What is chiropractic wellness?
The purpose of chiropractic is to remove interference from the nervous system. A chiropractic visit is not only for back pain and neck pain. While chiropractors effectively treat back and neck pain, it's not their only goal. Doctors Tom and David Mains strive to restore and optimize your total health. Chiropractic care is an excellent way to keep your body at its peak performance.

Is chiropractic effective?
Chiropractic helps to remove postural imbalances and structural misalignments that can accumulate in our bodies over time. Chiropractic works by restoring your own innate ability to be healthy. For your body to remain healthy, your nervous system must function well. For your nervous system to function well it must be free of interference. By restoring spinal function with chiropractic adjustments, nerve interference by misaligned vertebrae is removed, thus allowing optimal nervous system function and improved health.

What can I expect from my visit to a chiropractor?
If you've never been to a chiropractor before, you may be a little worried about what will happen. Your first visit will be a lot like a first-time visit to any new doctor. On your first visit to Mains Chiropractic, you can expect us to conduct a thorough review of your specific problem, including your relevant past history and current condition, discuss your overall health and wellness goals, and develop a care plan based on an examination and possibly x-rays.

How does chiropractic work?
Chiropractic works because you are a self-healing, self-regulating organism controlled by your nervous system.  Millions of instructions flow from your brain, down the spinal cord and out to every organ and tissue. Interference to this incredible communication superhighway can lead to ill-health. Chiropractic is effective because of its focus on re-establishing this connection, thus improving the body's ability to heal itself. This interference is called a vertebral subluxation.

What are subluxations?
The spine consists of 24 moving bones.  These spinal bones must be in proper alignment for the nervous system to be functioning at full capacity.  Improper motion or position of the of the moving bones that affects nerve communications between your brain and your body is a subluxation.  A subluxation can compromise this vital exchange of communication by irritating or causing compression on nerves and, therefore, negatively affect the function of organs and tissues that particular nerve is responsible for. Your nervous system  controls every cell, tissue, organ, and system of your body.  These nerve impulses travel through your spine.  So having a spine free of subluxations is essential for optimal health. Only a chiropractic examination can detect subluxations, and only chiropractic adjustments can reduce their effect on your nervous system naturally. 

How do you get subluxations?
There are three basic causes of subluxations.  Physical causes include slips and falls, accidents, repetitive motions, and improper lifting.  Emotional causes include stress, anger, and fear.  Chemical causes are drugs, alcohol, pollution, and poor diet.

What makes the Gonstead Method unique?
There are more than 100 chiropractic techniques in the world today. Not all are equally effective.  The Gonstead Method is more than just a technique.  It is a complete integrated system of meticulous analysis and evaluation, combining all necessary information, followed by delivering a specific, hands-on, bio-mechanically correct, chiropractic adjustment.  A Gonstead adjustment is comfortable, effective and incredibly safe.

What is a Gonstead adjustment?
Let's start with explaining what an adjustment actually is.  An adjustment is a gentle, but specific force applied to the spine by the hands of your chiropractor to allow minor movement of vertebrae in the spine. Not all adjustments are equally effective, however.  The focus of a Gonstead adjustment is to be as specific, precise and accurate as possible, addressing only the problem areas of subluxation.  Great care is taken to ensure a biomechanically correct and very comfortable adjustment.

Is chiropractic safe?
Numerous studies validate the safety of chiropractic adjustments. One of the most thorough of these studies concluded, "Chiropractic care is greatly superior to medical treatment in terms of scientific validity, safety, cost effectiveness, and patient satisfaction." (The Ontario Ministry of Health, 1993.)

Why do newborns need adjustment?
The birthing process can be extremely traumatic on an infant's spine.  Many studies suggest that colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infections or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress.  Pediatric adjustments are extremely gentle and are adapted for an infants' smaller spine.

Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
Chiropractic care is included in most health insurance plans, including major medical plans, workers' compensation, Medicare, and some Medicaid plans, among others. Your health affects everything you do and is your most valuable possession. It is convenient when your insurance company covers your treatment cost, but don't let your insurance coverage dictate your health care choices. Find out how we make chiropractic affordable for just about anyone.