Back Pain, Scoliosis, Shoulder Pain, Tennis Elbow: Chiropractic, Personal Training, Naturopathy, Massage: Dr. Scott Dower, DC, has been serving San Jose and the greater West Valley with optimum health care by providing comprehensive health care, combining chiropractic, therapeutic massage and patient education to eliminate pain symptoms, restore full body function and promote a more healthy lifestyle. Take back your life and start living pain free with chiropractic care. top_curve.gif (2672 bytes) Scott W. Dower, D.C. Chiropractor
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Serving San Jose and the greater West Valley with optimum health care by providing comprehensive health care, combining chiropractic, therapeutic massage and physical therapy to eliminate pain symptoms, restore full body function and promote a more healthy lifestyle. 2021 The Alameda, Suite 170
San Jose, CA 95126-1134
Phone: (408) 294-3024
Fax: (408) 249-4323
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Frequently Asked Questions

What does a chiropractor do?
Chiropractors do not treat conditions - instead, they correct a major cause of disease or lack of body harmony, the vertebral subluxation complex. Vertebral subluxations are very common and often painless. That's why chiropractors suggest spinal checkups for all members of the family.
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How does chiropractic work?
The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove interference which inhibits your natural state of well being. A common condition which interferes with the nervous system is the abnormal movement or positioning of any of the 24 moving bones of the spinal column. A loss of normal motion or position of these bones can irritate or impair the function of the nervous system. This can disrupt the transmission of controlling nerve impulses. With improved spinal function there is often improved nervous system function. Your chiropractor can help remove interferences that may be impairing normal health.

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What is an adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is the art of using a specific force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, "locked up", or not moving properly, in order to remove vertebral subluxations. This adds motion to the joint, helping the bones gradually return to a more normal position and motion. The purpose of this safe and natural procedure is improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved health. Usually the doctor's hands or a specially designed instrument delivers a brief and highly-accurate thrust. Some adjusting methods are quick, whereas others require a slow and constant pressure.

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Do chiropractic adjustments hurt?
The treatment given to patients is gentle and safe. Chiropractic care should not be painful during or after being "adjusted". Various techniques are used to help the body respond to care. During the initial treatment phase, there may be some discomfort for several hours following the appointment as the patient's body becomes adjusted to the corrected alignment. Usually, your treatment is pain-free and you can feel positive results right away, especially in terms of decreased pain and increased mobility.
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What do you mean by gentle adjustments? Aren't forceful adjustments needed to make spinal corrections?
Not at all. Many adjustments are achieved with the amount of pressure of one hand gently resting upon another. Most people are not aware that for the last thirty years chiropractic has developed powerful techniques involving light touch adjustments. These adjustments prepare the body for long-term correction and not just a "quick fix".
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Are all patients adjusted the same way?
Every patient presents a uniquely different spinal pattern. The doctor evaluates each patient's unique spinal problem and develops an individual course of care. Some patients who complain of headaches may actually have a lower back problem that is causing a compensation reaction at the base of the skull. Other patients may be experiencing numbness and tingling in their fingers when the actual problem is in the neck. While visits may seem similar, each patient's care is uniquely different from every other patient.

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What causes the sound of an adjustment?
During joint manipulation you can often hear "cracking" or "popping" sounds. These sounds are generated when carbon dioxide and other gases are released from your joint fluid during rapid distraction of the joint surfaces. The effect is similar to the bubbling and "hissing" you hear when you open a pop bottle or can and in no way harms your joints. Actually, not all adjusting techniques produce the sound associated with "popping knuckles." Some create no sound at all, some a little.

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How long does a chiropractic adjustment take?
It really depends on the adjusting technique your chiropractor uses. Sometimes the initial adjustment is preceded by a relatively brief initial visit, case history and evaluation. At other times it may take a few hours or even a few days of evaluation and spinal analysis.

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At what age should chiropractic begin?
Newborns have received received spinal adjustments, especially after difficult or traumatic births. There are case histories of infants close to death who were adjusted in hospitals with seemingly miraculous recoveries. It is advised to have children's backs checked periodically during their growth phase in order to have misalignments corrected before they become severe.

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Once you start going to a chiropractor, do you always have to go? What will happen if I stop going?
In many cases one adjustment may help you. However, chances are that the vertebra that went out of place will return to its previous position until it is "trained" as to what the proper position is. That is why most chiropractors recommend several adjustments at the beginning of your care plan. Of course, this depends on the severity of your subluxations. After that, you may need to come in periodically for maintenance care (to keep the problem from returning)

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Can chiropractic prevent back surgery and can a person who had back surgery see a chiropractor?
In a majority of cases, chiropractic can definitely prevent back surgery. It is an unfortunate fact that half of those who had spinal surgery discover a return of their original symptoms months or years later, facing the prospect of additional surgery. This too common occurrence is known as "Failed Back Surgery Syndrome." Chiropractic may help prevent repeated operations.

