What to expect on your first visit:

Your first appointment will last approximately 30

minutes to one hour depending on the severity

of your condition.  You will be asked to fill out

some forms before being seen by Dr. Osborne,

or if you prefer, you can download and fill them

out at home before your appointment.

Dr. Osborne will review your forms and take a

detailed history of your condition.  X-rays may

or may not be necessary depending on your

condition.  Additional imaging or diagnostic tests

may be ordered as well, once again, depending

on your condition.  Dr. Osborne will perform a

detailed exam including neurological and

orthopedic tests to help in diagnosing your

condition.

What is chiropractic?

Traditionally chiropractic care is based on the treatment of the spine and

surrounding tissue.  24 vertebrae (spinal bones) make up the spine.  There

are 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (mid back), and 5 lumbar (low back) vertebral

bodies.  The spinal cord carries nervous system messages to and from the

brain and is housed by the spine.  Spinal nerves exit through holes

(intervertebral foramen) formed by adjacent vertebrae.

The spinal nerves carry messages from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to every tissue in the body.  In addition, every tissue in the body sends nerve messages to the central nervous system.  If the vertebrae are malpositioned (subluxated) then the nervous impulses traveling to and from the spine are interrupted (pinched nerve).   This is what chiropractors refer to as a subluxation.   Depending on the location of the subluxation, different body systems can be affected.  For example, if the nerve being pinched is traveling to and from the intestines, then digestion, absorption, and transit time of fecal matter may be affected (as in constipation).  This is what is known as somatovisceral disease.  Somato refers to the spine and visceral refers to the intestine.  Tour Virtual Spine to learn more.

To put it simply, the abnormal position of the spine is affecting the nerve impulses traveling to and from the intestines causing a number of different symptoms (irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, etc).  This is not to say that all cases of intestinal disorders are a result of abnormal spinal positioning, but if a subluxation is present and effecting the nerves traveling to the intestines then the abnormal symptoms will most likely be helped as a result of chiropractic manipulation.

Chiropractors primarily treat the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles, bones).  Some examples include nerve impingement syndromes like sciatica, muscle spasm or pain, traumatic joint and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), neck and back pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fascitis, herniated discs, and rotator cuff syndrome.  The primary form of treatment used by chiropractors is called an “adjustment” or “manipulation.”   A chiropractic manipulation can be given to any joint in the body, but most chiropractors primarily adjust the spinal joints to relieve pain, relieve pressure on nerves, and to restore normal range of motion and joint function to the vertebrae (bones of the spine).  Chiropractic adjustments are very safe and dramatically reduce pain and inflammation.  A recent study published in the medical journal, Spine, compared chiropractic treatments with pain medication, acupuncture, and physical therapy and found that chiropractic was the most effective treatment for acute low back pain.  Other treatment modalities commonly used by doctors of chiropractic include spinal decompression, exercise and stretching instruction, nutritional counseling, ultrasound, intersegmental traction, and electric muscle stimulation.

Medical research has shown that chiropractic manipulation works in others ways as well. A manipulation given by a chiropractor can reduce muscle spasm and pain by inhibiting special nerve cells in the spinal cord that transmit pain back to the brain. In addition, chiropractic adjustments have also been shown to restore normal movement and range of motion to damaged joints thus helping them heal at an accelerated rate.

Your first appointment will last approximately 30 minutes to one hour depending on the severity of your condition.  You will be asked to fill out some forms before being seen by Dr. Osborne or Dr. Stotts.  The forms should be downloaded and filled out at home before your appointment.  Click on the become a patient button to get the forms.  Dr. Osborne will review your forms and take a detailed history of your condition.  X-rays may or may not be necessary depending on your condition.  Additional imaging or diagnostic tests may be ordered as well, once again, depending on your condition.  Dr. Osborne will perform a detailed exam including neurological and orthopedic tests to help in diagnosing your condition.

Traditionally chiropractic care is based on the treatment of the spine and surrounding tissue.  24 vertebrae (spinal bones) make up the spine.  There are 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (mid back), and 5 lumbar (low back) vertebral bodies.  The spinal cord carries nervous system messages to and from the brain and is housed by the spine.  Spinal nerves exit through holes (intervertebral foramen) formed by adjacent vertebrae.  The spinal nerves carry messages from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to every tissue in the body.  In addition, every tissue in the body sends nerve messages to the central nervous system.  If the vertebrae are malpositioned (subluxated) then the nervous impulses traveling to and from the spine are interrupted (pinched nerve).   This is what chiropractors refer to as a subluxation.   Depending on the location of the subluxation, different body systems can be affected.  For example, if the nerve being pinched is traveling to and from the intestines, then digestion, absorption, and transit time of fecal matter may be affected (as in constipation).  This is what is known as somatovisceral disease. Somato refers to the spine and visceral refers to the intestine.  Tour Virtual Spine to learn more.

Chiropractors primarily treat the neuromusculoskeletal system (nerves, muscles, bones).  Some examples include nerve impingement syndromes like sciatica, muscle spasm or pain, traumatic joint and soft tissue injuries (sprains and strains), neck and back pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fascitis, herniated discs, and rotator cuff syndrome.  The primary form of treatment used by chiropractors is called an “adjustment” or “manipulation.”   A chiropractic manipulation can be given to any joint in the body, but most chiropractors primarily adjust the spinal joints to relieve pain, relieve pressure on nerves, and to restore normal range of motion and joint function to the vertebrae (bones of the spine).  Chiropractic adjustments are very safe and dramatically reduce pain and inflammation.  A recent study published in the medical journal, Spine, compared chiropractic treatments with pain medication, acupuncture, and physical therapy and found that chiropractic was the most effective treatment for acute low back pain.  Other treatment modalities commonly used by doctors of chiropractic include spinal decompression, whole body vibration (WBV),  exercise and stretching instruction, nutritional counseling, ultrasound, intersegmental traction, and electric muscle stimulation.

Medical research has shown that chiropractic manipulation works in others ways as well. A manipulation given by a chiropractor can reduce muscle spasm and pain by inhibiting special nerve cells in the spinal cord that transmit pain back to the brain. In addition, chiropractic adjustments have also been shown to restore normal movement and range of motion to damaged joints thus helping them heal at an accelerated rate.