Chiropractic therapy focuses on the relationship between the body’s structure, mainly the spine and the body’s functions. Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative methods for the treatment of patients.
While the main focus of Chiropractic therapy is Spinal Manipulation, it also includes other treatments like Manual or Manipulative Therapies, Postural and Exercise Education, and Ergonomic Training (How to walk, sit, and stand to limit the back strain). Chiropractors can treat pain anywhere in the body: in the Head and Jaws, the Shoulders, the Elbows and wrists, the Hips and Pelvis, and the knees and Ankles. (including all small joints)
The goals of chiropractic care include the restoration of function and prevention of injury in addition to pain relief.
Chiropractors diagnose and treat various spinal disorders that cause musculoskeletal or nerve pain.
The problems that are evaluated and treated with chiropractic care are:
➤ Back Sprains and Strains
➤ Cervicogenic Headaches
➤ Coccydynia
➤ Herniated Disc
➤ Myofascial pain
➤ Sciatica
➤ Spondylosis or Spinal Osteoarthritis
➤ Subluxation and Dislocation
➤ Sports Injuries
➤ Fibromyalgia
➤ Plantar Fasciitis
This therapy is primarily used as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue such as cartilages, ligaments, and tendons. It is sometimes used in conjunction with conventional medical treatment. The theory is that proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, enables the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. Manipulation is used to restore mobility of joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support, etc.
Physiotherapists and chiropractors both work with patients who are experiencing pain or having difficultly while performing different physical tasks. The only difference between the two is their treatment methods. Chiropractors mostly rely on aligning parts of the body (adjustments) with a main focus on the spine, while physiotherapists use exercise programs and assistive devices to improve patient’s mobility or reduce pain levels.
Common treatments our chiropractors recommend include therapeutic exercise and stretching, spinal traction, manual soft tissue therapy, transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS), ultrasound, diet , and nutritional counseling, and lifestyle modification.
After your adjustment, you don’t want your body to immediately revert to the same position it was in. Avoid sitting for long periods after seeing the chiropractor, if possible, and enjoy the mobility that your adjustment has created by going for a long walk, or take a bike ride, etc.
Generally, most conditions can be treated within 4 to 12 sessions. In some cases, a chiropractor may suggest having regular maintenance therapy once the initial problem has improved. This is recommended to prevent experiencing the same ailments again.
Some doctors also suggest trying chiropractic care. The good news is that no matter what treatment is recommended, most people with a recent onset of back pain are better within a few weeks, often within a few days.
There are a variety of ways to bring relief to muscles when they are the source of pain, such as manual release therapy (stretching the muscle while applying pressure), trigger point therapy (applying direct pressure on the area of the muscle that is most tense), or instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy