Here are answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about chiropractor services and treatment:

Most patients report that chiropractor adjustments feel good. Depending on the cause of your pain or injury, you may feel some muscle soreness after chiropractor treatment. This usually goes away within 24 hours.

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

Chiropractic doctors complete about the same number of college classroom hours as medical practitioners. Chiropractors complete at least two years of undergraduate education plus at least four years of specialized chiropractic training. Chiropractors must pass both national and state board exams before practicing. Like other types of doctors, chiropractors meet stringent licensing requirements and follow a strict code of ethics.

Chiropractic is based on the scientific fact that your nervous system controls the function of virtually every cell, tissue, organ, and system in your body. Specific techniques are used to determine underlying causes of pain or imbalance and to treat them. Extensive medical research and patients’ experiences confirm that patients get measurable results from chiropractic. Over 30 million Americans received chiropractic treatment in 2003.

There are no reported deaths due to treatment by a chiropractor. By contrast, in 2003 alone there were 176,000 deaths from prescription medications that patients reacted to.

Subluxation, also known as vertebral subluxation complex, is what happens when spinal bones lose their normal motion or position due to stress, trauma or chemical imbalances.

Our chiropractors use a series of safe adjustments, stretches, exercises, heat or ice to restore normal spinal function. A chiropractic “adjustment” is a carefully directed and controlled pressure to restore spinal bones to a more normal position or motion. Our chiropractic doctors have completed years of training to become experts at using the right amount of force in the right direction. Each chiropractic adjustment is tailored to the patient’s age, size and unique spinal problem.

Your chiropractic adjustments will vary depending on the treatment needed. If you prefer not to have your neck adjusted, it may be possible to complete your treatment without this type of adjustment. Please talk with your chiropractor about your concerns on your first visit to our Kent chiropractic clinic.

Conditions A Chiropractor Can Treat

Yes! A chiropractor can help restore function to joints that are not moving properly. In turn, this helps speed healing of soft tissues. You can reduce injuries by warming up, stretching and cooling down before and after every exercise or sports session. Dr. Jay Pearson, founder of our Kent, Washington chiropractic clinic completed special training to treat amateur and professional athletes and was an attending physician to the 2004 US Olympic Decathlon Team.

Yes! Children usually respond quickly to chiropractic treatment. Your chiropractor at Pearson Chiropractic in Kent, Washington has received special training in how to treat infants and children. Even “normal” births can cause unseen trauma to the spine. Toddlers and children learning to walk, ride bicycles and playing sports experience a variety of falls and jolts. Treatment by a chiropractor helps keep their spine and joints functioning correctly. Early chiropractic treatment can prevent problems in adulthood.

Even “normal” births can cause unseen trauma to the spine. Toddlers and children learning to walk, ride bicycles and playing sports experience a variety of falls and jolts. Chiropractic treatment helps keep their spine and joints functioning correctly. Early chiropractic treatment can prevent problems in adulthood.

No. Both babies and their pregnant mothers’ benefit from a chiropractors care. Many women report easier births. Chiropractic care can help expectant mothers with changes that come from weight gain and hormonal fluctuations.

Yes. Pain is a symptom of an underlying problem. Pain relievers, such as aspirin, simply cover the pain without treating it. Massage may feel good but doesn’t address the cause. A chiropractor treats the underlying causes. After reviewing your exam results and health history your chiropractor will use specific adjustments to improve the motion and position of your spinal vertebrae. With improved function and structure your neck pain may diminish or disappear completely.

An often-overlooked cause of headaches is the malfunction of spinal bones in the neck or upper back. Nerves and blood vessels to the head can be affected when spinal bones lost their normal motion or position. Chiropractic adjustment can bring correction and relief.

Yes. Dr. Jay Pearson, founding chiropractor of our Kent, Washington clinic, has been specially trained to treat earaches using chiropractic. Many parents are relieved to have a fast, safe and effective treatment for earaches without the use of antibiotics.

Unfortunately, in most cases, waiting can make your condition worse. Affected muscles can weaken, atrophy, become tight or spasm. Swelling or inflammation can occur and may cause delicate tissue to tear or degenerate. Soft tissues may suffer permanent damage. Sometimes bone spurs or other bony growths may occur.

If caught early enough, inflammation and scar tissue can be minimized, leading to faster and fuller recovery. Whiplash is usually caused by collisions during auto accidents, sports, slips and falls. When the head is suddenly jerked back and forth it can cause muscles and ligaments to be torn or stretched. Spinal discs can bulge, tear or rupture. Vertebrae forced out of their normal position have reduced range of motion.

Many active seniors seek regular treatment by a chiropractor. Patients at our Kent, Washington chiropractic clinic know first-hand that periodic visits can help catch little problems before they become major concerns – helping you to stay healthy and as active.

Questions Returning Patients Often Ask

In most cases, no. The chiropractor will review your health history with you. If there have not been any significant injuries or accidents since you were last in the clinic, and your X-rays are recent enough to be usable, you will probably not need X-rays. In a records survey of the most recent 30 returning patients who had not visited the clinic in the last six months we found that only one-third required X-rays before treatment. All 30 returning patients received treatment by a chiropractor on their first visit back to our Kent, Washington chiropractic clinic. Each case is considered on an individual basis, and we will recommend what is best for each situation.

Yes. We have every treatment record for each of our patients who have been to our Kent, Washington clinic since we opened in 2002. We have not destroyed or recycled any X-rays dating back to 2002. Your X-rays may no longer be on file if you requested them, or if we were required to submit them due to legal actions in an injury case.

Most likely, no. In most cases where treatment substantially corrected misalignment, follow-up treatment for the same or similar condition within a few years is usually not nearly as extensive.