What a chiropractor can do for you?

In case you never needed or received chiropractic care, and you were wondering if it will work for you, let me start by saying that you are asking an unfair question. Chiropractic treatment does work in most of the cases. You need to choose a therapist, not the therapy. If you are lucky and have found a skilled, trustworthy and reliable chiropractor, rest assured you are in good hands.

What are the benefits of the chiropractic treatment?

Most of the people are unaware that chiropractic therapy is recommended for many problems beyond just low back pain, neck pain, and tension headaches. It can help you stay well and perform better. It is not only used to treat an injury. Chiropractic care has more benefits than you thought. It provides pain relief, increase range of motion, balance and coordination, along with decrease joint degeneration.

On the same note, it is not the chiropractor who will fix the back problem, as erroneously believed. He will restore the proper motions in the joints. And by doing so, he will relieve the tension built on the nerves and muscles. Most chiropractors share the belief that the anatomical alignment is a key factor in chronic pain problems of all kinds (not just spinal pain).

Don’t be surprised to hear your chiropractor giving you tips on a balance nutrition, ergonomics or fitness. Many chiropractors have a background in other specialties like

pediatrics, sports rehabilitation, neurology, clinical nutrition, and addictions and compulsive disorders.

What to expect during your first visit to a chiropractor?

The first thing you will notice when stepping into a chiropractor’s office is that the treatment table looks different. Compared to the massage therapist’s table it is quite elaborate. Why the difference? Because it needs to allow specific positioning and movement during spinal adjustments or manipulations.

During the initial consultation you are required to complete a health questionnaire (the standard medical intake) and indicate the areas of discomfort on a body chart. You may even be asked to take an X-ray which can provide critical information on the treatment protocol.

The chiropractor will perform a routine medical exam, followed by a more thorough exam focused on the spine and neck. He will do a variety of assessments such as motion tests, palpation, reflex testing, muscle strength comparisons, and neurological and orthopedic tests on the areas of discomfort.

Then he will develop or adapt a treatment plan to meet the unique needs of each patient. A typical treatment consist on a series of adjustments or manipulations, one or several days apart which aim to improve the functionality and decrease the irritation.

The adjustments use a specific controlled force, with designed leverage, velocity, direction and depth at an individual joint only. They are intended to restore function by removing the improper neurological input.

Manipulations are techniques that use a manual thrust directed to move a joint slightly past the normal range of motion, without exceeding the anatomical limit, usually to treat a particular condition. These techniques produce a cracking or popping sound.

Some people may find them too hard to tolerate. For those fearing excessively the chiropractic treatment, there are mild or non-force techniques that can be used. Keep in mind that the adjustments and manipulations do not hurt. The cracking noise that we hear during an adjustment is simply a sound created by the gasses released form the joint capsule.