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This page contains an assortment of topics, answers to questions  you may have, and concepts in chiropractic that Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center believes in. Click on any of the links below to be taken to that particular section of this page.
We have categorized sections to make your search a little easier. If you can't find what you're looking, please give us a call to schedule a time to come in for a free consultation with Dr. Joe. We're always happy to talk to people about their health care needs.
"Some people think that I'm just a back cracker and don't realize that I have multiple degrees in addition to my four year chiropractic degree. I've treated diseases ranging from diabetes to heart disease. It's those complicated cases that add a variety to chiropractic care and it's integrative potential."
- Dr. Joe Nalbone
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About chiropractic
What is chiropractic
What is a subluxation?
Is it for me
The adjustment
Treatment methods
Conditions treated
Insurances accepted
Our philosophy
Mission statement
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Types of treatment
Auto accidents
Geriatrics
Pediatrics
Personal injuries
Physiotherapy
Pregnancy
Rehabilitation
Sports injuries
Stabilization programs
Stages of care
Workers' compensation
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Areas of treatment
Head & neck
Upper & middle back
Low back
Upper extremities
Lower extremities
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Preventative health
Diet
Nutrition
Supplements
Wellness care
Healthy lifestyles
Stress reduction
Final thoughts
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Frequently asked questions
Are chiropractors real doctors?
What are the educational requirements to be a DC?
Can DCs treat everywhere in the United States?
Do I have to see my medical doctor first?
Do you accept insurance?
What type of conditions do you treat?
What if I need x-rays?
I had back surgery, is it safe to see you?
Is it safe to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
What's that popping sound when I'm adjusted?
So I crack my own back, what's the big deal?
How long does a typical treatment take?
Do I have to come in for the rest of my life?
Is chiropractic similar to physical therapy?
Is chiropractic similar to massage?
Do you believe in medicine and surgery?
I'm not sick. Should I still see a chiropractor?
What is cranial therapy?
What's physiotherapy?
Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
Ultrasound (US)
Ice/cryotherapy
Heat
Needle-less acupuncture
Traction
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About chiropractic
Chiropractic care offers a natural approach to solving many of your health care needs. At Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center the focus of treatment begins with your specific needs, not some generic cookie cutter treatment plan. By utilizing a variety of treatment methods your return to health will begin the moment care is initiated.
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What is chiropractic
Chiropractic is a natural form of health care which focuses on the treatment and maintenance of the neuromusculoskeletal system (NMS) primarily as well as every other system of the human body. By allowing the body to exist in optimal form, activities of daily living are more functional and pleasurable.
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What is a subluxation?
The term subluxation has multiple meanings and is used in a variety of ways. An early definition of a subluxation was bone out of place. Newer definitions are more elaborate and classify a subluxation as a joint dysfunction which has a negative impact on the nervous system and entire body. Each chiropractor follows a different philosophy when it comes to subluxations. I focus on looking for health care problems you may have then apply my skills as a chiropractor to fix them. To me, a subluxation is only one part of the chiropractic realm.
My personal interpretation of subluxation deals with the interference of the nervous system which has a global impact on the body's life force or energy flow. You can almost think of a subluxation as being similar to something that is clogged, restricted, or blocked such as a fuel line, a garden hose, a frayed electrical cord, a narrowed blood vessel, or so on. If there isn't a proper flow of a nerve impulse, then the area being neglected is impaired. As a result, those neglected structures, organs, and joints begin to weaken in one way or another, possibly leading to failure.
Some supposed experts dispute this concept of a subluxation. They call it mumbo jumbo or hoodie voodie, yet a very simple rebuttal to their ignorance could be shown within a few minutes. If you tightly wrap a rubber band around the base of a finger, within ten minutes or so, pain will begin to set in and the finger will become discolored. The pain is due to an irritant upon the nerves such as the digital branches of the radial and median nerves and the discoloration is due to the impaired blood flow. Imagine tightening the rubber band periodically and leaving it in place for a for a few hours, a few days, or longer. In most scenarios, the finger may die due to a lack of proper nerve and blood supply. (Disclaimer: Do not attempt to do this!)
