How does Chiropractic work?
Chiropractors are trained to determine specific pain generators. There are treatments to address each of these pain generators once the particulars are discovered. Chiropractors rely primarily on spinal manipulation (also known as “the adjustment”) and therapeutic exercise as well as certain passive therapies such as muscle stimulation and traction.
How can Chiropractic help?
The Doctor of Chiropractic considers the body as a whole, and approaches your problem from a functional standpoint. Back or neck pain can often be a symptom of an underlying functional issue. As an example, feet that overly pronate can lead to back pain. The back pain is a symptom of a problem further down the kinetic chain. Postures that modern America assumes for multiple hours daily can lead to issues as well. Often, there are simple exercises that can offset the cumulative damage done from prolonged sitting, and we are happy to show you what you can do for your specific situation. Often, a short course of adjustments can accelerate the healing process by recreating movement in joints that have become fixated from hours of static postures, such as extended hours in front of a computer.
What is an “adjustment’?
The term “adjustment” describes a chiropractic treatment. The doctor of chiropractic, either manually or with a specialized instrument, puts motion back into a joint that has become fixed and painful. These fixations can in turn create muscle spasm and pain when the surrounding musculature engages to protect an area with improper movement patterns. Humans are built to move, and when we don’t we often find that pain is soon to follow.
Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?
Chiropractic treatment is, by nature, non-invasive. There are no needles, IV’s, surgeries, or any other invasive procedures performed in a chiropractic treatment. Because the doctors are well versed in many different chiropractic techniques, they call upon their knowledge and skill to choose the treatment which will be the most gentle and effective for your condition.
Is chiropractic safe?
Yes. Its non-surgical, drug-free approach to health care places chiropractic among the safest of all health care professions. Chiropractic takes nothing out of the body and puts nothing in it. As a result, chiropractors enjoy one of the lowest malpractice rates of all health care professionals.
How are doctors of chiropractic educated?
Like all primary health care providers, doctors of chiropractic undergo extensive education and training before becoming licensing professionals. Students begin by fulfilling undergraduate degree requirements, with a strong emphasis on the core sciences such as chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and physics. The professional program leading to the Doctor of Chiropractic degree is very demanding. Chiropractic students continue the study of sciences, including pathology and biochemistry, at a highly detailed level. Their education continues into the advanced clinical sciences including orthopedics, neurology, examination procedures, differential diagnosis, and x-ray interpretation. During this entire process aspiring doctors of chiropractic gain knowledge of the philosophy and the practice of health care and chiropractic. Doctors of chiropractic refine their technical adjusting skills in technique classes. During clinical internships student doctors perfect these skills. Finally, all doctors of chiropractic must pass the rigorous national board exams and state exams before entering the field.
What conditions are treated with chiropractic?
Chiropractic treatment is effective for many conditions. Any condition related to the spine, such asneck pain, mid- or low-back pain respond very well to chiropractic treatment. Other musculoskeletal conditions, such as shoulder pain or joint pain also respond very well to chiropractic care.Headaches and migraines are very effectively treated with chiropractic, since chiropractic treatment increases blood flow to the brain and releases tension, which typically cause many types of headaches and migraines.