Chiropractic

Definition and OverviewChiropractic is a method of treatment often used for disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, as well as the pain and defects associated with these disorders. The underlying principle of this health care practice is that manipulation and specific adjustment of the skeleton and its supporting structures can significantly treat the aforementioned conditions and promote overall health. The main subject for chiropractic care is the spine, although joints, surrounding muscles and nerves may also be involved for the treatment of headaches, joint aches, and neuro-musculoskeletal complaints in the neck, back, arms and legs.

Benefits of Chiropractic treatmentChiropractic care can benefit patients of all ages, from a wide range of health conditions. It of-fers effective solutions to pain symptoms including the following:- Back pain- Neck pain- Arthritis-related pain- Whiplash- Headache- Strains and sprains due to repetitive stress or normal daily activities- Work-related and sports-related injuries- Restricted movement of the shoulders, back, neck and limbs

These painful and often debilitating conditions often involve or significantly impact the nervous system, which can cause pain and dysfunction even to areas far from the injury region. Chiro-practic care can help treat the underlying cause of pain so overall body structure and health may be restored.

Chiropractic treatment also offer benefits to the elderly, as care and treatment can help them maintain mobility and a good range of motion. For certain conditions, long term relief can be achieved when chiropractic care is combined with other therapies including physical therapy, or-thotic devices, exercise and lifestyle modifications.

When to see a ChiropractorExperiencing pain is normal at certain points in everyone’s life. However, if you have been ex-periencing pain for a long time (chronic pain) or if you experience pain that is so severe and de-bilitating that it interrupts you from work, school, or performing normal daily activities, then you may need to promptly see a chiropractor. In many cases such as for spine problems, the sooner you see a chiropractor, the better the success rates will be.

Seeking services of a chiropractor usually doesn't need a physician recommendation. You may freely see a chiropractor anytime, although close coordination with your family doctor may pro-vide the benefit of a more comprehensive health care for your condition. Take note though that chiropractic treatment is not meant to replace other validated and medically-recommended ther-apies, so physician coordination is still required especially for serious conditions.

Doctors of chiropractic, also known as chiropractic physicians or chiropractics employ drug and medication-free, hands-on approach to health care. They are skilled in a broad range of thera-peutic and rehabilitative exercises, and they also give appropriate recommendations for nutri-tion, diet and lifestyle.

Chiropractic care: diagnosisYour first visit to a chiropractor will involve initial consultation and diagnosos. You may be asked questions or may be given a questionnaire regarding your health history. Your chiropractor will also ask to pinpoint areas where you experience discomfort, and perform a routine physical ex-amination focusing on these areas. The chiropractor may also take x-rays of the spine and of the pain areas to check the bone anatomy and the condition of the soft tissues underneath. Sev-eral tests, such as reflex tests, range of motion tests, palpation, muscle strength tests, as well as neurological and orthopedic tests may also be performed.

During diagnosis, it is important to discuss with your chiropractor should you have the following issues or conditions:- Arthritis or suspected arthritis symptoms- Recent fractures or trauma on the bone- Disorders of the circulation- Are pregnant- Any medications you are currently taking- Previous treatment including previous operations or surgeries

What to expect in Chiropractic treatmentAfter a thorough assessment, the chiropractor will develop a treatment plan best suited for your condition. After comprehensively considering your overall health, the condition of your spine, the extent of injury, and your long-term goals, the treatment plan will be discussed to you before the actual treatment is initiated.

As mentioned earlier, chiropractic treatment involves a medication-free approach. Central to chi-ropractic care is physical manipulation or therapeutic adjustments that employs the right amount of force, direction, leverage, velocity and amplitude directed at specific bones, muscles, and joints. Most treatments will be centered on adjustments to the spine, but depending on your con-dition, therapies to the ankle, wrist, knee, shoulder and elbows may also be performed to re-store proper alignment and improve function. Expect your chiropractor to use slow and sus-tained hand pressure alternating with swift movements, with various degrees of hand pressure to perform the necessary adjustments. It is common to experience or hear clunking or clicking sounds as joints are manipulated, although this process is usually painless.

This medical practice is based on the idea that proper structure is necessary for proper and pain-free function of body parts. As such, there may be a series of physical adjustments, per-formed in increments to gradually improve the pain areas. Chiropractic treatment may last a few days or continue to a few months, depending on the suggested treatment plan.

Chiropractic therapy are often accompanied with tools and devices for better results and im-proved comfort including specialized adjusting tables, mechanical instruments, application of heat or cold compress, orthotic support for shoes, electrical stimulation, rehabilitative exercise, and nutritional supplementation.

Is it safe?Chiropractic is widely-recognized to be one of the safest non-invasive, drug-free therapies for treatment of musculo-skeletal problems. Although the safety record of this procedure remains excellent, there are a few minor risks associated with chiropractic care. After treatment, patients may feel minor discomfort and soreness due to the manipulations performed, but such pain usu-ally goes away within a day or two.

To ensure best results with little or no side effects, it is best to be choose a chiropractor who is licensed and experienced in the field. It is also important to be very specific about your symp-toms for your practitioner to be able to recommend the safest an most effective treatment.

ReferencesAmerican Chiropractic Association (2014). “What is Chiropractic” Available: http://www.acatoday.org/level2_css.cfm?T1ID=13&T2ID=61Peterson, D. H. & Bergmann, T.F. Chiropractic technique: Principles and procedures (2nd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.Kuusisto, L., Ph.D., The University of Minnesota Driven to Discover. “What Happens at the Chi-ropractor?” Available: http://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/explore-healing-practices/chiropractic/what-happens-chiropractor