While this may sound extreme, if the nervous system is neglected then serious implications may occur. After all, if you talk to any rancher or farmer, one method of castrating livestock is through the application of tight rubber bands. After a short time, the Rocky Mountain Oysters fall right off!
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Is it for me
Just as regular visits to the dentist, a visit to the chiropractor is very beneficial. Very few people are fortunate to have few or no health care problems. For many people there are areas in the body which may be problematic. In many cases, these areas often go unnoticed for years or until a serious injury occurs.
As a chiropractic physician, one goal is to find problematic areas and treat them before they turn into noticeable, chronic areas. While some health care practitioners may appear to know how to treat NMS conditions thoroughly and effectively, it is the chiropractor who has spent the greatest deal of time learning and treating these types of conditions.
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The adjustment
The primary way that a chiropractor treats a patient is through the application of a chiropractic manipulative therapy or more commonly called an adjustment. A typical adjustment consists of an accurate and specific high velocity, low amplitude controlled force applied to a joint. In other words, an adjustment is a very fast yet shallow push on a joint that is restricted or subluxated. A subluxation is the generic phrase for a bone malposition or joint restriction which results in potential problems to the neuromusculoskeletal system.
When an adjustment is made, the joint may produce a popping noise also known as a cavitation. As the adjustment is applied, the joint is moved so quickly that the fluids in the joint create an expanding carbon dioxide bubble. As the joint begins to approximate, the bubble pops creating the classic popping noise similar to when a knuckle in your finger pops.
The effects of an adjustment are very therapeutic and include promoting an increase in joint movement, introduction of oxygenated blood and nutrients to the joint, and pain relief to the area via release of enkephalins which are natural pain killers produced by your body.
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Treatment methods
Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center was born with the goal of establishing a health care facility which would promote health in a natural way. Our center strives to offer a unique approach with an eclectic collection of natural health care treatments. As always, each treatment plan is developed with you in mind - after all, each of us require different types of care. Please feel free to stop by our center any time for a tour and a complimentary consultation regarding any of your health care needs. Like we always say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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Conditions treated
The following is a partial list of common conditions seen, diagnosed, treated, and/or co-treated daily in our center. In an attempt to keep this page updated, please check back often for added information and conditions.
Allergies, anemia, angina, ankle sprains, arthritis, asthma, back and neck pain, bone spurs, bursitis, carpal tunnel, celiac disease, cervical acceleration deceleration, chronic fatigue, colic, constipation, dermatitis, diabetes, diarrhea, disc herniation / derangement, dizziness, degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD), delayed onset muscle soreness, dyslipidemia, facet syndrome, fibromyalgia, food intolerance and allergy, frozen shoulder, gastritis, GERD, golfer's elbow, headaches, hypertension, impingement, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, jumper's knee, lactose intolerance, MFTP / knots, migraines, muscle spasm, myofascitis, Osgood-Schlatters, osteoporosis, otitis media, piriformis syndrome, plantar fascitis, pulled elbow, rotator cuff, sciatica, scoliosis, sinusitis, spondylolisthesis, sprain / strain, stenosis, subluxation, tennis elbow, thoracic outlet, thyroid disorders, weight loss, whiplash, and much more.
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Insurances accepted
While we accept virtually every insurance in Idaho along with some out of state plans, the following is just a very partial list of which insurances we're an in-network preferred provider for. If you don't see your insurance company on our list, perhaps it's under an umbrella policy that we're a preferred provider for:
• Aetna
• Blue Cross
• Blue Shield
• Cigna
• Humana
• Idaho Physicians Network
• Medicare B
• Primary Health Plan
• United Health Group
• And many many more...
Please note that our list keeps growing on an on-going basis so call us to find out if we're a preferred provider on your insurance plan. If we aren't, let us know and we'll start the credentialing process today to become one. In the meantime, we offer very affordable time of service payment options and credit options that many of our patients have utilized.
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Our philosophy
We are dedicated to promoting the highest degree of your health by offering you complete services for your health care needs. We believe that being at optimal health is the best thing in life, naturally.
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Mission statement
My purpose is to use my healing skills in a way that works with your individual health care needs, to continually learn and apply new techniques that may accelerate your healing process, and for us to work together as a team when developing your specific treatment plan. Our goal is to get you into peak performance as soon as possible so you will return to your day to day routines and increase your overall well-being.
