Frequently Asked Chiropractic Questions in Greenwich CT

Chiropractic is a health care discipline focused on the neuromusculoskeletal system via the spine which houses the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), and their relationship to the overall health of the body.

Chiropractors use hands-on adjustments, mobilization, soft-tissue techniques, and rehabilitative exercises to correct joint alignment, relieve nerve interference, improve mobility, and support the body’s ability to heal itself. At Greenwich Wellness, we incorporate chiropractic alongside acupuncture, functional medicine, and soft-tissue therapies to treat the whole person, not just symptoms.

Chiropractors can help with a wide range of conditions, especially those affecting the spine, nerves, muscles, and joints. Some of the common conditions treated at Greenwich Wellness include:

• Back pain, neck pain, and sciatica
• Sports injuries and overuse syndromes
• Headaches, migraines, tension‑type headaches
• Joint pain and stiffness (e.g. shoulders, knees, hips)
• Postural imbalances
• Preventive/wellness care to maintain spinal health even when not in pain
• Some supportive care for conditions such as digestion issues, allergies, even fertility or infant conditions (these are part of your integrative wellness offerings

That said, each patient is assessed thoroughly to ensure chiropractic is appropriate, and we always rule out contraindications (e.g. certain fractures, infections, severe osteoporosis, or serious systemic disease).

A chiropractic adjustment (also called spinal manipulation) involves applying a controlled, often gentle, force to a joint (most frequently vertebrae) that is misaligned or restricted in movement. The goal is to restore proper motion, reduce nerve irritation, relieve pain, and allow the body to function more optimally. Techniques vary—some are quick, gentle, hands-on thrusts; others use tools or more gradual mobilization. In many cases, the adjustment helps the soft tissues (muscles, ligaments) around the joint to relax and restore balance.

Yes—when delivered by a licensed, trained chiropractor and following a proper examination, adjustments are considered very safe. Serious complications are extremely rare. Many studies and professional organizations support chiropractic as a conservative, low‑risk alternative to medications or surgery for many spinal conditions. That said, careful patient screening is essential: your chiropractor should review your medical history, imaging (if available), and perform physical and neurological exams to identify any red flags before performing an adjustment.

It depends entirely on your individual condition, age, underlying structural state, how long the problem has been present, your goals, and your response to care. Some people experience relief after just 1–3 visits; others with chronic or complex conditions may benefit from a longer program of care (for example, several weeks or months). After initial corrective care, many patients transition into wellness care (fewer visits, spaced more widely).

Your chiropractor will discuss a personalized plan with you, and you’ll monitor progress together to adjust the treatment frequency.

Chiropractic care can offer many potential benefits, including:

• Pain reduction (back, neck, joint)
• Improved mobility and flexibility
• Better posture
• Reduced nerve interference (which may help other body systems)
• Enhanced performance in athletes
• Fewer headaches
• Preventive/wellness support so minor issues don’t become major problems
• Improved overall function, energy, and quality of life

At Greenwich Wellness, because we view health holistically, many patients also report benefits indirectly — such as better digestion, improved immune resilience, and greater vitality.

As with any medical intervention, there are possible side effects or risks, though serious events are very rare. Common minor side effects include temporary soreness, stiffness, or slight aching after an adjustment (similar to how you might feel after a good stretch or workout).

More serious (but extremely uncommon) risks include nerve injury, disc injury, or stroke (in cervical manipulations), but these are very rare when chiropractors adhere to proper screening and technique protocols. Choosing a licensed, experienced chiropractor and maintaining open communication is key to minimizing risks.

For most patients, adjustments are not painful. Many report feeling relief, a sense of release, or a popping/cracking sound (which is normal). Sometimes there is mild soreness or tightness afterward — this is a normal tissue response that typically resolves within 24–48 hours. The goal is never to “force” a joint but to help it move properly. If at any time you feel discomfort beyond mild soreness, you should communicate with your chiropractor so they can adjust technique, pre-stretch the area, or use gentler modalities.

Waiting until pain appears often means structural or functional deterioration has already occurred. Regular chiropractic “wellness care” can help maintain spinal alignment, keep nerve function optimal, and prevent small distortions from becoming big problems. Many of the body’s systems (digestion, sleep, nerve function) perform better when the spinal and nervous systems are free of interference.

At Greenwich Wellness, our philosophy is integrative and patient centered. Dr. Adam Massoud brings training not only in chiropractic but also nutrition, acupuncture, sports medicine and functional medicine to treat you (your lifestyle, goals, structure, and function), not just your symptoms. Offering all these disciplines under one roof makes it easier to coordinate comprehensive care.

A first visit often lasts longer — possibly 45–60 minutes — because of intake, exam, and discussion of plan. Follow-up visits commonly run 15–30 minutes, depending on what adjustments or therapies are used.

In the U.S., chiropractors typically complete:

1. Undergraduate or prerequisite coursework (biology, anatomy, physiology, )
2. A Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree (usually 4 years post graduate), which covers anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnostics, chiropractic technique, ethics, and clinical experience
3. Licensing exams (national boards and state boards)
4. Many also pursue continuing education, specialty training (e.g. manipulation techniques, sports, nutrition)

Dr. Massoud, for example, also studied exercise physiology, nutrition and functional medicne before and during his chiropractic degree. He is also certified in acupuncture

Yes — many chiropractors are trained in gentler adjustment techniques for pregnancy. Care is modified to accommodate the changes in shape, hormonal laxity, and tolerance. Chiropractic can help with back pain, pelvic alignment, and comfort during pregnancy. It’s wise to choose a chiropractor experienced in prenatal care.

