discs are a cushioning piece of tissue that lie between each bone of the spine. There are two parts to the disk, the annulus (the tough part, like gristle) and the nucleus (a soft center, about the consistency of peanut butter). If the spinal vertebra tilt and create a wedge, the nucleus can bulge toward the open end of the wedge area. This can cause undue pressure on the spinal nerve roots or on the spinal cord. If the annulus becomes torn (partially or fully) the nucleus can migrate into the tear, putting even more pressure on spinal nerves or on the cord. The correct terminology for this is a “herniated” or “bulging” disc. Chiropractors can (gently) treat a herniated disk, within all but the most severe tears. Dr. Hanft is trained in Lumbar (low back) Flexion/Distraction which is technique specifically designed to treat and alleviate conditions regarding the low back and herniated discs.

Do I have to be a patient forever?Top

This is a question often asked of chiropractors, as many of our patients come to us for years. The answer is mostly NO but occasionally yes.

Some patients come to a chiropractic office because they feel pain or discomfort. When that pain receeds and proper alignment if achieved within the spine, the patient is usually not seen again, unless they injure themselves again. Sometimes, a patient has a problem that is so severe (osteoarthritis, failed back syndrome, osteomalacia) that it is necessary to continue care for a long period of time for either restoration of motion or for pain control. Often, this is construed as being a permanent patient. In reality, it is reconstructive care, and sometimes maintenance care.

So why do some patients say they go to the chiropractor even when they aren’t in any pain? The answer is because they understand that misalignment can be present even when pain is not. Many “healthy” people have small problems (that have not yet developed into pain expressions) that may or may not turn into larger problems. Treating these small (painless) problems when they are not serious is beneficial to the patient, by eliminating a possible cause of future problems. They understand that chiropractors are experts in detecting and correcting spinal misalignments even before those misaligned areas cause any problems for the patient. It’s like treating a cold before you even get it. It’s like routine maintenance on a car to avoid a breakdown in the future. This is called “Wellness Care.”

Myths & Concerns

Spinal adjustments hurt.Top

Quite the contrary! Many patients feel instant relief immediately after their treatments. In fact, most look forward to their chiropractic treatments. In patients suffering from severe bouts of back or neck pain, some discomfort may be experienced in the process of correcting the subluxations. Dr. Hanft will work with you to make the process as comfortable as possible during each and every appointment. Most people’s office visit is a pleasant experience and they leave feeling much better than when they came.

Spinal adjustments are dangerous.Top

Chiropractic spinal adjustments are extremely safe when performed by chiropractors. In fact, chiropractic adjustments are among the safest treatments for most back and neck problems. According to a 1993 Ontario Ministry of Health commissioned study,

“There is no clinical or case-control study that demonstrates or even implies that chiropractic spinal manipulation is unsafe in the treatment of low-back pain. Some medical treatments are equally safe, but others are unsafe and generate iatrogenic (doctor-induced) complications for low-back pain patients. Our reading of the literature suggests that chiropractic manipulation is safer than medical management of low-back pain.”

Lead investigator of the study, Pran Manga, Ph.D., however, did warn that spinal adjustments performed by health care professionals other than qualified doctors of chiropractic were potentially harmful and less effective:

“Indeed, several existing medical therapies of low-back pain are generally contraindicated on the basis of the existing clinical trials. There is also some evidence in the literature to suggest that spinal manipulations are less safe and less effective when performed by non-chiropractic professionals.”

On December 8, 1994, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) of the US Department of Health and Human Services released clinical practice guidelines for the management of acute low back pain. Their guidelines were developed after extensive study of the diagnostic and treatment methods used for acute low back pain. Their findings included:

• The risk of serious complications from lumbar spinal manipulation is rare;
• Conservative treatment such as spinal manipulation should be pursued in most cases before considering surgical intervention;
• Prescription drugs such as oral steroids, antidepressant medications and colchicine are not recommended for acute low back problems.

What about neck adjustments and the risk of stroke?Top

Every published study which has estimated the incidence of stroke (CVA) from cervical (neck) manipulation has agreed that the risk is 1 to 3 incidents per million treatments. Dvorak, in a survey of 203 practitioners of manual medicine in Switzerland, found a rate of one serious complication per 400,000 cervical manipulations, without any reported deaths, among an estimated 1.5 million cervical manipulations. Jaskoviak reported approximately 5 million cervical manipulations from 1965 to 1980 at The National College of Chiropractic Clinic in Chicago, without a single case of vertebral artery stroke or serious injury. These are just two examples of research showing the safety of cervical (neck) adjusting. There are many others. If you are concerned about the risk of stroke or other potential complications due to adjusting the spine, Dr. Hanft would be happy to discuss them with you at any time. All health care approaches carry some inherent risks, and chiropractic is not immune from this. However, the previous studies and others reported in the literature, along with data regarding the low cost of malpractice insurance would indicate that our profession is not only providing excellent care but also doing so in an extremely safe and effective manner for everyone.

Chiropractors lack the same extensive education that medical doctors receive.Top

The training and education endured by chiropractors is extremely thorough and demanding, similar to that of medical doctors with the exception of pharmacology and surgery.