The purpose of Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center is to be a place of warmth, peace, and trust. We strive to provide you with the highest level of professional, compassionate, courteous, and genuine care.
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Types of treatment
At Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center we treat a multitude of conditions every day. From auto accidents to wellness care we will go above and beyond when it comes to your specific health care needs. Below is a preview of some of the types of treatment dealt with in our center.
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Auto accidents
Think that 5 mph fender bender you were in didn't do much damage to your body? Independent studies have shown that collisions occurring in as little as 3 mphs have the potential to cause sprain/strain injuries in the cervical spine. If you've been in a car accident perhaps it's time to stop by the chiropractor's office to get evaluated. The sooner care is administered, the sooner you'll be feeling better and working your way towards health with fewer implications down the road.
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Geriatrics
Getting older is naturally a tough physiological response on the body. As the body ages, a majority of people experience things such as a decrease in range of motion, premature joint degeneration, and an early onset of arthritis. Each of these, along with many other conditions, can oftentimes be delayed or even prevented with chiropractic care. Studies suggest that older patients receiving chiropractic care are less likely to be hospitalized, to use a nursing facility, to use prescription medication, and are more likely to report better health status, to exercise, and to be mobile in their community.
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Pediatrics
Chiropractic care is not only beneficial to adults but can have wonderful and life-changing results on children. If a child is in the early stages of scoliosis chiropractic care has been shown to slow down and even reduce the degree to which the spine is curving. With today's chiropractic health care, there's no reason why any child should ever experience the negatives of scoliosis or other childhood diseases. As for other benefits, children experience fewer childhood illnesses with regular chiropractic care. Isn't it about time you brought your child in for a routine examination and adjustment? After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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Personal injuries
The classic slip and fall can do quite a number on your bum, not to mention the rest of your body. Perhaps gardening a little too long over the weekend or tackling that heavy duty project that needed to be completed only to find yourself injured later on. As we age, our body simply can't repair itself like it use to. Why not let the professionals in our office treat your injuries today. Getting back on track will be a focus in your treatment plan along with educating you on preventing future occurrences of injury.
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Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy implemented in the chiropractic field is a very therapeutic compliment to chiropractic manipulative therapies. Some of these tools include ultrasound which promotes deep tissue heating and swelling reduction, electrical muscle stimulation which is used for muscle relaxation and pain control, and hot/cold therapy which is used for acute and chronic conditions. As you progress in your treatment plan, a variety of physiotherapy modalities may be used during the appropriate phases of care.
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Pregnancy
Carrying the equivalent of a bowling ball in the abdominal region for a few
months can do some pretty horrendous things to the spine. Have you ever looked at a pregnant woman from a side perspective and noticed how far forward her low back curves? As a woman progresses in her pregnancy, hormones such as relaxin are circulating in the body at higher levels.
The primary role of relaxin is to facilitate the birthing process by causing a softening of the ligaments in the pelvic region. As a result, the pelvis, hips, and low back may begin to shift too far out of place and cause discomfort, pain, or even neurological implications. With chiropractic care, thousands of pregnant women have experienced pain relief and have also stated that the overall birthing process was much easier with less discomfort.
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Rehabilitation
Just because you've been limping a lot less than before as a result of that tumble down the hill doesn't necessarily means you're on your way back to health. Many top athletes know that in order to be at peak performance, their body needs to be tuned in just right.
If your ankle is still bothering you from that fall or your shoulder is still a little stuck after that skiing accident you may be a prime candidate for rehabilitation in our clinic. We'll work with you to get all of those kinks out so you can thrash the trails even harder next time you go out.
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Sports injuries
So you finally decided to climb that big rock you've been eyeballing for years or you hit some baseballs with your kid over the weekend. After the fiasco is over you realize that you did a little too much a little too fast and now you're paying the price. On the other hand, maybe you felt like you lost that competitive edge due to a restricted back, shoulder, or knee.
Be it baseball, golf, mountain biking, rock climbing, or your choice of sport, sometime that kink in your game really affects your overall performance. Stop by our healing arts center to get evaluated and treated so that your game will become alive once again.
