It is no surprise that many Americans suffer from chronic pain, whether it’s in the neck, lower back, or shoulders. Anyone who has experienced pain understands its all-consuming effect. Chronic pain sufferers will try almost anything to get relief. Of the millions of Americans that suffer from chronic pain, a huge majority have found relief through chiropractic care, which is a complementary therapy that involves the physical alignment or adjustment of the spine that has moved out of position.
A chiropractor may be able to help you if you have neck, back, or leg pain that is not related to osteoarthritis. Make sure that you only see a licensed chiropractor. The best patients who can benefit from chiropractic care are the ones who are healthy and have no advanced joint disease. This includes those who have suffered from sciatica or are recovering from sports injuries.
A chiropractor can help people suffering from tension headaches or migraines. This is because alignment problems are a contributing factor to headaches. Chiropractic adjustments can also be beneficial for patients suffering from frozen shoulder syndrome. These adjustments stretch the shoulder muscles and reduce stiffness.
For symptoms such as:
Chiropractic care can address all of these issues or problems and more.
Chiropractic medicine is concerned with the relationship between the main structures of the body – the skeleton and muscles, as well as the patient’s health. Chiropractic care focuses on the ability to improve and preserve health by making adjustments to these structures, especially the spine. Chiropractic is a health profession that recognizes the body’s natural ability to heal. Manual therapy is often used and sometimes includes spinal manipulation. You may also be able to use other forms of treatment such as nutrition counseling and exercise.
This treatment is sought by many patients for their back, neck, and joint pain. Many patients prefer a chiropractor to be their primary care doctor because they are open to alternative treatments and do not require surgery or medication. Chiropractic medicine is often associated with complementary and alternative medicine because of its emphasis on holistic healthcare.
The approach of chiropractors to patient care is similar to conventional medicine. The chiropractors interview the patient and take a detailed history. They then perform a physical exam, run tests, and create a diagnosis. The doctor will then create a treatment plan and follow up with the patient. Many problems involving the musculoskeletal systems are treated by chiropractors.
Your chiropractor will conduct a thorough physical exam with special attention to your spine at your first visit. Other tests and examinations that your chiropractor may recommend include X-rays.
Your chiropractor will place you in certain positions during a chiropractic adjustment to treat the affected areas. You will often be positioned face down on a specially-designed, padded chiropractic table. The chiropractor applies a controlled, abrupt force to a joint using his or her hands, pushing it beyond its normal range of motion. During treatment, you may hear crackling or popping sounds from your chiropractor moving your joints.
Your health can be affected by the relationship between your spine and your body. Poor posture, stress, injury, and arthritis can lead to pain and other health problems. Chiropractic care can provide significant relief for many patients and help optimize their health.
Chiropractic adjustments use a variety of manual treatments, including stretching and sustained pressure, and joint manipulations. These are typically done by hand and involve a gentle thrust. The manipulations are intended to improve joint function and motion. Although most manipulations are performed on the spine, other parts of your body can also be used.
Chiropractic care focuses on the management of the neuromusculoskeletal systems without surgery or medication. Although back and neck pain are the main focus of chiropractic, many chiropractors also treat other ailments. Some chiropractors believe that treatment should be limited to the spine or back and neck pain, while others disagree. In a 2009 survey, 73% of American chiropractors classified themselves as “back/musculoskeletal specialists”, but 47% of respondents deemed the label “back/neck pain specialists” to be the least desirable. This was in contrast with 47% who viewed it as the most undesirable description in an international 2005 survey. The profession of chiropractic combines elements from mainstream and alternative medicine. There is no agreement on how to define it. Chiropractic medicine has many characteristics that are similar to primary care providers. However, chiropractic also includes more medical specialties like podiatry or dentistry. Although it has been suggested that chiropractors should specialize in nonsurgical spine care rather than trying to treat other conditions, the wider view of chiropractic is still widely accepted.
According to the World Health Organization, chiropractic care is generally safe when used correctly and skillfully. The safety of chiropractic adjustments are not established. Although adjustments are considered relatively safe, complications may occur and there are known risks, contraindications, adverse effects, and risks. There are certain conditions that spinal manipulative therapy should not be used for. These include severe and sudden headaches or neck pain that is different from what you have experienced in the past. Direct risks of chiropractic include delayed or missed diagnosis by a chiropractor.
As primary care providers, chiropractors may use diagnostic imaging techniques like X-rays or CT scans that rely upon ionizing radiation. Although there isn’t any evidence to support the practice, chiropractors might still take X-rays of patients several times per year. The goal of practice guidelines is to minimize unnecessary radiation exposure. This increases cancer risk proportionally to the radiation received. Evidence-based radiology instruction at chiropractic schools around the world seems to be a result of research.
