Dr. Lisa Orwick has been a chiropractor since 1996, practicing in Tucson since 2000. She provides thorough, gentle and compassionate care that has become her hallmark within the community. Dedicated to providing the latest technology and techniques in chiropractic care, she has a motor vehicle collision certification, is certified in Kinesio taping and provides every patient with Erchonia cold laser treatments. Orwick is unique in her field. We asked her to explain some of the mystery surrounding her field.

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic, founded in 1895, is Greek for “done by hand.” It is a drug- and surgery-free profession known for treating the musculoskeletal and nervous system. The foundational principle is that the body can heal itself when the spine is aligned and the nervous system is
functioning optimally.

Most people are familiar with the biomechanical aspect of chiropractic, to adjust the spinal bones (vertebrae) when they are out of alignment (subluxated). It is analogous to your car tires being out of alignment; they wear down faster and cause more complicated and expensive problems if not addressed immediately. But chiropractors are actually nerve doctors more than bone doctors.

The bones out of alignment degenerate the disc, which interferes with nerve function. The nervous system is the first system formed by an embryo and runs all systems in the body (immune, respiratory and cardiovascular). That is why people that get adjusted regularly get sick less often, sleep better, feel better and have more energy.

The brain is the master control center that sends signals through the spinal cord and out through the nerve roots to communicate vital instructions to every muscle and organ of the body. If there is subluxation, the nerve transmission may be compromised and messages
are not received clearly by the body, causing pain, weakness, muscle spasms, headache or even decreased digestion.

Further, constant feedback from the body (proprioception) to the brain helps the brain protect the body from harm. Subluxations cause incomplete or unclear messages to be sent to the brain, thus impairing its ability to protect the body. For example, someone trips and falls because the brain wasn’t exactly clear where the foot was in relation to the ground (bad proprioception or inaccurate nerve information).

How do people get a subluxation?

Subluxation can be caused by an old or recent trauma, falling, sports injury,auto accident, improper lifting, poor ergonomics, sleeping wrong, poor posture, overexertion, stress or poor nutrition.

Are all chiropractors the same?

All chiropractors are not the same. There is a wide spectrum of techniques, from intense “cracking” to barely touching, as with network chiropractic. While some chiropractors adjust with their hands, others use adjusting tools and high-tech equipment to lessen the impact on the body. Arizona chiropractors require an extra license to do acupuncture or physiotherapy. Physiotherapy utilizes modalities such as ultrasound, electricstim, cold laser or Kinesio tape (as seen on the Olympic athletes).

What should patients expect on the first visit? Will X-rays be taken?

A chiropractor is a physician, and on the first visit will take a thorough history, perform a comprehensive exam, give a diagnosis and possibly order X-rays for your safety, to be more specific about your adjustments and to find underlying causes for your pain (degenerated disc, arthritis, scoliosis, fracture, ruptured ligaments or subluxations).

What’s the difference between chiropractic and an allopathic approach to spinal pain?

Allopathic (traditional) doctors treat the symptoms of spinal pain by masking it with prescription medications, performing surgery or giving spinal injections. Most chiropractors use a holistic approach that assists the body to heal itself through adjustments. Chiropractors search for the root causes of the problem and address them with lifestyle modifications such as diet, exercise, proper ergonomics, orthotics and supplements.

What conditions does chiropractic help?

Chiropractic treatment is appropriate for cases of auto accidents, neck/mid and low back pain, headaches, TMJ, carpal tunnel syndrome, fatigue, scoliosis and fibromyalgia, to name a few.

Will insurance pay?

Medicare, some health insurance and auto policies of responsible party will pay or reimburse for chiropractic.

How does someone find the right chiropractor?

Try to find the right chiropractor that is safety-oriented, holistic, compassionate, gentle, experienced, trained in multiple techniques, provides nutritional counseling, licensed in physiotherapy and extremity adjusting, certified in Kinesio taping, spends time with you and educates you, and uses the latest equipment (Erchonia cold laser) and treats you as an individual.

If you’ve been in an auto accident, you want a doctor certified in spinal trauma and documented for optimal reimbursement from the insurance company of the person at fault.

Location: 7235 N. Paseo del Norte, in the Natural Life Holistic Oasis Wellness Center. Contact Dr. Lisa Orwick at 520-740-1718 or NaturalLifeChiropractic.com.