Prior to entering chiropractic college, the aspiring chiropractor requires 2-4 years (depending on the college attended and the state one wishes to practice in) of premed undergraduate studies. Once completed, the student must next complete 3 and 1/3 years of studies at a chiropractic college (this is the equivalent of 4-5 years of undergraduate college work time-wise). This includes extensive training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, radiology, differential diagnosis, chiropractic adjustive techniques, biomechanics , and other health-related studies.

In addition, prior to graduation each student must successfully complete several hundred clinical hours of “real” patient management in a clinical setting under professional supervision.

Chiropractic students and graduates must pass 3 separate and rigorous National Board written examinations. Each is designed to test competencies in particular areas such as basic sciences, diagnosis, X-ray, patient care, and other areas. Furthermore, all graduates must also pass a interactive real-life practical where they are scored on their ability to recognize and diagnose conditions, analyze X-Ray films, and interact with real patients.

Once licensed, the education doesn’t end either. Most states (Missouri is no exception) require that chiropractors receive annual continuing education to ensure that a high level of competency is maintained.

Chiropractic is not scientific.Top

Chiropractors have always sought to provide the safest and most effective healing methods for their patients. In order to achieve this, the chiropractic profession has been dedicated to conducting scientific studies to improve their diagnostic methods and treatment techniques. In the last 20 years chiropractic health care has established an impressive array of scientific research that demonstrates the efficacy, safety and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care. There are many studies currently underway, and several have been performed by medical doctors and government researchers in both the U.S. and a number of other countries. In the past 5 years, chiropractic received it’s first federally funded grant, and that means more money to discover the benefits of this great profession.

In fact, the chiropractic profession has accumulated a greater number of scientific trials on chiropractic than the medical profession has accumulated for many of the treatments rendered by medical doctors. According to David M. Edy, M.D., Ph.D., professor of health policy and management with Duke University, North Carolina, only 15 percent of all medical interventions are supported by solid scientific evidence. Paul G. Shekelle, M.D., M.P.H., of the RAND Corporation made the following statement on ABC’s 20/20:

“There are considerably more randomized controlled trials which show benefit of this (chiropractic care) than there are for many, many other things which physicians and neurosurgeons do all the time.”

Chiropractic care is expensive and not cost effective in the treatment of conditions.Top

Research clearly disproves this myth. Chiropractic care has been consistently shown to be cost effective in a number of government and workers’ compensation board studies.

According to The Manga Report, a 1993 Canadian government commissioned study,

“There would be highly significant cost savings if more management of low-back pain was transferred from physicians to chiropractors… Users of chiropractic care have substantially lower health care costs, especially inpatient costs, than those who use medical care only.”

According to an economic analysis conducted in Richmond, Virginia,

“By every test of cost and effectiveness, the general weight of evidence shows chiropractic to provide important therapeutic benefits, at economical costs. Additionally, these benefits are achieved with apparently minimal, even negligible, impacts on the costs of health insurance.”

When the State of Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Board conducted research in 1988 on treatment costs associated with injured workers who received care from either chiropractic doctors or medical doctors, they found chiropractic treatment costs were 58.8 percent of the treatments costs rendered by medical doctors ($558 vs. $1,100 per case).

You’ll have to be under chiropractic care the rest of your life.Top

Most doctors of chiropractic promote a preventative type of lifestyle which has been construed by adversaries to mean that chiropractic care requires a lifetime of commitment. Actually, recommending that patients return for periodic spinal care is no different that what dentists recommend to their patients in order to prevent cavities and gum disease.

Just as it would be ludicrous to believe that visiting a dentist once per lifetime would ensure permanently healthy teeth and gums, it’s equally as illogical to think that visiting a chiropractor a few times will ensure a lifelong healthy spine and nervous system. Our spinal tissues undergo daily bombardment of stresses originating from bad postural habits, sub-optimal work environments, psychological stress, and hectic lifestyles just to name a few.

For theses reasons, after the resolution of acute problems, patients are given the option and encouraged to receive periodic spinal check-ups which act to minimize the likelihood of future recurrences or development of new problems. The preventative approach in health care has been gaining a great deal of recognition as of late and there has been a large push in the medical community and health insurance industry to incorporate preventative programs into mainstream medicine.

It’s really that simple. Periodic care to prevent future problems – safe, natural, convenient care now to avoid nasty and complex problems later. It’s exactly what I would recommend to a family member or friend, and it’s what we often recommend to patients because we care about you and want you to be as healthy as possible.

Chiropractors only treat back pain.Top

Chiropractors provide effective treatment for all types of soft tissue disorders and not just back and neck ailments. This includes conditions of the joints of the extremities like the ankle, knee and shoulder.

What you may not be aware of is chiropractic’s success in treating a number of non-soft tissue conditions like dysmenorrhea (painful menses), ulcers, migraine headaches, and ear infections in children. While we cannot claim to cure these conditions, we believe that many of these problems can be mimicked, aggravated and some times caused by disruptions in the nervous system as a result of spinal abnormalities. By correcting these spinal abnormalities like the vertebral subluxation, chiropractic has helped thousands of individuals overcome these conditions and regain control of their lives.

A number of studies have also supported these findings. In one such study, spinal manipulative therapy was compared with standard medical treatments in the treatment of duodenal ulcers. The researchers Pikalov, MD, and Kharin, MD, found those subjects receiving spinal manipulations took an average of 16 days to heal vs. 26 days to heal in the standard medical treatment group.