Frequently Asked Questions

Do adjustments hurt?
Typically, chiropractic adjustments should not hurt at all. If the area being adjusted is already swollen and inflamed, there may be some tenderness or discomfort with those areas being touched.

How long will the adjustment last before I need another?
This varies from patient to patient and at different times for the same patient. It depends on many factors of the individual patient. We do recommend that the average patient get a spinal examination, and adjustment if needed, at least once per week. It takes time and repetition of adjustments to allow the body to improve how it functions.

When will I start feeling better?
A Doctor of Chiropractic does not treat diseases or conditions, his only role is to remove nerve interference caused by VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION. It varies from person to person as to how long it will take their body to respond to improved nerve flow. To reach optimal health, patients should shift their focus from how they “feel” and what symptoms they have, to how they are functioning. Symptoms are the 3rd stage of any dis-ease and they are only 10% of the problem, yet, unfortunately, 90% of our health care system is focused on them. The focus in a principled chiropractic office is on the function of the spine, regardless of the symptoms.

Do I need x-rays?
That solely depends on your consultation and detailed spinal examination. At Phoenix Mountain Chiropractic Life Center, we try hard NOT to x-ray patients, but if the history and exam findings indicate that x-rays are needed to adjust a patient safely – we refer patients to a local imaging center. Your health and our reputation, in that order, are our priorities.

How long have you been a chiropractor?
Dr. Joe Hornback graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa on June 8, 1984.

Is it bad if my body cracks or pops during an adjustment?
No. As the chiropractor puts the vertebra slightly beyond its range of motion, the air bubble in the joint capsule “pops” and disperses into hundreds of tiny little bubbles.

Should I crack my own back, neck, fingers and wrist?
Definitely not your own back and neck due to the proximity of the nervous system. There are far too many dangers in attempting to adjust one’s self. Also, when people do “pop” their own necks and backs, they are not actually adjusting themselves, they are only making the vertebrae that do not need to move make noise and run the risk of becoming hypermobile.

Can I get a friend to crack my back?
Only if your friend has graduated from chiropractic college. Doctors of Chiropractic have spent thousands of hours studying the anatomy and physiology of the spine as well as proper adjusting procedures and know when it is safe to adjust, and, more importantly, when someone SHOULD NOT be adjusted.

Can a chiropractor help with headaches and migraines?
Chiropractic, just like medicine, has never healed anybody. A chiropractor detects and corrects VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATIONS that are causing nerve interference. Many people experience a decrease in headaches and migraines because of time and repetition of chiropractic care, but it’s not the role of chiropractic to treat them.

Do chiropractors go to medical school?
No. Chiropractors go to chiropractic school, in which most cases, means more hours spent in anatomy, physiology and x-rays than medical school.

Once I get an adjustment, will I always need to be adjusted?
Everyone needs to get adjustments and that will always be the case. Everyone has VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATIONS and gets them repetitively. If you have a VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION that is interfering with the full potential of your body’s ability to express LIFE, why wouldn’t you want to get adjusted? Quite simply, “if you are alive and have nerve interference, you are better off without the interference“…

What does chiropractic treat?
Chiropractic DOES NOT treat ANYTHING. Chiropractic, just like medicine, has never healed anybody. The body knows how to heal itself, chiropractic just makes sure there is no interference with this innate ability to heal.

How many adjustments does a typical person need?
It varies from person to person and at different times with each person. A person who exercises regularly, eats well and has a low stress level often needs adjustments with less frequency than someone who has a lot of stress and abuses their body in other ways physically and mentally.

If I stop feeling pain, do I need to keep coming?
You only have to keep coming as long as you want to stay healthy. To reach optimal health, patients should shift their focus from how they “feel” and what symptoms they have, to how they are functioning. Symptoms are the third stage of any dis-ease and they are only 10% of the problem, yet 90% of our health care system is focused on them. That is a huge reason why the USA is the 33rd least healthy country in the world. The focus in a principled chiropractic office is on the function of the spine, regardless of the symptoms.

Do children need chiropractic? Is it safe?
Yes and absolutely. Many times, the very first VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATION starts during the birth process. There is a lot of force on the baby’s neck at that time and unfortunately, in many cases it gets twisted and pulled on. Adjustments on babies are very gentle and children usually respond much quicker than adults.

Is it safe to get adjusted while pregnant?
The extra stress on the body, combined with the increasing laxity of the future mom’s ligaments make her an ideal candidate for chiropractic care. It is vital throughout the pregnancy for her body to receive as close to 100% of proper nerve flow as she can. Many women who receive chiropractic during pregnancy report a much easier time being pregnant and often are rewarded with shortened labor and delivery times. The better her nervous system is functioning, the better she and baby will be.

Can I get adjusted if I’ve had previous back or neck surgery?
Dr. Joe will do a thorough case history and spinal examination to determine the best way to proceed with adjusting the post-surgical spine. There are many factors to consider, but it would be a vary rare situation where something could not be done to correct VERTEBRAL SUBLUXATIONS.