Chiropractic Care - Dr. Michelle Coats
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts which is based upon the understanding that good health depends, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system (especially the spine, and the nerves extending from the spine to all parts of the body). "Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word Chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." Chiropractic stresses the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body's inability to adapt to its environment. It looks to address these diseases not by the use of drugs and chemicals, but by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly.
The conditions which doctors of chiropractic address are as
varied and as vast as the nervous system itself. All chiropractors
use a standard procedure of examination to diagnose a patient's
condition and arrive at a course of treatment. Doctors of
chiropractic use the same time-honored methods of consultation, case
history, physical examination, laboratory analysis and x-ray
examination as any other doctor. In addition, they provide a careful
chiropractic structural examination, paying particular attention to
the spine.
The examination of the spine to evaluate structure and function is what makes chiropractic different from other health care procedures. Your spinal column is a series of movable bones which begin at the base of your skull and end in the center of your hips. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves extend down the spine from the brain and exit through a series of openings. The nerves leave the spine and form a complicated network which influences every living tissue in your body.
Accidents, falls, stress, tension, overexertion, and countless other factors can result in a displacements or derangements of the spinal column, causing irritation to spinal nerve roots. These irritations are often what cause malfunctions in the human body. Chiropractic teaches that reducing or eliminating this irritation to spinal nerves can cause your body to operate more efficiently and more comfortably.
Chiropractic also places an emphasis on nutritional and exercise programs, wellness and lifestyle modifications for promoting physical and mental health. While chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, Doctors of chiropractic do refer patients for medical care when those interventions are indicated. In fact, chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists and other health care professionals now work as partners in occupational health, sports medicine, and a wide variety of other rehabilitation practices.
What can I expect at my first visit with Dr. Michelle Coats?
The first thing Dr.
Michelle will do is ask about the
health complaints you are most concerned
with. The DC will also ask about your
family history, dietary habits, other care you may have
had (chiropractic, osteopathic, medical, etc.), your job, and other
questions designed to help determine the nature of your
illness and the best way to go about treating the
problem.
A physical examination will be performed in accordance with Dr.
Michelle’s clinical judgment, which may include x-rays, laboratory
analysis and other diagnostic procedures. In addition, a careful
spinal examination and analysis will be performed to detect any
structural abnormalities which may be affecting or causing your
condition. All of these elements are important components of your
total health profile, and vital to the doctor of chiropractic in
evaluating your problem.
An "adjustment," as doctors of chiropractic use the term, means the specific manipulation of vertebrae which have abnormal movement patterns or those that fail to function normally. Doctors of chiropractic spend years learning motion palpation (the art of examining by movement or touch) and other forms of spinal examining procedures, so that they can administer specific and appropriate spinal adjustments.
Once Dr. Michelle has identified the problem, she will begin care by way of these adjustments or "manipulations." Particular attention will be paid to that area of your spine where a spinal derangement or "subluxation" has been detected. The adjustment is usually given by hand or by "activator" type instruments, and consists of applying pressure to the areas of the spine that are out of alignment or that do not move properly within their normal range of motion.
Doctors of chiropractic use many sophisticated and varied techniques, and the specific procedure to be used will be determined and explained completely to you following a careful evaluation of your radiographs and physical findings.
Under normal circumstances, adjustments don't hurt. The patient may experience a minor amount of discomfort during the adjustment which lasts only seconds. Adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The risk factor is estimated to be in excess of 1 million to 1.
What can I expect at my first visit with Dr. Sara Collis?”
"Many of us have experienced such disorders as insomnia, irritable bowel and anxiety. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all of the health issues Dr. Collis can help you with by using A.K. techniques."Your first visit will entail a comprehensive exam by Dr. Collis. She is trained in Applied Kinesiology and Functional Neurology, so your first visit will include a neurological exam, a postural evaluation, muscle testing and any needed orthopedic and/or laboratory tests. Evaluating your posture will show Dr. Collis muscle imbalances, but she also will be testing the strength of specific muscles to determine if they are weak or strong. This is done by pushing on your arm or leg as you resist.
The neurological exam that Dr. Collis will perform will give her insight into your body's "control center", your nervous system. Your central nervous system (your brain and your spinal cord) controls everything; your muscles, your movement, your heart rate, your mood and even your immune system. So let's go straight to the source and find out where are the "short circuits." They may not always be where the pain is! In conversation, you've probably heard of people referred to as "right-brained" or "left-brained." Dr. Collis will determine which side of your brain is firing at a healthy rate and which specific areas need more stimulation. Always being aware of serious signs, Dr. Collis will also be looking for "soft signs." These are very subtle differences that everyone has based on brain function and these clues will help us with prevention. "Imbalances in the brain, such as ADD and/or ADHD are treated by Dr. Collis using the approach of improving the communication between different areas of the brain."
Our strategy in bringing you to an optimal state of health is our team approach. You are a unique individual with your own specific needs. You are not a diagnosis. You are a whole person and your whole body is what will be addressed at our office. The "cookie-cutter" treatment approach does not exist here. If your needs are better met by another doctor on staff or outside the office, you will be referred to that doctor. If you will benefit from massage or acupuncture or cranial sacral work, we will recommend such therapies for you. One size does not fit all when it comes to your health! If you are having pain, or if you've been diagnosed with a specific illness, or even if you just feel fine, you will benefit from chiropractic. The goal is to decrease any pain you are experiencing, to improve your brain function, to prevent disease, to slow down the aging process and to get you as healthy as you can be!
Always remember that you don't have to have pain in order to benefit from chiropractic. Prevention is the key! Regular chiropractic visits keep your mind and body in tip-top shape. So schedule an appointment today and get proactive to be as healthy as you can be!
What training do Chiropractors receive?
Stringent academic standards must be met to become a licensed
chiropractic physician. Currently an individual must complete the
following steps in order to become a licensed chiropractor:
- Complete two or more years of general college-level studies. A four-year bachelor's degree is required for admission to The National College of Chiropractic, in Lombard, Illinois.
- Obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree and complete a clinical internship through an accredited four-year chiropractic college program.
- Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners' and/or other state-required examinations.
- Satisfy any other individual state-specific requirements for licensure.
- Complete continuing education requirements, including weekend seminars, to keep license current.