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Stabilization programs
I've always felt that it would've been nice to learn some fundamentals regarding human anatomy and physiology while in grade school, middle school, and high school. Not to mention the simple knowledge of correct body positioning while lifting a heavy object or how to hold your posture while sitting and standing.
Luckily the old saying of 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure' is still true today because it's never too late to improve your posture or balance. All you need is a little instruction, conditioning, and reminders to send you on your way to postural improvement and stabilization. With proper body posture and stabilization, along with occasional wellness care, a better quality of life is expected. We'll help you achieve this by incorporating yoga, pilates, and a variety of protocols in your treatment plan which will stabilize, strengthen, and balance your body.
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Stages of care
Many people think that there are only one or two stages of health and healing. Also, many people think in terms of black or white - being either sick or being healthy. In actuality there are many stages of health and healing that the body can be in.
One goal of our clinic is to focus in on which stage you are in so we can get you healthier faster. In general, when you are first injured, you may be considered to be in the acute phase of care. Depending upon your body's rate of healing, this phase may take two to six weeks to run its course. Common treatments in this stage include adjusting, icing the injured area, and applying electrical muscle stimulation. During this stage of care the injured area is stabilized and a path of healing is set into motion.
The second stage of care is considered the subacute or reconstructive stage. Again, depending upon your body's rate of healing, this stage occurs anywhere from the second to tenth week with common treatment including adjusting, applying heat to the injured area via hot packs or ultrasound, and utilizing stabilization programs. During this stage of care, many people are able to begin most of their daily activities with only minor restrictions.
The final stage of care is considered the wellness stage. In this stage a patient is treated only a few times per year with the goal of promoting prevention and injury recurrence. This stage carries over to our preventative health category seen on our preventative health section of this web site.
No matter what your condition is, be it a recent injury, a chronic condition, or something in between, the members at Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center will go above and beyond when it comes to your health care needs.
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Workers' compensation
If you've been injured at work, then perhaps you may want to consider chiropractic care for your injury. Be it a simple slip and fall or a more serious injury while working, such as lifting a heavy box incorrectly, chiropractic care has wonderful results in treating work-related injuries. You'll get better faster which means less lost wages on your part.
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Areas of treatment
One thing that I truly love as a chiropractic physician is treating the entire body. As I progressed through my courses of study at Western States Chiropractic College, I thoroughly enjoyed learning about treating and adjusting the joints in addition to those in the spine.
If you have a joint restriction in your hand you may notice that your wrist, elbow, or shoulder may begin to cause you problems. Perhaps using the computer a little too long is starting to cause you wrist pain. Locating the joints which are restricted and the muscles which are faltering are only the beginning of what we can do for you.
Did you know that if a joint in your foot is restricted or has an aberrant movement then it can have drastic effects on the knee, leg, and hip. Actually, it may have effects all the way up the spine into your neck and head. Have you ever bumped your toe on the corner of the bed or the leg of a chair? Chances are you hobbled around for a while to compensate for the inability to bend the toe or toes involved. Imagine walking like that for days, months, or even years. You can see how improper body movements can start to affect your quality of life. While I can go on for ever discussing the extremities, I encourage you to stop by the clinic or give me a call to talk more about that creaky shoulder, sore toe, or bum knee you may have.
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Head & neck
If you have a legitimate pain in the neck, headache, jaw pain, difficulty looking over your shoulder as you back up the car, or a kink that just won't go away, maybe it's time you schedule that overdue appointment. The neck, also referred to as the cervical spine, is composed of seven bones listed as cervical one through cervical seven vertebrae. The skull is composed of over 20 bones and surprisingly, some of the bones have movement between one another.
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Upper & middle back
Practically every person I treat has some problems in their upper or middle back. This part of the back is referred to as the thoracic spine and is composed of twelve bones referred to as thoracic one through thoracic twelve vertebrae. In addition, each thoracic segment has a corresponding rib on both sides. Many people are surprised to learn that ribs can be adjusted. In fact, ribs have a tendency to go out of place during routine activities. Bending and twisting, raking leaves, or picking up your child may all contribute to rib problems. Some reports of pain and shortness of breath especially when inhaling are attributed to rib problems.
