Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Hot or Cold?
Heat is for achy muscles not for irritated tissue especially nerves. Swollen irritated tissue, especially nerves, will swell more if they are heated up. Cold every 2 hours for 20 minutes is the way to go with irritated tissue. If you are not sure which to use -- use cold.

What is a Strain vs. Sprain?
A Strain is an injured muscle. A Sprain is an injured ligament. Call for your ebook Strain vs. Sprain- Guide to Care 415-444-0700

Can Chiropractic Help with High Blood Pressure? Look at this page on WebMD!

This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination," study leader George Bakris, MD, tells WebMD. "And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems," adds Bakris, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center.

Can Chiropractic Help My Immune System?
Studies show that Chiropractic care can enhance the immune system by as much as 400%

If I am injured should I come in for care right away or wait until I feel better?
Right Away. Injured tissue heals quicker if you treat it gently, properly and quickly.

What is a Subluxation or Misalignment?
A joint which is not functioning properly always is misaligned or subluxated. This causes: pain, reduced nerve flow to vital organs, and no leverage in the joint whatsoever. This is correctable by precise Chiropractic Adjustments.

Why Choose Chiropractic?
Because Chiropractic is a natural hands on method, which is fast acting. It guides and utilizes the person's own natural healing power to heal in a manner that it can not accomplish with out help.

Why Choose the JosephMethod?

Because the JosephMethod gets you out of pain the fastest with the least likelihood of return. It works by dividing the issue into 5 key parts and addressing those according to priority. What makes the JosephMethod unique is: the precision of the adjustment, and also the comprehensive support we provide for the adjustment to work properly.

Does the JosephMethod help Headaches?
Yes -The number one cause of headaches is dehydration. But the number two cause is muscle tension and a misaligned neck.

Does the JosephMethod help only Backs?
The back and more: necks, backs-- the entire spine and all the joints in the body-- arms legs feet knees shoulders elbows hands even the jaw.

I have had Chiropractic in the past and it helped only a little-- Why Is the JosephMethod different?
Yes, I have made a lifelong study of how the body moves. I bring this to my work. I know how each person can function at his or her optimum. Therefore when the body is hurt I know how to restore it. Restore it to how it should be! It is my passion- through my method and work - to restore the body to its natural and easy functioning state. By relieving tension on nerves, the internal organs, the immune system -- a person is restored to function optimally and without pain or suffering. And on top of that-- a person can learn a new way of relating to his or her body making it much less likely to be injured again.

What is the difference between Chiropractic and Physical Therapy?
Chiropractic guides the natural power of the body to create healing by touch. Chiropractors are licensed doctors. The JosephMethod includes many aspects of Physical Therapy: massage, exercise, rehabilitative correction and more-- and adds that to both traditional chiropractic and new gentler forms.

Will Chiropractic create a permanent cure or do I need to do it again and again?
Honestly I have seen it happen both ways-- a patient does a series of treatments- learns what they need to learn-- get better and then I see them anywhere from once per year to once per month. On the other hand I just had a patient graduate from every week for 10 years to once every 3 months. Often times especially in children I have made one or two corrections and then they are better -- as if the issue had never existed.

How will I know if an injury will go away on its own? How will I know if I really need Chiropractic?
Well when I first was injured 20 plus years ago, I waited six months to get treatment ( I was 26). I waited until my arms went numb and I was beginning to lose my ability to perform my duties as an electrician. If I had gone in the same day as the injury, my neck would have recovered from the unintentional quadruple back flip in weeks instead of years. So the answer is-- Better to be safe. ( Than sorry )

Why choose Chiropractic over traditional medicine?
Chiropractic and in particular the JosephMethod is natural, painless, noninvasive and done by people caring for people. · Chiropractic improves and restores the body naturally whereas medicine often alters the body with drugs or surgery. Which would you prefer the fast acting power of your own body or a drug solution?

Does the Adjustment Feel Good?

Yes! Under normal circumstances, Good Chiropractic adjustments feel good and relieve pain and discomfort. Many people experience a state of euphoria after being adjusted. This is due to the sudden release of energy along the neural pathways, and the joy of experiencing a healthy nervous system. People who receive Chiropractic are often happier people as a result of the increase in nervous system function. In cases of recent trauma, such as whiplash, rare mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. It is also possible to feel a brief sensation in the extremities immediately following an adjustment due to the sudden decompression of the affected nerve root.

Is Regular Chiropractic Care Necessary?
Regular Chiropractic care may be necessary to correct spinal or extremity Subluxations and is always useful to help maintain sound health and fitness. Your spine is under constant strain during the day and sometimes at night. Improper lifting techniques, poor posture, accidents, falls and bumps, sleeping issues and other causes, contribute to spinal and extremity strain.

How Old Should a Person Be Before He or She Begins Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic patients range in years from birth to old age. Regardless of age, the vertebrae and other joints can become misaligned. For example, the birth process may cause trauma to baby's neck and spine. Left uncorrected, the vertebral Subluxation may disturb the delicate spinal cord and nerves which control the youngster's muscles and organs. In many cases, an uncorrected Subluxation may lead to a mild or greater deformity of the spinal column. An early Chiropractic checkup may detect many spinal problems while they are more easily correctable. For more information about children read Kids.

How Will the Adjustment Help Me?

Chiropractic adjustments will stimulate healing by essentially allowing better nervous system function and better mechanical and structural alignment to take place. When any of the 24 moveable spinal vertebrae or other joints become misaligned, a basic imbalance or disruption can occur in the nervous and blood vascular systems, which will almost always cause stress in the body. Chiropractic adjustments help eliminate that nerve interference so the body can function at its true potential.

Does The Adjustment Have to Make a Noise to be Effective?
Not always. But a good adjustment with a clear release will usually make a healthy popping sound.
When your vertebrae or other joints are adjusted, the smooth articular (joint) surfaces become gently separated, creating and then releasing a small vacuum, thus making a noise.

Should I Go To a Chiropractor if I Feel Fine?

Even if you feel good, fine Chiropractic care can help your body maintain its required level of health and fitness. The Doctor can recommend a preventative health and spine and extremities care program and advise you on:

• Correct posture
  
• Ergonomics
  
• Dietary/ lifestyle
  
• Exercises for the spine and extremities and for overall health.
  
• And more. See The JosephMethod.

Regular checkups can help detect and prevent stress due to Subluxations.

Is It True That Chiropractors Do Not Prescribe Medication or Perform Surgery?

Yes. Chiropractors do not include medication or surgery in their treatment program. Chiropractors maintain that the body has a built-in innate capacity to restore health.

How Does Chiropractic Care Help the Pregnant Woman?

Because of the additional weight and stress on the framework of the body in pregnant women, Chiropractic care will relieve suffering especially common to pregnant women in these issues:

• Low back
  
• Legs
  
• Between the shoulder blades.
  
• Headaches
  
• Nausea and elimination.

Many pregnant women who have received Chiropractic care especially during their second and third trimesters report a tremendous increase in energy. Many Chiropractors care for expectant mothers in the regular course of their daily practices. It is wise, however, to first inquire about the experience of your Chiropractor in caring for pregnant women and what he or she recommends for you.

For an appointment or more information call 415-444-0700

Dr. Michael P. Joseph, Chiropractor
Neck, Back, Arm, Leg & Headache- Pain Relief Clinic of Marin and The Sports Injury Clinic of Marin
1050 Northgate Drive, Suite #130, San Rafael, Ca 94903
415-444-0700