What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic focuses on the relationship between the body’s main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient’s health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to these structures, particularly to the spinal column. Of primary concern to chiropractic are abnormalities of structure or function of the vertebral column known clinically as the vertebral subluxation complex.
A Brief History
Doctors of chiropractic are licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A large percentage of doctors open their own offices. Today doctors of chiropractic work as independent clinicians, work in hospitals, with the active duty military, veterans, and integrated clinic environments. As we move into more interprofessional training and education settings, the opportunities to provide conservative and natural care to patients is a choice that many are seeking.
Helping Patients
Most patients seek chiropractic care for back pain, neck pain and joint problems. However, many patients choose a chiropractor as their primary care doctor, because they prefer treatment plans that do not rely on medication or surgery.
Connections to Other Fields
Chiropractic care also plays a critical role in boosting a patient’s immune system. It enhances the function of the nervous system by aligning a patient’s spine which can lead to a better immune response. Chiropractors have established a solid connection between proper immune system function and good spinal health. They take a holistic approach to health by simultaneously recommending healthy lifestyle choices, products, and other therapies (ie. medical massages, stretching exercises, infratherapy, IV nutrient therapy, stress management).
How it works?
Chiropractors focus on the joints and the nervous system which is protected inside the spinal column. Each chiropractic adjustment aims to restore the patient’s body to functioning holistically and naturally without invasive procedures and strong medications. They use gentle, safe, and specific techniques to address misalignments that help patients regain mobility and improve their quality of life.
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal adjustments and other alternative treatments. The theory is that proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. During chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors use their hands or small instruments to apply a quick, controlled amount of pressure or gently stretch joints beyond a patient’s normal range of motion. This helps align the vertebrae in a patient’s spine if they are slightly off-center and release trapped gases within a patient’s joints.
Chiropractic is a well-recognized and highly-respected health care field. Because of the emphasis on holistic health care.
What to expect when seeing a chiropractor?
Your first visit to the chiropractor will begin with a thorough health history and chiropractic assessment. You will be given a list of health questions to complete. Your chiropractor will also want to know if you have a history of migraines and your sleeping patterns, your diet, and if you are physically active.
You will also have a physical exam including your posture, leg length test, your arm and leg mobility, and anything out of the ordinary like a shoulder or hip out of alignment.