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Low back
It has been found that low back pain will affect 80% of all people at least once in their lives and of those, 20-40% become chronic conditions. Unfortunately the lumbar spine, composed of sections lumbar one through lumbar five vertebrae, is not the best of biomechanical structures. In some cases of low back pain, the lumbar discs located between each lumbar vertebra may be a weak point and source of herniation and pain.
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Upper extremities
If your field of work or leisure includes excessive arm movements, then perhaps you can relate to the pain or catch you get in your shoulder from time to time. If you play tennis, golf, or baseball then maybe your elbow has been causing you problems. Perhaps you get the classic carpal tunnel pain in your wrist due to computer use, writing, cashiering, or playing a musical instrument. With the combined treatments of chiropractic manipulative therapy, soft tissue work, rehabilitation, and stabilization you might be surprised at how quickly you'll be out playing again.
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Lower extremities
The hip joint is the largest joint in the body yet many people overlook it until it's time for hip replacement surgery later in life. We routinely inspect the hip joint, surrounding joints, muscles, and ligaments as one form of preventative health care for all of our patients. There are many instances when low back pain is caused by hip joint problems.
Similarly, the knee is another joint often overlooked by many people. Without your knee working properly you drastically reduce the gait cycle (walking pattern) and the ability to move. That's not a good thing considering how mobile most people are. If you expect a good quality of life, then knee problems can really hamper your goals.
Finally, the foot and ankle joints are a complex marvel of biomechanics comprised of over two dozen bones, corresponding ligaments, and a multitude of muscles. Chances are you've sprained, twisted, or at least strained some part of your foot or ankle once in your life. If you've injured it multiple times then chances are there may be limitations to how your foot and ankle now move. Maybe your left ankle doesn't move as well as the right, or maybe it just feels funny or different compared to the right. If that sounds about right with you then stop by our office or mention it to one of the staff members during your next visit. We'll take a look at it and treat it as we would any other part of your body.
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Preventative health
In our attempt to live forever wouldn't it be great to live at optimal health. While we encourage you to make as many lifestyle modifications as possible, we are realistic about how you may go about doing so. Not eating that side order of chilly cheese fires, smoking one less cigarette a day, or parking your car further out in the parking lot so you walk some more all help in contributing to longevity and better health.
Have you ever injured yourself, pampered yourself for a few days, and then continue on with your normal way of life? We're sure you have. Chances are you went back to your normal activities of daily living a bit too soon and now you realize that your injured area is acting up again, possibly re-injured in the same fashion as it originally was. The goal of preventative care is to educate you on how to treat your condition, rehabilitate it, learn techniques to prevent further and future injury, and then proceed with your normal activities of daily living with a new perspective.
In short, Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center is not a pain clinic. We believe that pain is only one indicator telling the body that it's in dire need for help. In other words, pain is simply an attention getter. In many cases, allowing an injury to heal on its own, or with limited care, may not be the best thing for your health. Sure you may be out of pain in a few days but your body will be less forgiving on you in the future as you age. If you've ever had an injury perhaps you can relate to relapses, instability, or continued pain. Ever wonder why your ankle, shoulder, or neck acts up once in a while even though your injury occurred five, ten, or even twenty years ago?
Granted that we slowly wear apart as we age but living with excessive degeneration, scar tissue formation gone awry, or arthritis are not normal physiological responses in the average individual. With preventative care we aim to find those small problems and treat them early before they turn into a nuisance later on. For those in chronic pain, perhaps the location where it hurts may not be the actual area of the problem. In many cases referral patterns are the cause which is why you're never able to rub away that darn pain. Preventative care will educate you on where to look for problematic sources, things to watch out for, and ways to connect you with your body. Isn't it time you become more aware of your body and health? With preventative care, we plan to keep you running stronger, longer.
