Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care

If you are considering chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica, an injury, or another musculoskeletal concern, you may have questions about what to expect.

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about Gonstead Chiropractic at NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic in Fairfax, Virginia.

What happens during my first chiropractic visit?

Your first visit generally begins with a discussion of your health history, current symptoms, previous injuries, and the reason you are seeking care.

The doctor will then perform an appropriate examination based on your symptoms and clinical presentation.

Depending on your condition, the examination may include:

• Postural evaluation
• Spinal motion assessment
• Static and motion palpation
• Muscle and movement evaluation
• Neurological examination
• Orthopedic testing
• Other clinically appropriate procedures

If X-rays or other imaging are clinically indicated and available, they may also be reviewed or recommended.

The goal of the first visit is to understand your condition and determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

Will I be adjusted on my first visit?

It depends on your individual situation.

After reviewing your history and examination findings, the doctor will determine whether an adjustment is appropriate.

Not every patient should be adjusted immediately.

If additional information, imaging, medical evaluation, or referral is necessary, those considerations should be addressed before treatment.

Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?

Most chiropractic adjustments are generally well tolerated, although you may experience pressure, movement, or a brief sensation during the adjustment.

Some patients may experience temporary mild soreness afterward, particularly when an area has been irritated or has not been moving normally.

Your comfort and safety are important, and the technique used should be appropriate for your individual condition.

What is the popping sound during a chiropractic adjustment?

Some chiropractic adjustments produce a popping or cracking sound.

The sound is generally associated with a rapid change in pressure within a joint and the movement of dissolved gases within the joint fluid.

The sound itself is not what makes an adjustment effective.

A chiropractic adjustment can also be performed without producing an audible popping sound.

Can a chiropractor help with back pain?

Chiropractic care may help some people with certain types of mechanical low back pain.

Back pain can have many causes, including muscle strain, joint problems, disc disorders, degenerative changes, injuries, and other medical conditions.

A proper examination is important to determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your particular situation.

Can Gonstead Chiropractic help with sciatica?

Sciatica describes symptoms that can occur when a nerve root in the lower back is irritated or compressed, commonly producing pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness that travels into the leg.

Depending on the cause and severity, some patients with sciatica may benefit from conservative chiropractic care.

However, not every case of leg pain or sciatica is the same.

If you experience significant or progressive weakness, new bowel or bladder changes, saddle-area numbness, or other concerning neurological symptoms, prompt medical evaluation is necessary.

Can chiropractic care help with a herniated or bulging disc?

A disc bulge or herniation does not automatically mean that surgery or chiropractic care is required.

Some people have disc abnormalities without significant symptoms, while others may experience substantial pain or nerve-related symptoms.

Whether chiropractic care is appropriate depends on the individual's symptoms, examination findings, medical history, and available imaging.

At NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic, these factors are considered before recommending care.

Can chiropractic care help with neck pain?

Neck pain can have many causes, including muscle strain, prolonged positioning, joint dysfunction, injury, degenerative changes, and nerve irritation.

A detailed examination can help determine whether the symptoms appear to involve the cervical spine or surrounding musculoskeletal structures.

If chiropractic care is appropriate, treatment is individualized according to the patient's condition and examination findings.

Can chiropractic care help with headaches?

Some headaches can be associated with the neck and musculoskeletal system.

For example, certain tension-type or neck-related headaches may involve the muscles and joints of the cervical region.

However, headaches can have many different causes.

A new, sudden, severe, or unusual headache—especially one accompanied by neurological symptoms—requires appropriate medical evaluation rather than assuming that it is a chiropractic problem.

Can a chiropractor help with numbness or tingling?

Numbness and tingling can occur for many different reasons.

Sometimes these symptoms are associated with irritation or compression of a spinal nerve root, such as cervical or lumbar radiculopathy.

Other causes may involve peripheral nerves or neurological and medical conditions.

Because numbness and tingling have many possible causes, a proper examination is important before determining whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

Can chiropractic care help after a car accident?

Chiropractic care may be appropriate for some people following an automobile accident.

A collision can place significant forces on the spine, muscles, ligaments, and other tissues. Some symptoms may appear immediately, while others may develop later.

An evaluation can help identify musculoskeletal findings that may require treatment, additional medical evaluation, or referral.

If you have been involved in an accident and experience neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, or other symptoms, obtaining an appropriate medical evaluation is important.

Do I need X-rays before chiropractic care?

Not every patient needs X-rays.

Imaging decisions should be based on the patient's history, symptoms, examination findings, and clinical indications.

When imaging is appropriate, X-rays or other diagnostic studies may provide useful information about the spine.

However, imaging findings should always be considered together with the patient's clinical presentation rather than viewed in isolation.

How many chiropractic visits will I need?

There is no universal number of visits that applies to every patient.

The appropriate frequency and duration of care can depend on factors such as:

• The nature of the problem
• How long the condition has been present
• Severity of symptoms
• Previous injuries
• Physical demands of work and daily activities
• Response to care
• Overall health and individual circumstances

Your treatment plan should be based on your individual condition rather than an arbitrary number of visits.

Do I have to see a chiropractor forever?

No.

The purpose and expected duration of chiropractic care should be clearly explained and individualized.

Some patients seek care for a specific problem and discontinue care when their condition has improved. Others choose periodic care as part of their personal approach to maintaining musculoskeletal function.

The decision should be based on your goals, condition, response to care, and discussion with your healthcare provider.

Is chiropractic care safe?

For appropriately selected patients, chiropractic care is generally considered a conservative treatment option for many musculoskeletal conditions.

However, no healthcare treatment is completely without risk.

Certain medical conditions may make particular chiropractic techniques inappropriate. This is why a proper health history and examination are important before treatment.

Tell your chiropractor about previous injuries, surgeries, medical conditions, medications, and any new or unusual symptoms.

Can children receive chiropractic care?

Children are different from adults, and healthcare treatment for a child should be based on the child's individual needs and clinical circumstances.

If chiropractic care is being considered for a child, the doctor should first determine whether chiropractic evaluation or treatment is appropriate and whether medical evaluation is necessary.

Any pediatric chiropractic care should be appropriately modified for the child's age and developmental stage.

Can pregnant women receive chiropractic care?

Pregnancy involves significant changes in posture, weight distribution, balance, and biomechanics.

Some pregnant patients seek chiropractic care for musculoskeletal discomfort such as back or pelvic pain.

Pregnancy requires individualized evaluation. The doctor should consider the patient's stage of pregnancy, symptoms, medical history, and recommendations from the patient's obstetric or medical provider.

At NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic, Dr. Kang is a Webster Trained Gonstead Chiropractor and has additional training in the Webster Technique for pregnancy care.

Do you treat only the area that hurts?

Not necessarily.

The location of pain does not always identify all of the factors involved in a musculoskeletal problem.

For example, leg symptoms may be associated with the lower back, while shoulder discomfort may involve the cervical spine, thoracic spine, shoulder blade, or shoulder mechanics.

A Gonstead examination evaluates the patient's spinal and musculoskeletal system to determine which findings may be relevant to the symptoms.

What should I wear to my appointment?

Comfortable clothing that allows reasonable movement is generally recommended.

Depending on the examination, you may be asked to perform certain movements or change positions.

Avoid clothing that significantly restricts movement.

Should I bring my medical records or X-rays?

Yes.

If you have relevant medical records, imaging reports, or X-rays from previous evaluations, bringing them can be helpful.

Information about previous injuries, surgeries, diagnoses, medications, and previous treatments can also provide a more complete picture of your condition.

Does NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic accept insurance?

Insurance coverage varies depending on your insurance plan, benefits, and coverage for chiropractic services.

Our office can discuss payment and insurance-related questions with you before beginning care.

Do you treat patients involved in auto accidents?

Yes.

We evaluate patients who have been involved in automobile accidents and may provide chiropractic care when appropriate.

If you were injured in an accident, bring any relevant accident, medical, imaging, or insurance information you have available.

Because automobile injuries can involve multiple structures, a thorough examination is important.

When should I see a doctor instead of a chiropractor?

Some symptoms require medical evaluation rather than routine chiropractic care.

Seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as:

• Sudden weakness or numbness, particularly on one side
• Difficulty speaking
• Sudden vision loss or major visual changes
• Loss of consciousness
• New loss of bladder or bowel control
• Numbness around the groin or saddle region
• Rapidly progressing weakness
• Severe symptoms following major trauma
• A sudden, severe headache unlike previous headaches

These symptoms can indicate a medical or neurological emergency.

What is the goal of Gonstead Chiropractic care?

The goal is not simply to chase pain.

The goal is to understand the patient's condition, identify relevant spinal and musculoskeletal findings, and determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.

When care is appropriate, the Gonstead approach emphasizes specific examination and individualized treatment.

Patients also have an important role in their recovery through appropriate exercise, posture, activity modification, sleep, nutrition, and other healthy lifestyle habits.

Why choose NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic?

At NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic in Fairfax, Virginia, our approach emphasizes careful examination and individualized chiropractic care.

Rather than automatically treating every patient the same way, we take the time to understand your history, symptoms, physical findings, and spinal mechanics.

Our goal is to help you better understand your condition and determine whether Gonstead chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.

If you have questions about your spine, posture, back pain, neck pain, sciatica, or an injury, contact NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic to schedule an evaluation.

NoVA Gonstead Chiropractic Clinic
9514 Lee Hwy (Route 29), Suite B
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 359-6262