Chiropractic Services
		Meet Stefan Cohen, D.C.
		Chiropractic Services
		Benefits of Chiropractic
		Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic

Stefan Cohen earned his undergraduate degree (B.A.) at Stanford University. He received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.) from Life Chiropractic College West where he graduated with both academic and clinical honors. His post-doctoral training included extremities management, nutrition, the application of state-of-the-art technologies to chiropractic, and many modalities of holistic care. Dr. Cohen is also a board certified Applied Kinesiologist through the International College of Applied Kinesiology.

Dr. Cohen offers a unique approach to health and wellness by combining traditional Western chiropractic techniques with several kinds of Eastern healing arts. He has studied in India, Thailand, Nepal and Japan and is a certified practitioner of Zen Shiatsu, traditional Thai massage, Active Release Technique® and VortexHealing®. He has also been practicing Iyengar-style yoga for since 1988. By integrating a variety of complementary approaches, Dr. Cohen is able to provide holistic care to his patients by addressing the structural, biochemical and energetic aspects of health. He uses the "10 Steps to Wellness" protocol developed by Dr. John Brimhall to guide his work.

In addition to working with patients at Innate Chiropractic, Dr. Cohen also works with companies to provide on-site chiropractic care, health classes, and ergonomic evaluations for their employees. He also gives training clinics for marathon and triathalon athletes, provides healthcare at athletic events, and donates his time to perform free healthcare services to the community. He currently lives in Berkeley with his wife Debbie and his son Adin.

Chiropractic is a healthcare field which focuses on the relationship between the nervous system, proper organ functioning, and overall wellness. Chiropractors are primarily concerned with your spinal column which encases and protects your spinal cord. Your spinal cord contains the nerves that go to every part of your body. If the bones of your spinal column (vertebrae) are even slightly out of place or moving improperly, this could impinge on your nerve function and cause pain or dysfunction. Chiropractors focus on locating these subluxations (misalignments) in your spine or other joints. If any subluxations are found, your chiropractor will generally apply a gentle corrective force to the affected area. This is called an "adjustment." Chiropractors are also highly trained in the diagnosis and treatment of soft tissue injuries.

Dr. Cohen uses a variety of chiropractic tools and techniques to meet your individual needs including the following:

Insight Millenium Station: SEMG Scan & Thermal Scan
The Insight Millenium Station is an instrument that hooks up to Dr. Cohen's computer and provides objective information about your nervous system and your muscles. This state-of-the-art tool helps Dr. Cohen to detect nerve disturbances and monitor your progress during the course of treatment. More info on Insight Millenium

Applied Kinesiology
Applied Kinesiology is a diagnostic system using muscle response testing to determine the structural, chemical and energetic areas of imbalance in the body.For more information about this technique, please visit the web site for the International College of Applied Kinesiology.

Manual Adjustments
The most common approach to Chiropractic care emphasizes manual treatments, which include spinal/skeletal adjustments (physically realigning the bones), and joint and soft-tissue manipulation. Innate Chiropractic focuses on holistic healing and use manual adjustments in conjunction with other treatments to maximize the health potential of our patients. Contradictory to many other chiropractic offices, we do not believe that manual adjustments are a cure-all approach to healing. When manual adjustments are thought to be the best prescription, we employ them in a way that is highly respectful, comfortable, and done in complete integrity.

Erchonia Variable Percussor
The Erchonia Variable Percussor is a wonderful tool which has been developed to correct the vertebral subluxation and its effects on the cranial bones and organs in the body. Its specific type of motion causes fascial restrictions to release. It can be used safely and effectively on the jaw, organs, and cranium to name a few applications

Erchonia Adjustor
The Erchonia Adjustor is an instrument developed to correct vertebral subluxations, release joint fixations and muscle restrictions. It is very light and quick, and this allows the joints to be "released" very gently, safely and quickly. As a consequence, the patient often doesn't even notice that a correction has been made!

Neuro Emotional Technique (NET)
Emotions such as fear, anger, and grief can affect us long after the original event that caused them. When our body fails to "let go" of these emotions, we can find ourselves with unexplained aversions, self-sabotaging behaviors, destructive beliefs, phobis, and chronic physical ailments. Neuro Emotional Technique is a way of releasing the emotional responses that are "stuck" inside your body and free you from their long-standing, harmful effects. For more information about this technique, please visit www.NetMindBody.com.

Allergy Desensitization
Dr. Cohen uses a method known as A.S.E.R.T. (Allergy Sensitivity Elimination & Reprogramming Technique) to desensitize your body and reprogram its abnormal immune responses. This system utilizes cutting edge concepts of how the body responds to the frequencies of substances at a quantum level. For more information on A.S.E.R.T, please read this document.

