Chiropractic is a health profession whose primary focus is the care and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders and the consequences of these disorders on the nervous system and general health. It is a natural and conservative approach to healthcare. Doctors of chiropractic are specialists in manual therapy, especially spinal and extremity joint manipulation. They are portals of entry into the health care system and, therefore, are trained and licensed to both diagnose and treat. Doctors of chiropractic are especially skilled in treating conditions such as:
Which problems are most commonly treated by chiropractic?
Doctors of Chiropractic are highly skilled at diagnosing and treating:
Other conditions that respond to manipulation include pain with:
A fall, injury, sudden jar, trauma, or mild repetitive aggravation can cause musculoskeletal pain. Other causes include improper sleeping habits, poor posture, occupational hazards, incorrect lifting practices, lack of rest and exercise, and stress.
Chiropractic works because you are a self-healing, self-regulating organism controlled by your nervous system. Millions of instructions flow from your brain, down the spinal cord and out to every organ and tissue in the body. Improper motion of the moving bones of your spine called subluxation can interfere with the vital exchange by irritating nerves and compromising the function of affected organs and tissues. Specific spinal adjustments can help improve mind/body communications. Health often returns with improved nervous system control of the body.
Chiropractic manipulation, frequently also called the chiropractic adjustment, is a specific form of manipulative treatment employed by Doctors of Chiropractic. It is a treatment procedure that is carefully administered to specific joints of the body to correct subluxations, reduce pain, improve function, and speed recovery. It is the principal form of treatment used by DCs and may be used together with other supporting forms of treatment depending on the patient's specific needs. Both the thoroughness of the chiropractic evaluation that precedes treatment and the specificity of the chiropractic adjustments provided during each patient visit characterize this form of manipulation and make it especially effective.
Spinal joints that are "locked up," fixated or not moving right can adversely affect your health by "choking" or irritating delicate nearby nerve tissue. Chiropractic adjustments add motion to these areas. This helps restore nervous system integrity and can improve the healing process. Continued visits help retrain supporting muscles and ligaments of the spine.
Chiropractic manipulation is painless. However, in cases of recent trauma such as whiplash, mild discomfort may be experienced due to inflammation. A more gentle form of manipulation can be implemented if necessary.
Chiropractic manipulation is recognized as one of the safest, drug-free, non-invasive treatments available for headaches, neck and back pain. Based on the results of many studies concerning the safety and efficacy of chiropractic treatment, no other profession, including medicine and physical therapy, can demonstrate greater effectiveness or a better safety record for the treatment of spinal pain syndromes.
How long does it take to heal with chiropractic care?
Many patients experience almost instant relief. Others discover it can take weeks or months. Many factors affect the healing process. Think about how long it takes for an ankle sprain to heal - depends on the degree of the injury, if it’s been injured before, how much stress is placed on the joint during the healing process, the type of treatment rendered and the type/amount of rehabilitation exercises and stretches that are included in the regime. Its exactly the same with spinal symptoms. Within one to two weeks (3-4 visits), most patients either see significant progress or have an idea about how much their condition will benefit from further chiropractic care with an exercise and stretching program.
Someone said once I start going to a chiropractor I will need to keep going forever, is this true?
Not at all, one adjustment may help you. However, chances are that the vertebra that went out of place will return to its previous position until it is "trained" as to what the proper position is. That is why most chiropractors recommend several adjustments at the beginning of your care plan. Of course, this depends on the severity of your subluxations. After that, you may need to come in periodically for maintenance care (to keep the problem from returning).