Chiropractic care has been around since the late 1800s when DD Palmer discovered that a chiropractic adjustment in the spine could cure illness elsewhere in the body. Since then, chiropractic care has grown into an established complementary medicine industry that has the backing of a wide range of scientific studies and has been accepted as an effective treatment by health organizations around the world. Chiropractors are able to diagnose and treat or manage a range of conditions, without the use of medicine or surgery.
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is based on the theory that the spine, as the center of the body's nervous system, is vital for the functioning of the entire body. Any misalignment of the spine can interfere with this functioning and can cause illness and pain throughout the body. Spinal adjustments, which involve the practitioner placing using their hands to make short sharp thrusts on the vertebrae of the spine, are designed to realign the spine and bring the nervous system back to proper functioning.
While spinal adjustments were the birth of chiropractic care, the practice has grown to include a wide range of treatments that are geared towards helping the body to heal itself, without the use of medication or invasive treatment methods.
These treatments include:
soft tissue therapies, including massage, Active Release Technique, and myofascial release
exercises aimed at strengthening the muscles to provide greater stability and to increase flexibility and range of motion
stretches aimed at reducing muscle pain and improving blood circulation to the area
heat and cold therapy to restore blood flow and promote healing
traction and non-surgical decompression therapy to relieve herniated discs
cold laser therapy, TENS therapy, and ultrasound to promote healing and reduce pain
hydrotherapy to reduce pain, improve blood flow, and promote healing
Chiropractic care is a holistic and patient-centered approach so, alongside these direct therapies, chiropractors are also able to provide support, guidance, and advice to improve patients' overall health and wellbeing. They can offer advice on nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modifications that could be affecting how patients feel both physically and mentally. Chiropractors can also help with ergonomic issues, including pelvic stabilization, chiropractic pillows, and chiropractic solutions for sitting.
What conditions can chiropractors treat?
Chiropractic care is most often associated with the treatment of lower back pain and it is an effective treatment for that condition, but chiropractors can also help to treat or manage several other conditions and disorders. These include:
neck, shoulder, and elbow pain
migraines
carpal tunnel syndrome
herniated disc
whiplash
sprains and strains
pregnancy-related pelvic pain
fibromyalgia
sciatica
and more
Chiropractors are trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management of a variety of conditions and chiropractic care is a non-invasive treatment option with few side effects. More and more people are seeking help from chiropractors to help them live a pain and medication-free life. Chiropractors use a range of treatment options that are centered around the patients' needs and overall wellbeing to create a truly holistic complementary health experience.
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