North Country Health Spa

Chiropractic is a health care approach that focuses on the relationship between the body's structure—mainly the spine—and its functioning. Dr. Michael Gallagher uses  a variety of treatment approaches, primarily  he performs adjustments to the spine and other parts of the body with the goal of correcting alignment problems and supporting the body's natural ability to heal itself. 

Patients seek Chiropractic care primarily for pain conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

Chiropractic care is based on these key concepts

• The body has a powerful self-healing ability.
• The body's structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function are closely related, and this relationship affects your overall health.
• Therapy aims to normalize this relationship between structure and function and assist the body as it heals.

What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Visit

The first visit will last about an hour. Dr. Gallagher will take a complete medical history and identify problem areas to be addressed during treatment. He will want to know about your pain, if any, where it is located, when the pain started, and what activities improve or exacerbate the pain. Your blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and reflexes may be assessed. Depending on your specific situation, he may send you for X-rays and/or to have an MRI scan or other diagnostic tests. The physical examination will generally be performed through light clothing. It may include observation of posture and range of motion and palpation of muscles, joint movement, and soft tissues. Treatment may cause mild discomfort but should not cause pain. Tell the Doctor immediately if you experience pain.

Inform Dr. Gallagher about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give him a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

What Is An Adjustment?

Chiropractors are said to perform "adjustments." Adjustments are done by applying a specific force in a certain direction to the body, and the result is a change in the position and motion of spinal bones. Force can be applied with hands only or with a small instrument called an Activator. You may hear a popping noise, resulting from gas and lubricating fluids in the spinal joints shifting. Adjustments are done to correct what are called "subluxations." Subluxations occur when the joints of the spine fail to move properly and/or spinal bones move out of alignment, which results in interference with the nerve messages from the brain to the body or vice versa. Muscle balance, organ function, and the body's production of hormones and chemicals can be affected. Subluxations can exist without causing any obvious symptoms, since only about 10 percent of nerves actually perceive pain.

Safe Healthcare for the Entire Family

The primary role of the chiropractor is to improve your nervous system function overall, rather than treating a specific disease or symptom per se. Chiropractors can effectively treat patients of all ages, including babies and children and the elderly, with gentle adjustments. Chiropractic care is very safe and is thought to help the body heal itself.