FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 
What the heck does ‘Wissahickon’ mean?
The locals will need no explanation on this one but the “Wissahickon” is a actually a local park which is part of the larger Fairmount Park system in Philadelphia. The park boasts some incredible views and is great for hiking, running, and mountain biking. We had hoped that the word ‘Wissahickon’ translated into something cool that had to do with healthy and vitality but it turns out that it’s a word taken from the Lenape language and it means “catfish creek” or “stream of yellowish color.” Either way, it’s an awesome park and one of our favorite places in Philadelphia.
What is the difference between Physical Therapy and Chiropractic?
Honestly, sometimes there is a huge difference and sometimes the only difference is the piece of paper hanging on the wall. The best Chiro’s and PT’s are more alike than different. Personally, we study the great clinicians from Physical Therapy, Chiropractic, Athletic Training, Massage Therapy, Osteopathic Medicine, Functional Neurology, Strength and Conditioning, and Clinical Nutrition. We try to blend the latest science and research from all of these fields with our clinical experience into the most effective therapeutic approach possible. If we limited our knowledge base to one single profession, we would be missing out on the tremendous progress that has been made in all of the physical medicine world and our patients would be the ones that suffer. In my opinion, the modern day Chiropractor and/or Physical Therapist is more of a hybrid between the professions than anything else. The link below is a very well written review of this topic if you’d like additional information.
http://www.jrsportperformance.com/uncategorized/pts-vs-chiros/
P.S.- One technical difference is that Chiropractors can ‘diagnose’ and don’t require a referral from a Medical Doctor before a visit. Although most PT programs are doctorate programs now, they still require referrals and can not ‘diagnose’ you with any particular condition.
What do nutrition and diet have to do with my back pain?
I love this question and I could talk about this all day but I’ll try to keep it short. The answer to this question depends on the person asking it. The obvious case is when someone is overweight and stressing his spinal joints, muscles, ligaments, and fascia with the additional workload placed on your tissues and also the systemic inflammation present. Less obvious cases have to do with food allergies, referred pain from visceral conditions, high blood pressure, malnutrition, inflammatory gut conditions, etc. Although most people don’t like to hear it, our answer to most questions is usually ‘it depends.’ It’s important to recognize the complex relationship that genetics, diet history, physical activity, stress levels, and sleep have on each individual. Beware of the people that give you cookie-cutter answers to health-related questions before they know your whole story.
Are Chiropractors real doctors? How long do you have to go to school for?
The short answer is yes, Chiropractors are real doctors. Typically (although not always) Chiropractors receive a four-year degree in Biology or Exercise Science prior to attending graduate school for Chiropractic. At minimum, those entering Chiropractic college must complete 90 credit hours of classes that include Chemistry, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology, Physics, Psychology, and more. Following undergraduate work, Chiropractors complete a program that is equivalent to an additional 5 academic years or 10-trimesters. This doctorate-level course load includes advanced work in Anatomy and Physiology(including an entire year of cadaver lab), Cell and Tissue Biology, Musculoskeletal Diagnosis, Kinesiology and Biomechanics, and more. The hands-on and practical portions of our education included the study of various joint manipulation and soft-tissue techniques, exercise rehabilitation, postural correction, clinical nutrition, ergonomics, x-ray analysis, etc. We even had some Psychology, Pharmacology, Visceral Pathology, and advanced imaging classes in order to help us better work with other medical professionals and identify conditions that require emergency intervention.
Although the laws governing the scope of practice of Chiropractors differs state-to-state, we are trained and considered to be primary care ‘Physicians’ by the Joint Committee of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Although very few Chiro’s ever practice these procedures, we learned how to draw blood, take X-rays, perform EKG’s, do prostate and vaginal exams, etc. Chiro’s are even trained to deliver babies and perform small surgeries in some states.
Why is your slogan “Pain to Performance”?
The slogan “Pain to Performance” describes both the spectrum of patients that we are capable of working with and the path that most patients typically take. Let me explain. With our diverse skill set of hands-on and rehabilitation techniques, we are able to work with patients in pain. With our backgrounds in athletics, diet, nutrition, and strength & conditioning, we are able to work with people who have performance-based goals. Typically, people enter our office because they are suffering from muscle or joint-related pain. The path of this patient will be one that starts with pain management and leads to performance enhancement. So voila, “Pain to Performance” it is…
Please feel free to contact our office with any additional questions you may have. We love receiving emails and helping people so don’t ever feel like your question isn’t important…