What is chiropractic treatment?
is an alternative medicine to treat back pain through manipulation of the spine. Chiropractic technique involves use of the practitioners’ hands to press, pull and otherwise adjust the spine, neck, joints and surrounding soft tissues.
Spinal manipulation is thought to correct misaligned vertebrae, helping lessen back pain and reduce muscle spasms. Insurance companies typically cover visits to the chiropractor.
The hypothesis behind how chiropractic treatment works maintains that disorders of the spine adversely affect overall health and that chiropractic can help improve overall health. However, no evidence has conclusively proven this hypothesis.
Chiropractors believe the vertebra becomes out of normal alignment, which interferes with the nervous system. This misalignment is called “subluxation.”
The U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research recognizes chiropractic treatment as being effective for lower back pain.Who are chiropractors and what do they do?
Chiropractors are health professionals who diagnose, treat and seek to prevent spine disorders or back pain. Chiropractors are considered part of the alternative health care field and focus on improving patients’ health and well-being without resorting to drugs or surgery.
Chiropractic treatment typically includes not only spinal manipulation, but also a regimen of exercise and counseling about health and lifestyle.
Chiropractors typically attend college for a bachelor’s degree – or obtain a two-year degree – and attend four postgraduate years in a Doctor of Chiropractic school. The last year of school, students practice chiropractic techniques while being supervised. Students graduate as Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.). Some states require additional exams to practice.
Some chiropractors focus on musculoskeletal adjustments, while others are also trained in physical therapy, electrical stimulation, soft-tissue therapy and ultrasound.What should I expect during an initial chiropractor appointment?
A first visit to a chiropractor takes an hour or longer. The chiropractor will compile a complete medical history and may perform tests, such as X-rays, MRIs or neurological tests. Once a problem is detected, subsequent visits to a chiropractor typically take a few minutes to complete the spinal manipulations and adjustments.
From appointment to appointment, a chiropractor will monitor changes in a patient’s spine and level of back pain using tests, observation, measurements and possibly X-rays. These tests help gauge improvement, if any.What are the most common conditions chiropractors diagnose and treat?
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