Chiropractic is for useful for maintaining good health and wellness. Many people who are not experiencing acute pain or health problems like to receive chiropractic care on a regular or occasional basis. The benefits of chiropractic include:

- Increased mobility and range of motion - Increased joint health - Increased performance and energy - Increased balance and coordination - Increased sense of well-being and relaxation - Decreased stiffness and muscular spasms - Reduced risk of injury and degeneration of tissues

Sometimes people are motivated to try chiropractic to address specific health concerns. Chiropractic can be helpful both in relieving the symptoms of illness and correcting the underlying causes. Some of the common health problems treated at Innate Chiropractic include:

- Headaches and migraines
- Pain in the neck and back
- Pain in the joints such as the wrists, shoulders, hips and knees
- Pain in the extremities such as the hands and feet
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Respetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
- Pain from arthritis
- Sleep problems and insomnia
- Fibromyalgia
- Digestive problems
- Hormone issues including PMS and symptoms related to menopause
- Irritability and mood swings
- Allergies and sinus problems
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Syndrome X, pre-diabetes and other problems related to sugar handling

Do chiropractors really treat health problems besides back and neck ailments?
Yes. Although chiropractic is best known for its success in treating back and neck pain, it has helped millions of people worldwide with all kinds of problems. Chiropractic primarily works with the spinal column and its intimate relationship with the nervous system which in turn controls the body. So chiropractic works by positively affecting part or all of the nervous system.

What kind of training do chiropractors have?
Chiropractic education consists of four years of clinical and academic training about all aspects of health and the body with an an emphasis on neuro-muscular diagnosis and treatment. This is followed by another year of clinical internship. (Medical doctors also go to school for four years.

Should I see my regular medical doctor (M.D.) or a chiropractor (D.C.) for my problem?
That's up to you. Many patients say that they appreciate the fact that they don't feel hurried during their appointments with Dr. Cohen. Many people also like chiropractic's holistic view of health and the emphasis on natural healing techiniques. You can also receive care from both a medical doctor and a doctor of chiropractic to treat different aspects of a health problem; chiropractic can be either a complementary or alternative treatment to "traditional Western medicine." Of course, if Dr. Cohen feels that chiropractic isn't appropriate for you, he will gladly refer you to another healthcare provider.

What should I do before my first chiropractic appointment?
Wear comfortable cotton clothing if possible. Bring any insurance information you have. Please arrive 15 minutes early to fill out new patient information sheets.

What will happen during my first visit with Dr. Cohen?
Dr. Cohen will talk with you about your chief concerns and take a history of your health issues. Then he will perform a computerized scan of your nervous system followed by chiropractic, neurological, orthopedic, and/or applied kinesiology evaluations (depending on your individual needs). Expect to spend up to 40 minutes with Dr. Cohen on the first visit. A follow-up appointment will be scheduled for another day to discuss Dr. Cohen's findings. At this appointment, you will receive a special customized folder containing your computer scans and a report of Dr. Cohen's findings and recommendations for care. This follow-up appointment takes up to 20 minutes.

How many appointments will I need?
Obviously it varies greatly from person to person. In general, the amount of care that you will need in order to achieve optimal health depends on two main factors: the severity of your problem, and the length of time that the problem has been present. Newer injuries tend to respond more quickly to treatment than chronic conditions. The only way to know how many appointments you will need is to meet with Dr. Cohen to discuss your individual situation.

Many people need "relief care" when they first come to see Dr. Cohen. The goal of this kind of care is to relieve the discomfort of acute symptoms. As the discomfort decreases, you may need some "rehabilitative care" to stop, slow or reverse the misalignment process and strengthen the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) around the distressed joints to help them keep the bones in the proper position. To maintain optimal health and functioning and to prevent future problems, it is highly recommended that you come in once in a while for "maintenance care" (for the same reasons that you go to the dentist for check-ups).

Are chiropractic treatments safe?
Yes, chiropractic treatments are very safe. Many people think that chiropractic is safer than "traditional Western medicine" such as drugs or surgery because nothing foreign is put into your body. Chiropractic makes use of the body's capacity to heal itself and only uses non-invasive methods of care.

Do adjustments hurt?
No, adjustments almost never hurt. Most people think adjustments feel great and look forward to their appointments. Many adjustments are very subtle and gentle but extremely effective.

Why do I sometimes hear a popping sound when I get an adjustment?
Your bones are not cracking! The sound that you might hear during an adjustment is caused by the equalization of the gases that are dissolved in joint fluid. (Think about opening a can of carbonated soda.)

If you have any other questions that aren't answered here, please call our office.

Embrace your highest potential