Find Out What Chiropractors Do And How You Can Benefit
Have you ever asked yourself what does a chiropractor do? Perhaps you have heard that chiropractors are ‘back doctors’ but still don’t really know what that means.
In this blog post you will read about chiropractic care and the role Doctors of Chiropractic play in our health system. Let’s get started!
What is Chiropractic Care?
This is a good place to start. Chiropractic is a natural healthcare professional that focuses on your nervous and musculoskeletal system. Specifically, chiropractic looks at problems related to your spine and muscles and how these problems impact your health and wellbeing.
Chiropractic seeks to reduce musculoskeletal aches and pains without the need for drugs or surgery.
Common musculoskeletal issues that chiropractors commonly help with include lower back pain, joint pain, neck pain, and some headaches.
What is a Doctor of Chiropractic?
Mostly referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) – practice a physical approach to health that is ‘hands on’. This approach entails patient examination, diagnosis and treatment with the aim of reducing feelings of pain while increasing movement and flexibility.
Similarly, Chiropractors have vast diagnostic experience and skill and are also well versed in recommending rehabilitative and therapeutic exercises, in addition to providing lifestyle, dietary and nutritional counselling. Have a look at a chiropractor’s profile here.
DCs may decide if and when a Chiropractic treatment is necessary for a patient, through biophysical testing, clinical examination and diagnostic imaging or other diagnostic processes. In the event that a chiropractic treatment may not be suitable for a patient’s condition, Chiropractors often refer patients to the appropriate healthcare provider for onward treatment.
A Doctor’s Education
Chiropractic doctors are regulated by state licensing boards and their practices are subjected to set rules and boundaries by the state practice acts. In addition, their four-year doctoral graduate school program is nationally accredited by an agency under the U.S Department of Education (and other relevant regulatory bodies in different countries). Also, they are expected to pass a national board exam after their graduation in order to obtain a practising license. Furthermore, they are required to earn continuing education credits (CE) every year in order to maintain their license via CE programs approved by the state.
How Does Chiropractic Help Back Pain?
Ok we have covered what chiropractic is and what a Doctor of Chiropractic does. Let’s look to how a chiropractic adjustment actually works.
For health challenges such as lower back pain, a chiropractor may be the first-choice treatment for a patient.
The chiropractic adjustment is a precise application of force or pressure applied to a stuck joint or problematic area. The aim is to increase joint range of motion, increase muscle flexibility and remove any interference or pressure on the surrounding area.
Think about your posture: when you are slumped forward there is more pressure placed on your neck, spinal cord and back. Over time as this bad posture becomes a permanent habit, health issues such as muscle tension, headaches, breathing difficulties and lower back pain may become more common.
The chiropractic adjustment, over time, aims to restore a more natural posture with increased movement and flexibility.
In the event that there are other existing medical conditions, chiropractic treatment may play a support role in combination with any other medical treatment to help cure the musculoskeletal condition associated with the ailment.
A more detailed look at the chiropractic adjustment
Spinal manipulation, also referred to as a chiropractic adjustment, is one of the most common therapeutic procedures carried out by chiropractic doctors. As previously mentioned, controlled force is manually applied to problematic areas to restore mobility.
Improper lifting of heavy loads and incorrect lifting technique, repetitive straining and twisting and turning, or continuous stresses like sitting for prolonged periods of time may contribute to posture problems. Regardless, tissues that have become injured undergo both chemical and physical changes that can bring about pain, inflammation, and reduced function. Adjustment or manipulation of the affected tissues and joints helps ease muscle tightness and pains, restores mobility and restores the health of tissues.
Chiropractic and Risk
It is rare for any Chiropractic adjustment to cause pain or discomfort. Although, after the procedure, patients may experience a mild sore or ache which usually stops around 12 to 48 hours after the procedure. No health procedure is ever 100% risk free and every treatment has benefits and risk factors associated with it.
Conclusion
When put next to other forms of pain treatments such as addictive medications and opioids, chiropractic care comes out as a low-risk natural form of healthcare for musculoskeletal issues.
Doctor’s of Chiropractic are tertiary trained healthcare professionals who use a ‘hands on’ approach to tackle common health problems such as lower back pain, joint pain, injury and posture problems.
So if you are experiencing aches and pains and or bad back, why not call up your local chiropractic office and ask them about their services and how they might help you.