Dr. Cramer answers your questions...

What is a chiropractor?
"Chiropractic" comes from the Greek word chiropraktikos, meaning "effective treatment by hand." The Doctor of Chiropractic is proficient in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and health promotion, and is qualified to co-treat and/or refer to other health care providers for additional care as indicated by the patient's condition. Chiropractic care generally includes manual manipulation of the spine and extraspinal structures and the use of such related therapies as physiological therapeutics, nutritional and personal counseling, lifestyle modification, and patient education.

What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic is a health care science and healing art that emphasizes the relationship between body structure and function. The chiropractic approach strengthens the inherent recuperative powers of the human body primarily by treatment methods directed at the neuromusculoskeletal system. Chiropractic provides a unique contribution to the expanding and changing world of health care. The Doctor of Chiropractic is a primary health care provider serving as an individual practitioner and as a member of a health care team in a variety of settings.

How does chiropractic work?

How long have you been in practice?
Dr. Matthew Cramer has been in practice for over 12 years and is licensed in both California and Arizona.

What techniques do you use?
Dr. Matthew Cramer is trained and skilled in a variety of chiropractic techniques including: Diversified, Palmer Package, Gonstead, Thompson, Activator, Cox, Kinesiology, amongst others.

What kind of conditions to do you treat?
Our office treats patients with problems such as:
- Low back pain
- Neck pain
- Disc injuries
- Headaches
- Shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand pain
- Foot and ankle pain
- Numbness and tingling of arms or legs
- Sciatica
- Sports injuries
- Auto injuries
- Whiplash
- Personal injuries

What type of education do chiropractic doctors receive?
Chiropractors receive an education that emphasizes neuromuscular diagnosis and treatment. Preparation for the practice of chiropractic is concentrated on three areas of learning; basic training in the biological and health sciences (anatomy, physiology, histology, biochemistry, clinical and radiological diagnosis); specialized training in the chiropractic discipline (theoretical studies, practice, diagnosis and applications); and extensive clinical training.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

Do you treat children?
Yes, we treat children from babies through school age and beyond.

Are all patients adjusted the same way?

Is chiropractic safe?
Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The risk factor is estimated to be in excess of one million to one.

What causes the sound during a chiropractic adjustment?

Does an adjustment hurt?
Under normal circumstances, a chiropractic adjustment does not hurt.

Can I adjust myself?

Is chiropractic care addictive?

Can a person who has had back surgery see a chiropractor?

Is it OK to see a chiropractor if I am pregnant?

Why do chiropractors take X-rays?