Frequently asked questions

Not all chiropractic is the same.

Conventional Chiropractic

Conventional chiropractic focuses on symptom relief or symptom management by temporarily relieving pain, reducing muscle spasms and inflammation. Chiropractors have done well under this model of symptomatic/relief conventional care, and many of them are great at what they do.

Thrive Chiropractic

If you think of the spine like a foundation of a house, you realize that weakness in the foundation can change the structure of the entire house. Walls begin to crack, doors and windows become deviated & won’t close properly, and floors become uneven and begin to creak. You can make cosmetic repairs, but sooner or later you’ll have to address the foundation, otherwise, the problems will return again …

… and again… and again… and again.

And suddenly, instead of achieving true correction, we’re relying on chiropractic to be much more like a natural (and sometimes expensive) form of pain medication.

At Thrive Chiropractic, rather than constantly repairing the damaged areas, we’ve chosen to focus on correcting the “underlying foundation” so that your spine reaches as much of its normal structure and function as possible.

Of course, our services aren’t for everyone. However, if you are tired of constantly patching up the problem areas and are looking for a more long-term solution that you can both feel AND see for yourself, then Thrive Chiropractic may be the right place for you.

Once the foundation has been corrected, we’ll guide and teach you how to keep it that way through customized recommendations designed for your particular spine and level of dysfunction.

If we were to ask you what normal blood pressure is, you might answer 120/80. Maybe you’re not even sure what that means exactly, but you know there is a normal value. In healthcare, there are normal values for not just blood pressure, but many things like blood sugar, heart rate, bone density, body mass and eyesight (to name a few). There will always be variations based on age, gender, ethnicity or a specific situation. No one needs to be perfect, but there are accepted ranges. Most of us are unaware there is also a normal when it comes to the structural alignment of the spine.
A structural dysfunction is any alignment abnormality or motion abnormality that causes your spine to shift from its normal structural alignment. When the body, in particular, the spine, is unbalanced, the result may be a variety of secondary conditions (symptoms) such as pain, numbness/tingling, headaches, sciatica, hernia’s – just to name a few. Anything that adds stress to your body will subtract from your body’s ability to adapt to its environment and may result in health challenges.

Unfortunately, no. Subluxations are misalignments in the spine that cause tension in the nervous system and dis-ease. Sometimes subluxations can cause symptoms like pain, stiffness, weakness, muscle spasms, etc. However, most of the time subluxations are silent and cause decreased function without causing pain.
Less than 10% of the nerves in your entire body sense pain. So even if those causing you pain, there’s still 90% that could be affected without you even knowing it. That’s why getting checked by a Chiropractor and Protective Chiropractic Care throughout your life are important.

Here’s a list of some health-related issues that have improved through Structural Corrective Chiropractic Care in our office:

– Allergies
– Asthma
– Arthritis
– Bell’s Palsy
– Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
– Chronic Fatigue
– Colic
– Digestive Disorders
– Disc Bulges or Disc Herniations
– Epilepsy

– Fibromyalgia
– Gastrointestinal Dysfunction
– Headaches

– Herniated Discs
– High Blood Pressure
– Immune Function
– Irritable Bowel Syndrome
– Knee Pain
– Behavioral Disorders
– Low Back Pain
– Menstrual Disorders

– Meniere’s Syndrome
– Migraine Headaches
– Multiple Sclerosis
– Neck Pain
– Neurologic Dysfunction
– Otitis Media (Ear Infections)
– Sciatica
– Scoliosis
– Shoulder and Arm Pain
– Seizure Disorders

– Skin Disorders
– Sports Injuries
– TMJ Disorder/Dysfunction
– Torticollis
– Trigeminal Neuralgia
– Ulcers
– Vertigo or Dizziness
– Visual Eye Disturbances
– Whiplash
– ZZZ – Sleep Disorder

Let us make something crystal clear, chiropractic is NOT a cure or treatment for any disease, condition or symptom; however, when your spine and nervous system is working optimally, your ability to heal, to recover, and to be healthy drastically improves!

The symptoms and conditions listed above (and many more) are most often what we call secondary conditions or collateral damage, caused by a myriad of core problems – such as Structural Dysfunction(s).

Our job is to determine if the collateral damage that you are currently experiencing is a result of a core problem located in your spine and nervous system (Structural Dysfunction).

If they are, we can help; if they are not we will let you know and refer you to the appropriate health care professional.

Just the opposite! Chiropractic releases tension in the nervous system that develops over time from the physical, chemical, and emotional stress we experience. Most of the time our patients comment on how wonderful they feel – more energy, decreased pain, more mobility, less pressure, increased life!
Our doctors are trained in a variety of chiropractic techniques to take care of everyone. If you’re nervous about an adjustment, just let us know and we’ll help you through the process safely and comfortably.

Thrive Chiropractic is one of Amsterdam’s Top Chiropractic Offices. We want you to feel immediately at home when you walk in the door. Since chiropractic care involves a series of visits, each one building on the previous one, it is important for you to feel comfortable right from the start.
Plan ahead…
Please fill out the online New Patient Form.
Please bring a copy of any past CTs, MRIs, X-rays or other relevant test results.