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Can a person with a broken back or neck see a chiropractor?
Yes, after the break heals. In fact, a broken bone forms a callus or bone scar when it heals that is stronger than the rest of the bone, which should dispel any concerns about the safety of an adjustment. People who have had broken bones need chiropractic check-ups because accidents usually cause spinal subluxations.

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Is chiropractic care safe?
Yes. Chiropractic care is among the safest of the healing arts since it is noninvasive and not burdened by the inherent risks and side effects associated with taking medication. Having your spinal nerve stress corrected is important, no matter what other type of health care you are receiving.

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Am I too old for chiropractic care?
More and more people are consulting chiropractic doctors, especially in their later years. With growing concerns about over-medication and the side effects of combining various prescription drugs, safe, natural chiropractic care is growing in popularity. Like the rest of your body, without proper care your spine begins to degenerate over time. The result of everyday stress can result in a spine that is out of alignment, causing joint stiffness and leaving the body functioning at a less than optimal level. Chiropractic adjustments can restore joint mobility and the overall health of your spine. Adjustments can help to reduce swelling and irritation, relieve pain, and slow degeneration, all conditions often seen in the senior years.
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Does chiropractic help headaches and migraines?
The cause of painful headaches is usually found in the misalignment of the cervical spine (neck area). Since this usually occurs with a loss of the normal curve in the cervical spine, there is nerve interference (pinched nerves) blocking the healthy flow of information from the brain through the nervous system to the body. However, the normal cervical curve can be restored to the extent the body will allow through corrective chiropractic adjustments and cervical traction to eliminate the misalignments in the spine which were causing the headache.
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How does chiropractic care help leg pain and sciatica?
In the area of the sciatic nerve and legs, when nerves get irritated and result in pain, a properly adjusted spine allows for relief of nerve irritation and, therefore, relief from painful problems. Many patients prefer gentle adjustments to the alternatives of pain injections and surgery.

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What is a pinched nerve?
While commonly associated with the spine, the pinched nerve (compressive lesion) is actually rare. Researchers suggest that only 10% to 15% of spine related problems are caused by direct pressure of bone on nerve tissue! This can result in numbness, burning, or a "pins and needles" feeling. Because of the way your spine is designed, abnormal spinal function caused from physical trauma, emotional tensions, or chemical toxins can affect the delicate tissues of the spinal cord and nerve roots. More frequently, nerves are irritated (facilitative lesion). This is caused when nerve tissue is rubbed, scraped, stretched by a loss of spinal curve, or irritated by malfunctioning spinal joints.

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What is a slipped disc?
The intervertebral disc is a pad of cartilage-type material situated between spinal bones. Each disc serves as a connector, spacer, and shock absorber for the spine. A soft, jelly-like center is contained by outer layers of fibrous tissue. Healthy discs help allow normal turning and bending. Because of the way each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below, a disc cannot "slip." However, trauma or injury to the spine can cause discs to tear, bulge, herniate, or worse, rupture. This can be quite painful, as the soft center of the disc leaks, putting pressure on the adjacent nerve roots and spinal cord.
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Why do children need chiropractic care?
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for vertical subluxation complex. Later, learning to walk, ride a bicycle, and other activities can cause spinal problems. While a bandage and some comforting words can help a skinned knee, the unseen damage to the child's spine is the unique domain of a chiropractic doctor. Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as "growing pains" can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen in later in adults. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child's spine. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children.

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How long will I need chiropractic care?
Spinal problems, neglected since early childhood, may require ongoing supportive care for optimum spinal function. These long-standing problems are often associated with muscle weakness, soft tissue damage, and degenerative changes to the spine. This also depends on your condition, age, and level of spinal degeneration. In most cases, pain relief can be achieved within one to two weeks. Correction of the spine, which gives long lasting results takes longer. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you.

We are an in-network provider for most insurance plans.

Office Hours
Tuesday 9-6
Wednesday 9-12
Thursday 9-6
Friday 9-12
Saturday 8-12
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed

All Major Credit Cards Accepted
All Major Credit Cards Accepted

Back Pain, Scoliosis, Shoulder Pain, Tennis Elbow: Chiropractic, Personal Training, Naturopathy, Massage: Dr. Scott Dower, DC, has been serving San Jose and the greater West Valley with optimum health care by providing comprehensive health care, combining chiropractic, therapeutic massage and patient education to eliminate pain symptoms, restore full body function and promote a more healthy lifestyle. Take back your life and start living pain free with chiropractic care.

Copyright @ 2009 Dr. Scott Dower, DC. All rights reserved. Top of Page