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Diet
Whether you want to lose some weight or need help with nutritional supplements or minerals, you can rest assure that your questions will be answered here. Part of living longer with a healthier life consists of making reasonable choices when eating. Sure that extra helping of mashed potatoes with gravy always seems to hit the spot but did you ever wonder what it may be doing to your body? By overeating or indulging in your favorite snack it's important to know about the consequences food may have on your body. With prevalent diseases such as diabetes, chronic heart failure, and cancer becoming pandemic in nature, we feel it's time we all start to get a little more serious with the way we eat, the way we think about food, and the best approach to take to allow us to become healthier through the foods that we eat.
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Nutrition
It's amazing how many people lack many of the essential vitamins and nutrients that the body requires. Lacking key amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, and enzymes, the body may start to have detrimental effects on your health. Have you ever noticed that after a strenuous working out your lips are dried out. That usually means you're dehydrated well before that sign is present. Now imagine lacking proper nutrition. Wonder what to look for if you're deficient in the B vitamins, have low calcium, or have a diet high in sodium? The signs may not be very apparent to you now, but long-term imbalances can have drastic effects on your health.
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Supplements
You have many options if we find that you have a nutritional deficiency. If it's a vitamin B12 deficiency then a B vitamin complex will be introduced in your diet. After implementing the diet with the B complex for a few weeks, follow up testing will occur to see if success has occurred. If not, then an altered treatment plan may be used. Depending upon the deficiency you may have, referral to a nutritionist, internist, endocrinologist, or other malabsorptive specialist may be indicated. While it would be wonderful to assume that chiropractic care can treat every ailment, realistically there are many areas that are simply out of the scope of chiropractic care. It would be a great disservice to not refer those to specialists who truly need the care indicated. Your health is what matters first and foremost.
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Wellness care
A very popular phrase heard is "once I start chiropractic care, don't I have to keep coming in?" As with any preventative measure, routine care is recommended. We surely hope you brush your teeth daily or take your car in for a routine oil change. We truly feel that it's a shame that many of today's health managed organizations and insurance companies dictate or limit the amount of yearly visits to the chiropractor. One of the core concepts of chiropractic care is that of preventative and wellness care.
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Healthy lifestyles
Exercise, eating right, and being good to your body all promote healthy lifestyles. We at Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center would like to educate you on simple things in life that help make you feel better. Sometimes living healthy is more than what you think. It's not just the absence of disease, rather, an entire array of events, activities, thoughts, and so forth. With the positive, nurturing attitude you'll find at Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center, the building blocks to your healthier lifestyle begin the moment you enter our center. Welcome.
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Stress reduction
With work, the kids, or bad drivers on the roads, stress can have a taxing affect on your body. When dealing with stress, the body has a very interesting approach - that is - let's fall apart and break everything down. It's been shown that stress alone has the ability to cause more damage to your body than the injury caused in a typical car accident or slip and fall. With a person's arousal on high alert during stressful periods, chemicals such as cortisol are circulating in the body in higher levels as compared to periods of calm, resting moments. As a result, cortisol has a taxing effect on the adrenal glands thus promoting a fight or flight response.
In the end, the body is constantly trying to keep up with the stress factor. In doing so organs like your heart, pancreas, stomach, and brain begin to fatigue. When this happens the body's normal physiology begins to falter, often resulting in irreversible and detrimental changes. At Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center, we will educate you on techniques to reduce your stress levels starting with subtle things such as the quiet, comfortable, and feng shui way that our office is set up. We will help you achieve an inner calm that you can carry with you daily. Be it five minutes of daily meditation, time outs, or various relaxation techniques, we will work with you.
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Final thoughts
All in all, when your health's at stake, we take no chances and are committed to your total well-being. You may not get this commitment with others, but at Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center our commitment to you is 100% from the start of your treatment plan for the rest of your life. After all, it's you who keeps us running - something which we are very grateful and thankful for every day.
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Frequently asked questions
The following are some frequently asked questions that we hear quite often in the office and around town. If you have a question or two on your own, please feel free to give Dr. Nalbone a call and he will enjoy spending a few moments answering your questions. Compliments of the house of course.
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Are chiropractors real doctors?
Yes. Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) are primary health care providers as deemed by the United States Government. The U.S. Government has stated that DCs can provide all three levels of primary care interventions and are therefore classified as primary care providers identical to Medical Doctors and Doctors of Osteopathy. A DC acts as a gatekeeper to the health care system. Their primary care services act a direct access portal of entry to the full scope of service in the health care community.
