What is Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a term for medical professionals who focus on treating patients experiencing ailments as a result of problems in their musculoskeletal system and/or nervous system.

The science of chiropractic is primarily centered around the body’s ability to heal itself. Doctors of chiropractic use traditional treatment such as stretching, nutritional consultation, and rehabilitation exercises as well as joint manipulations to realign the body and promote the natural healing process.

Although chiropractors focus on our body’s natural resiliency as a primary means of treatment instead of prescribing medication or scheduling surgeries, there’s a great deal of overlap between doctors of chiropractic and traditional physicians.

Most chiropractors will run diagnostic tests, while relying on medical imaging such as x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs two aid them in establishing a plan of treatment.

In some cases, chiropractic treatment may not provide the ideal solution.

In these situations a chiropractor will refer patients to the best care provider based upon their needs.

What Does a Chiropractor Do?

The word chiropractor often brings to mind an image of a practitioner using their hands to do a spinal realignment. Spinal realignments often lead to the joint cracks and pops most of us are familiar with.

As was mentioned above, most chiropractors focus on our body’s natural resiliency while promoting healing within the muscular skeletal and nervous systems.

As we’ve already learned, the core of chiropractic’s focus is on achieving proper alignment of the musculoskeletal system.

Correcting these misalignments can help with everything from migraines and headaches to back and joint pain.

When joints are out of alignment your range of motion is altered or restricted.

Over time, reduced range of motion can cause physical and chemical damage to soft tissues.

Damage to soft tissue can meet a patient to experience pain and inflammation.

How Can Chiropractic Help with Back Pain?

85% of People will experience back pain severe enough they will need to seek treatment from a medical professional.

Chiropractic treatments have long been as successful avenue for treating or alleviating back pain.

A 2018 study of over 700 military members compared treatment outcomes of servicemen and women who received Western medicine’s standard protocol for treating back pain and compared their results to their peers who received chiropractic care for back pain.

After six weeks, the men and women who received chiropractic treatment reported:

• Reduced pain sensitivity
• Improved ability to function
• Greater overall satisfaction with their treatment
• Lesser need for pain medication

Chiropractic Adjustments

When it comes to alleviating back pain with a hands-on approach, there are two main treatment categories most chiropractors will use.

Manipulation and Mobilization

When most of us think of chiropractors, we probably think of manipulation.

Manipulation-Using forceful movements to realign a joint by taking its range of motion beyond what the patient is capable of under their own power.

Manipulations often produce the cracking or popping sound many people tend to associate with visits to the chiropractor.

Mobilization-A treatment approach that typically involves gently moving the joint through its range of motion to regain alignment.

Whether a chiropractor chooses to use manipulation or mobilization often depends on the individual patient, the patient’s comfort level with manipulations, and the desired outcome of the treatment.

Manipulations or adjustments to the spine are perhaps the most widely known tool in the chiropractic toolbox.

Common Forms of Chiropractic Therapy for back Pain

Mobilization and manipulation may be the most widely known tools used by chiropractors. However, skilled chiropractors have many more tools at their disposal.

As we mentioned, wise chiropractors borrow techniques from multiple disciplines to craft the best treatment plan for each patient.

Other forms of treatment can include:

• Acupuncture
• Spinal Decompression
• physical therapy
• Therapeutic Injections
• Laser Therapies
• Physical Therapy

Treatment for back pain is generally not a quick fix. You may be surprised to find your chiropractor provides you with a list of exercises to strengthen certain areas of your back.

It’s also common for patients to go through a nutrition consultation with their chiropractor. Proper nutrition can help to ease the burden of several ailments which have the potential to cause back pain.

What Are the Side Effects of Chiropractic for Back Pain

Like most other courses of treatment, side effects after a spinal adjustment can occur.

Side effects vary from person to person. And the range of potential side effects are quite diverse.

It’s common for patients to experience feelings of euphoria or exhilaration immediately after an adjustment. After an adjustment aching and soreness are also common side effects.

If you do experience the side effects, the discomfort usually only last for a couple hours.

Applying an ice pack is a simple way to remedy these side effects.

It’s normal to be anxious before your first chiropractic treatment.

We recommend expressing your concerns to your practitioner before beginning any type of treatment.