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Frequently asked questions:
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What is chiropractic?
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Chiropractic is a holistic health care discipline that emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without drugs or surgery. The chiropractic approach considers the human body a balance between physical, chemical and emotional elements. Health is viewed as a state of harmony - physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease and sickness.
The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the body's structures, primarily the spine, and function as controlled by the nervous system. As the structural integrity of the spine is restored, so may the health of the individual be restored.
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What is a subluxation?
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The spine is made up of 24 vertebra. When one of the vertebra is misaligned with either the vertebra above or below it, it is "subluxated." The symptoms of a vertebral subluxation include loss of range of motion, muscle spasm and pain. Chiropractors are the only doctors specifically trained in the detection and treatment of the vertebral subluxation complex.
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What is an adjustment?
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An adjustment is the method a chiropractor uses to treat a vertebral subluxation once it is detected. In a very gentle, yet specific manner, the chiropractor will reposition the vertebral misalignment. This action is called a vertebral adjustment. It is our intent to restore normal joint motion in order to decrease muscle spasm and pain, thus allowing the body to heal naturally.
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I've never been to a chiropractor before, what can I expect on my first visit?
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Dr. Tollen will take a full case history of your problem, including your past history and your family history. He will perform a complete chiropractic, orthopedic, neurologic and physical examination to diagnose your condition and area of subluxation. Depending on his exam findings, Dr. Tollen may take x-rays of the area that is causing you discomfort. These x-rays will help him further assess your condition, and rule out disease processes of the bones and surrounding tissues. Dr. Tollen will fully explain your problem to you and discuss his recommended treatment plan with you. Dr. Tollen will begin your treatment on your initial visit. This may include one or all of the following:
- Full-spine diversified manipulation
- Moist heat
- Ice
- Deep myofascial release technique or therapeutic massage
- Electrical stimulation or TENS
- Ultrasound
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How often will I have to come in for treatment?
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That depends on your condition and your compliance to the doctor's exercise or other rehab recommendations. Most patients are seen one or two times a week for two weeks, then their visits are either increased or decreased depending on their response to treatment. Once the patient has reached maximum medical improvement, they are placed on an "as needed" treatment schedule.
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Why should I bring my young son/daughter to a chiropractor if their back is fine?
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Children are very active and are subjected to falls, bumps and bruises. It is a good idea to have them examined by a doctor of chiropractic to make sure that their spine isn't out of alignment. By having your child's subluxations corrected throughout his or her childhood, they will have the opportunity to grow to be healthier adults.
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Can a doctor of chiropractic help with conditions other than back pain?
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Yes, Dr. Tollen is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Practitioner (CCSP). Sports chiropractors are doctors of chiropractic who have a specialized interest and post-graduate training in sports injuries and physical fitness. To earn his CCSP degree, Dr. Tollen completed a post-graduate specialty program that encompassed radiology, orthopedics, neurology, diagnostics, nutrition and exercise prescription, emergency procedures and athletic treatment protocols. He then passed a comprehensive board examination.
Dr. Tollen can help with a myriad of conditions ranging from tennis elbow and rotator cuff problems to shin splints and ankle sprains. For more information on sports chiropractic, you can visit the ACA Sports Council website at www.ACAsports.org.
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Will my insurance company pay for my care?
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Most insurance companies include chiropractic care in their benefit plan, either as an "in-network" or "out-of-network" benefit.
Dr. Stuart Tollen is an out-of-network provider in the Personal Choice, Keystone and Inter-County Health Plan networks. He is an in-network provider for the Pennsylvania Blue Shield-Major Medical network, and Devon Health Services (which includes Guardian, Brokerage Concepts and Fortis Insurance Co. to name a few). Dr. Tollen does not participate in the Aetna/US Healthcare network.
If you are not sure if your plan includes chiropractic care, or if Dr. Tollen is a provider in your network, call your employee benefits office for information.
If your insurance company does not cover chiropractic care, our cash payments are very convenient and affordable. We accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover for payment of your deductible, co-pay or cash payments.
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