If you were to ask a group of people what chiropractors do for a living, you’d probably get a wide variety of answers. In fact, the one consensus would probably be that they work on people’s spines.
The reality is that chiropractors provide a variety of treatments – from ways to increase mobility to the spinal adjustments that most people are accustomed with expecting from a chiropractor . Because they help treat conditions that can be potentially painful for a patient, they understand the human body and how it works. They are able to manipulate the spine to properly align the body without prescribing prescription drugs. Chiropractors can be enormously beneficial for those with spinal dysfunction.
Chiropractic care is deeply focused on the spine and the area surrounding it. Although this may seem like a narrow focus, you have to realize that all of the body’s systems connect to the spine in some way. The nervous system is actually one of the primary areas of interest to any chiropractor. By focusing on how the nervous system and the spine connect, the body can be examined as a whole.
Chiropractic care is concentrated on spinal alignment, but takes the entire body into consideration
By focusing on the nervous system, the spine can be assessed from different connection points. Instead of using specialized surgical equipment to align displaced vertebrae, chiropractors can manually adjust the spine to relieve pressure. This pressure can potentially block nutrients from finding essential muscles and organs. Chiropractic is not considered a traditional form of medicine because of its ability to look at the spine in its relation to the whole body.
The word “Chiropractic” was chosen by Daniel David Palmer because it translates to “Done by hand”
It is David Palmer’s philosophy that explains the scientific rationale of chiropractic care through a mixture of science, philosophy and art. The first state law that licensed chiropractors was passed all the way back in 1913.
Chiropractors can be used to treat a variety of health conditions
While a chiropractor specializes in body alignment, they can also help treat herniated discs and even asthma. By boosting the immune system, a chiropractor can prevent future health issues while easing current injuries. Since the nervous system is complex, several health issues may actually be related to one type of illness or injury. A chiropractor can help alleviate the original illness or injury so that multiple conditions can be treated at the same time.
To be able to do this, they need a large variety of equipment to meet the needs of their patients. Browsing the inventory of a company like ScripHessco will give you an idea of all the equipment that chiropractors use on a regular basis.
Wellness Chiropractors are only one type of chiropractor
Chiropractors can be skilled in several different areas. A musculo-skeletal chiropractor primarily focuses on treating the symptoms of a condition. These types of chiropractors typically work with patients experiencing chronic or severe headaches, neck discomfort and back pain. By decompressing the joints through manual manipulation, a musculo-skeletal chiropractor can ease pain.
Chiropractors are doctors
There is a common misperception when it comes to the educational requirements of chiropractors. While they are not medical doctors, they are doctors of chiropractic care. The standard education of a chiropractor includes a dual bachelor of medicine and surgery at an accredited college. By passing several board exams, chiropractors can become licensed practitioners with extensive training.
Chiropractic treatment uses non-invasive therapy to treat health conditions
Many issues related to the spine require surgery or potentially addictive pain medication. A chiropractor is trained to treat the body in a holistic manner without drugs or invasive therapeutic techniques. Instead of surgery, chiropractors have several different types of therapies that can help realign the spine. Some of these treatments include stretching, extended pressure for specific joints and professional spinal adjustment. This is a safe form of treatment that is effective for many patients that experience a variety of painful health conditions.
Chiropractic care is considered an alternative medicine that uses anatomy and science to heal the musculoskeletal system. By understanding the body’s reliance on many different mechanisms that work together, a holistic approach is taken to treat health conditions.
By manipulating the spine, many chiropractors believe that vertebral subluxation can prevent certain diseases. Back pain is one condition that can be prevented through chiropractic techniques. These include balancing a variety of treatments such as strategic exercises, proper nutrition, lifting and specific movement techniques.
Surprising medical conditions that can be treated with the help of chiropractic care include:
- Weakened immune systems
Migraines are often treated with prescription pain medication that can be potentially harmful if used for long periods of time. Chiropractors can help relieve pain by manipulating the spine so that headaches starting in the neck can be quickly disrupted. In addition to spinal manipulation, a chiropractor can help provide accurate advice on posture and ergonomics.
Anxiety is another issue that is commonly treated with medication. In addition to psychological distress, anxiety can also fuel high blood pressure and damage to muscle tissue. By releasing muscle tension, chronic stress can decrease the opportunity for problematic nerve damage. A trained chiropractor can also suggest specific nutritional supplements to ease anxiety and stress.
A weakened immune system can create multiple problems. Since the nervous system and the endocrine system are linked, the immune system can be balanced with the help of spinal manipulation. Misalignment that causes the compression of nerve pathways can lead to an alteration of immune function in the body. A chiropractor can successfully adjust the spine to reduce dysfunction in the nervous system that may cause specific reactions in the immune system.
Approximately 2% of the United States is affected by Fibromyalgia. This condition can alter mood as well as physical health. There is a lack of information on Fibromyalgia and treatments greatly vary. Chiropractors, however, can treat at least some of the symptoms felt by those suffering with this condition. Since chiropractors specialize in the neuromusculoskeletal area, these physical adjustments can directly impact the nervous system. Using pressure points, a chiropractor can reduce pain while increasing the range of motion.
Chiropractic care is a mixture of both science and philosophy that has created a unique holistic practice. Through focusing on the nervous system and how the body works as a whole, a wide range of medical conditions can be treated. Whether a patient is suffering from migraines or anxiety, focusing on the spine has long been a source for successful recovery.