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What are the educational requirements to be a DC?
Surprisingly, the educational requirements to become a DC are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. A premedical undergraduate college education including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology, and related lab work is required.
Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college as deemed by the U.S. Department of Education, the requirements become even more demanding with four to five academic years of additional professional study. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training. In some areas, such as anatomy, orthopedics, physiology, rehabilitation, nutrition and public health, DCs receive more intensive education than their MD counterparts.
Just as other primary health care doctors, chiropractic students spend a significant portion of their curriculum studying clinical subjects related to evaluating and caring for patients. They must typically complete a minimum of a one-year clinical-based program dealing with actual patient care. In many cases they spend over two years working in a clinical-based program. The average curriculum consists of a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience.
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Can DCs treat everywhere in the United States?
Yes, DCs can be licensed to practice in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and in many countries around the world. Some of the latest hot spots include England, Greece, Costa Rica, and New Zealand.
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Do I have to see my medical doctor first?
No you do not. Since DCs are primary care physicians, no referral is necessary. On the flip side, many chiropractors refer to medical specialists if indicated.
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Do you accept insurance?
Yes, I accept most insurances. For a majority of people your health insurance does cover chiropractic care. In the event that your health insurance does not cover chiropractic care, please know that we are willing to work with you in any way that we can. Don't let a lack of financial resources prevent you from getting the health care that you deserve. We offer very affordable Time of Service options that many of our patients utilize.
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What type of conditions do you treat?
As a DC I treat conditions such as back pain, joint pain, neck pain, headaches, and sciatica practically every day. I also treat patients with degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis), disc herniation, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, sprains, and strains. In addition, the scope of practice granted to chiropractic physicians go well beyond the neuromusculoskeletal system. I am also trained to treat conditions such as allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, non-suppurative otitis media, and a plethora of others. With my extensive education I am qualified to diagnose health care problems, treat the problems when they are within my scope of practice, and refer patients to other health care practitioners when appropriate.
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What if I need x-rays?
We can easily arrange for x-rays to be taken if indicated as well as having advanced imaging such as MRI or CT scan to be scheduled.
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I had back surgery, is it safe to see you?
But of course. It's an unfortunate fact that up to half of those who have had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or even years later. What many people don't realize is that if chiropractic care is initially utilized then back surgery may possibly be avoided. According to the government, let alone an ethical issue, a little known fact is that the first approach to health care should be one which is the most conservative therapy. Unfortunately in many other health care sectors that conservative therapy is most often drug therapy. If that fails then usually a direct path to surgery is indicated.
One of our goals at Doctor Joe's Chiropractic Center is to educate people that true conservative approaches to health care is most often the best approach. While some conditions are clear indicators that drugs or surgery may be necessary, a vast majority of conditions can be treated and prevented with conservative approaches such as chiropractic care.
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Is it safe to see a chiropractor if I'm pregnant?
Yes, in fact it's very safe. Anytime, including pregnancy, is a good time for a better functioning neuromusculoskeletal system. Pregnant mothers find that chiropractic adjustments improve their pregnancy and make delivery easier for themselves and their baby. In the case of pregnancy, adjusting methods are adapted to a patient's size, weight, age, and condition of health.
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What's that popping sound when I'm adjusted?
The popping sound, also known as cavitation, is caused by the release of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide as an adjustment occurs. When this happens there is a release in joint pressure relieving the area and permitting the joint and nerve impulse to function better. While this sound may be desired by some patients, it isn't a guide to the quality or value of the adjustment. Some adjusting techniques create no sound at all while others sound as if the walls are coming down.
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So I crack my own back, what's the big deal?
The desire to crack your neck or back is caused by tension from a jammed or fixated joint segment. This causes other parts of the spine or joint structures in question to compensate by moving too much with the potential of popping a lot. The restricted joints should be adjusted by a chiropractor so that the rest of the spinal column (or joint structure) will become more balanced and move in a more natural motion.
If you continue to self adjust then the joints above or below the restricted area may begin to wear and tear prematurely leading to conditions such as degeneration joint disease and arthritis. In reality, that joint that you think is being adjusted when you crack it yourself usually isn't. It's the training of a chiropractor - not you, not your friend - who has the ability to adjust the restriced joint in question. As Homer Simpson puts it - 'I don't need a surgeon telling me how to operate on myself.'
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How long does a typical treatment take?
After your initial examination consisting of a physical, case history, and evaluation, the typical treatment lasts anywhere from five minutes up to twenty minutes. If your treatment plan consists of only adjustments, expect shorter visits. If your treatment plan consists of physiotherapy modalities such as ultrasound or electrical muscle stimulation, then your visits may take a little longer.
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Do I have to come in for the rest of my life?
It depends on how you look at life. If you really care about your health, then I'm sure you already take preventative measures such as going to the dentist for the routine check-up. Chiropractic care is no different. Once you feel what it's like to have a body which is balanced, less stressed, and more energetic, you probably won't want to go back to the state where you may have been. While I'm not advocating coming in once a week or even once a month when you're in a healthy state, I do advocate coming in for that periodic check-up. All in all, you're the one in charge, I'm merely one who's offering you a peak in your performance.
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Is chiropractic similar to physical therapy?
It sure isn't. Unlike physical therapists, Doctors of Chiropractic are primary care physicians who are qualified to diagnose and treat conditions. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic have a doctorate degree and traditionally, more years of education. A physical therapist has a very limited scope of practice while a Doctor of Chiropractic has a very broad scope of practice. Doctors of Chiropractic are able to be reimbursed for a variety of conditions by insurance companies and Medicare while physical therapists are quite limited.
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Is chiropractic similar to massage?
A Doctor of Chiropractic can diagnose and treat every organ system of the human body and practically every health care condition. On the other hand, a massage therapist is limited to working in areas dealing with muscle tension, circulation, body fluid drainage, and so forth.
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Do you believe in medicine and surgery?
I certainly do. Any ethical chiropractor would refer to the appropriate care when indicated. While I would like to think that chiropractic care can treat every condition, realistically it can't. In actuality, I'm not aware of any one health care specialty which can successfully deal with every health care issue known to the human specie.
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I'm not sick. Should I still see a chiropractor?
You bet. Symptoms, or a lack thereof, are not a good way to judge your health. Sometimes innocuous symptoms surface years after their first occurrence. Something similar to a cavity in your tooth.
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What is cranial therapy?
Cranial therapy is the application finger pressure to specific points of the head, alleviating unwanted symptoms involving the skull, brain, blood vessel, fluid flow, and nervous system function.
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What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy tools and techniques, similar to the physical therapy realm, are implemented in the chiropractic field as a compliment to the chiropractic adjustment. The following is a brief list of some of the physical therapies used.
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Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
Electrical muscle stimulation is a machine used to promote muscle relaxation and pain relief. A typical EMS session lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. As the intensity of the EMS increases, muscle contraction increases which encourages the body to release its own pain-controlling substances called endorphins and enkephalins.
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Ultrasound (US)
Ultrasound is used for deep tissue heating and its effects at the body's cellular level. During a typical treatment these beneficial effects are not noticeable. It becomes noticeable after treatment has occurred due to the increased rate of tissue repair and pain reduction.
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Ice/cryotherapy
Ice is an important therapy used during the initial acute phase of care and one that can be applied at home for up to 20 minutes. Ice reduces inflammation and pain.
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Heat
Heat is an excellent therapy used to promote circulation and tissue healing. Heat is typically applied before an adjustment to help relax the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
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Needle-less acupuncture
For patients a little leery of needles. A great modality similar to TENS/MENS treatments.
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Traction
Traction is an excellent modality when injuries such as compression or repetitive stress occur. By gently expanded the joint space or spaces, traction has the ability to promote an increase in joint motion, restore curvature in the spine, reduce pain, and facilitate the healing process. Traction can be applied to practically every joint in the human body - from the neck all the way down to the little toe.
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If you can't find what you're looking for give us a call at (208) 522-1026 to schedule a time for a complementary consultation with Dr. Joe. We're always happy to talk to people about their health care needs.
To the best health one can dream of,
Dr. Joe Nalbone, D.C. and staff
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