No, chiropractic adjustments are not addictive in a physiological sense. The sensation of relief or improvement might make you want to continue care, but a good chiropractor works toward reducing frequency over time and encourages self-care practices (exercise, posture, ergonomics). Just as our teeth need oral hygiene regularly so does the spine and central nervous system.

The popping or cracking sound often heard is simply the release of gas (mainly nitrogen as a waste product form normal cellular metabolism) from the joint fluid as pressure changes — much like cracking knuckles. It does not indicate bone grinding or damage. It’s common, harmless, and sometimes not even present depending on the technique or joint.

Self-manipulation (twisting, forcefully bending your neck or back) is generally discouraged. Without proper training, you risk over-stressing soft tissues, worsening misalignments, or injuring joints and nerves. Instead, your chiropractor can teach you safe mobilization, self-care stretches, posture techniques, and assistive tools.

Some do — especially those with chiropractic benefits and out-of-network coverage — but coverage varies widely based on plan, network status, and state laws. Greenwich Wellness is an out of network practice that offers treatment plans that save patients money as well as a membership option with additional discounts further reducing out of pocket costs.

Yes, research supports chiropractic adjustments as a beneficial conservative (non-surgical) approach for many types of back pain. By correcting spinal alignment, reducing nerve irritation, and improving mobility, chiropractic can relieve pain and support recovery.

Yes — chiropractors frequently treat neck pain arising from poor posture, whiplash, muscle strain, or spinal joint dysfunction. Through careful assessment and gentle adjustments, neck pain can often be reduced or resolved.

Yes — especially tension-type headaches and cervicogenic headaches (originating from neck structures). By correcting cervical spine alignment and relieving muscle tension, chiropractic often reduces headache frequency and intensity.

While there is overlap, the differences often are:

• Chiropractic emphasizes spinal alignment, joint adjustments, and nervous system impact
• Physical therapy tends to focus more on rehabilitation, muscle strength, flexibility, modalities, and functional retraining

In many cases, chiropractic and PT can complement one another (e.g. after an adjustment, PT may help retrain muscles).

Yes — chiropractic is often used in sports care to address joint dysfunction, muscle imbalance, and to support performance and recovery. Most professional sports teams and Olympic teams have chiropractors on staff with many famous athletes crediting chiropractic for their high level of performance, including Tom Brady, Michael Jordan, Jerry Rice and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Greenwich Wellness’s patient base is largely comprised of athletes.

Yes — by freeing up restricted joints, correcting alignment issues, and reinforcing muscular balance, chiropractic care can influence posture positively over time. Combined with ergonomic changes and strengthening exercises, results tend to be better.

Typically, the sequence is:

1. History and interview (symptoms, medical history)
2. Physical exam (orthopedic, neurological, motion testing)
3. Sometimes imaging or referral (if needed)
4. Explanation of findings and plan
5. Adjustment (or mobilization)
6. Possibly soft-tissue work, stretching, rehab exercises
7. Review of home care, posture, lifestyle recommendations

Yes — many chiropractors are trained in pediatric adjustment, using very gentle techniques. Conditions treated may include colic, ear infections, musculoskeletal alignment, and developmental support. As always, the chiropractor must screen carefully and adjust technique appropriately for the child’s age, size, and condition.

In most cases, chiropractic care can be integrated safely with medical treatments. However, patients on blood thinners, with severe osteoporosis, recent fractures, certain cancers, or spinal infections require special attention or referral. Always disclose your full medical history and medications.

Absolutely, to properly treat a disc tear or bulge that irritates a nerve, normal spinal function must be restored as that is usually what led to the disc being displaced to begin with. Methods of treatment include gentle decompressive adjustments and traction-based techniques. Greenwich Wellness has successfully treated thousands of herniated disc and sciatica patients.

Instead of hands-on thrusts, some chiropractors use a spring-loaded instrument (like an Activator) to deliver a precise, low-force impulse to a joint. This is gentler and useful for sensitive patients or areas.

Not always, but if red-flag signs exist (trauma, osteoporosis, neurological deficits, severe pain), imaging may be recommended to rule out contraindications.

Many patients do shift into a wellness routine after the initial corrective phase, often spaced weeks apart. The goal is to continue to improve alignment, prevent relapse, and support overall health. With continued care the spine keeps improving over time, it’s quite remarkable to witness.

• Corrective care focuses on active intervention to fix acute structural or functional issues that are causing pain.
• Wellness care is more about correcting the long-standing underlying issues that led to the injured state in the first place and further improving the function of each patient based on their unique spinal blueprint.

It depends — some patients feel relief immediately, others take several visits. Improvement also depends on tissue healing, posture changes, and consistency with home recommendations.

Yes, for many patients it can provide symptom relief, improve function, and slow degeneration, especially when combined with acupuncture and healing anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrients as well as lifestyle changes.

No — chiropractors can adjust joints in extremities (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle) when dysfunction is present.