Yes. Today's Chiropractic Physicians receive education and training very similar to Medical Doctors. Dr. Swanekamp received a four-year undergraduate bachelors of arts degree from Duke University. He then attended the New York Chiropractic College from 1983 through 1986, and then received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree in December of 1986.

Chiropractic Physicians sit for national and state board examinations that are extremely rigorous. The National Board of Chiropractic Examiners administers the science and technical portions of the boards. Then, each state administers a clinical examination before granting licensure.

Dr. Swanekamp is licensed in both New York and New Jersey.

Yes. Many Medical Doctors regularly refer their patients to Chiropractors for the treatment of back and neck problems. If you're not sure whether your physician will cooperate in referring you for chiropractic care, ask him or her. You may be surprised at how open your physician is to referring you for care.

That depends on the type of condition that brings you to our office. Patients present with a wide range of problems, some minor and others rather complicated. Simple, minor problems may only require a few treatments over a short period of time. Complex, chronic condition with underlying structure problems in the spine may require care over an extended period, perhaps several months.

Our goal on your first visit to our office is to collect enough information about your problem so that when your return for your second visit (called a "report of findings" ), we'll be able to accurately tell you how many treatments and over what length of time you'll need.

An example of a condition requiring a longer period of care is childhood scoliosis. Scoliosis is an abnormal side-to side curvature of the spine prevalent in young people. Because scoliosis can continue to develop until a child reaches full maturity, treatment may extend over several years. However, this can measurably affect how much the scoliosis develops.

On the other hand, you may wake-up with a stiff neck one morning and never had this type of problem before. X-rays of your neck may show no underlying structural weakness. In such a case, treatment may only last several weeks.

For more information, please take a look at our three phases of care.

This is one of the most commonly asked questions by prospective chiropractic patients. It stems from a commonly held belief about chiropractic care that sounds something like, "once you get going, you always have to go."

Nothing could be further from the truth. Getting chiropractic adjustments in no way alters the spine so that you will forever need an adjustment. In addition, we will never pressure you into coming back forever. Some patients decide however, that they would like to maintain the progress that they have made with chiropractic care. They choose to receive periodic checkup visits to prevent a reoccurrence of their problem.

It is possible that with the first few treatments, you may actually feel a little worse. The reason for this is that along with the pain that brought you to our office, there is most likely tremendous tightness of the muscles and ligaments that support your spine. The initial response of theses tight muscles and ligaments to treatment is to feel sore. The analogy that we like to use is that of a muscle that you start exercising for the first time in years. How does if feel at first, better or worse? Almost always it is worse. In time, however, as you continue to exercise, that same muscle begins to feel better. The same is true with your chiropractic care. Tight muscles and ligaments may actually feel a little sore when treatment begins. In time, that reactions subsides and you'll feel much better.

If you would like, we will. If you prefer that we didn't, we won't. It's your decision. Studies have shown that about thirty percent of the people who seek alternative medical treatment want their doctor informed.

Many people are in the same position that you are. To help you make your decision, we make available to all prospective patients that are no-charge, no-obligation consultation. In it, Dr. Swanekamp will discuss with you your concerns and any questions you may have. Please feel free to call us at (609)426-1700 to set up a consultation. In addition you can may schedule an appointment to meet with Dr. Swanekamp.

Many insurance policies do, including most HMO's. View the insurance plans that our office participates with here. If you're still not sure about whether we accept your particular plan, call our office with your policy number and we can determine what chiropractic benefits you have.

We do have cash plans available for you.

Absolutely. We have exercise rehabilitation available in our office. When your pain begins to diminish, we will start you on an exercise program designed to stabilize the specific muscles affecting your problem.

Unless you have current x-rays of the area we'll be treating, you'll need updated x-rays. We are as concerned about radiation exposure as you are. That's why we limit your exposure by taking only the x-rays we need, using "high-speed" x-ray films and cassettes, and taking your x-rays with a state of the art "high frequency" machine.

Your privacy is very important to us. Please feel free to read our Privacy Act and if you have any questions, please call us or contact us.

During the course of your treatments, you may receive various types of muscle therapy designed to treat a muscular source of pain…commonly referred to as a “trigger point”. Is this a muscle spasm?? Not really. A trigger point is actually a small, often centrally located knot in a muscle that becomes a source of pain by itself. It is not a true muscle spasm because the entire muscle is not involved, only a small, specific portion of it. A trigger point has also been referred to as “primary muscular dysfunction”, and as such requires specific therapy to fix…either by hand or machine (ultrasound and electrical muscle stimulation).

In addition to your adjustments, the doctor may perform various types of trigger point therapy designed to alleviate these sources of pain.