Chiropractic Therapy Applications
Chiropractic therapy is increasingly used to treat many diseases in relation to internal medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, medical prevention, healthcare and cosmetology, etc.
Chiropractic therapy compliments the body's natural healing processes, and is being used more and more as a preventive health measure because of it's ability to strengthen resistance to disease, and is effective in the treatment of many conditions associated with pain and dysfunction, including:
Please consult with your treating medical physician.
Patient Medical makes no claims as to Chiropractic Therapy efficacy. Information within this site is provided for informational and educational purposes only. This information is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your personal physician or any other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provider.
How Chiropractic Therapy Works
Every cell in your body has a nerve that goes to it. The same nerve that goes to a muscle or skin cell also goes to the organs, glands, tissues and blood vessels in that area. Your brain and central nervous system control how all parts and systems of your body perform their functions. Irritation to nerves can cause functional problems like headaches, fatigue, sinus allergies, and sleep problems, irritability and digestive problems. It can cause sensory problems like pain, tension, tingling and numbness.
The brain controls all the body's functions. It communicates with other parts of the body by nerve impulses. Most of these impulses are relayed to the other body parts via the spinal cord. The spinal cord is protected by the spinal column, which consists of individual vertebrae separated by cushioning discs.
From the spinal column, nerves network out between the vertebra to most of the organs and muscles in the body. Upon exceptional stress to your spinal column, such as an accident, years of poor posture, or long-term tension, the vertebrae can slip out of position and "pinch a nerve." The term for this condition is Vertebral Subluxation.
A vertebral subluxation is a misaligned vertebra causing interference with nerve messages between the brain and the body. This can cause symptoms of backache, tingling in the arms and legs, headaches, fatigue, improper digestion and other system dysfunction.
Now that we know how the body works we can begin to understand how chiropractic works. Chiropractic locates subluxations and through gentle adjustments can restore the body's normal functions. With nerve passages open and regulatory impulses free to pass, the body's miraculous nervous system can heal itself. Chiropractic goes directly to the root of the problem. It does not mask symptoms as painkillers and frequently addictive prescription drugs often do.
What to Expect from Chiropractic Therapy
Depending on the condition, chiropractic treatment is usually conducted two- or three times per week, for a month or more. Chiropractic is also sometimes used on an as-needed basis, or in a once- or twice-a-month maintenance form. For many chiropractors, x-rays are essential at the first visit and at some follow-up visits.
Each session involves hands-on manipulation following the methods of whatever manipulation technique the practitioner chooses to use. Sometimes other modalities may be used as well, such as massage or hot or cold packs.
- Consultation: After your paperwork is complete, you will meet with the doctor. The doctor will read over your forms and then ask you many questions about your current health condition. This information will help the doctors determine if they feel you could benefit from chiropractic care.
- Exam: Your examination includes a complete orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic examination. The orthopedic tests will reproduce the pain and tell us about the joints of the spine, the neurological tests will tell us if the nerves are damaged, and the chiropractic tests will tell us if chiropractic can help you.
- X-Rays: Based upon your exam findings, the doctor may feel that x-rays are needed and they will be performed at this time. The doctor may perform a full series of x-rays or a limited series based upon your exam findings.
- Findings Report: This report is done on the initial visit or the next following visit. This is where the doctor will explain your problem and what can be done to help. A treatment program will be outlined and explained.
If it is determined that manipulation is the best approach to treatment, you would begin the therapy by lying down on a comfortable chiropractic adjustment table. The chiropractor would then apply light pressure to areas in the joint that need adjustment. Keep in mind; chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is not painful. In fact, it releases endorphins in the body that make you feel good. However, upon adjustment, you may hear a click, pop or cracking sound. This sound does not signal any harm. Rather, it occurs when trapped gases in the joint are released.
Following an adjustment session, the chiropractor will explain any guidelines for self-care at home so you know what to expect and how to help maximize the benefits of chiropractic care.
How Chiropractic Therapy Feels
A responsible therapy program should not be painful. Pain is a warning sign that something is wrong or that something has been pushed beyond its limits. Pain is our body’s way of telling us to stop. Each session builds on the work done in the previous session and is designed to help you reach your goal as quickly and as safely as possible. Chiropractic therapy programs are well planned and balanced to include many of the benefits of exercise including increasing cardio efficiency, and endurance. Many patients achieve their ideal weight during the therapy program and find it easier to maintain their weight afterwards. Patients also report having a better night’s sleep as well as improved mood and improved ability to recover from addictions to nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol.
Ultrasound therapy - This therapy is used to aid in reducing pain, muscle spasms, and joint contractures. Ultrasound is literally a sound wave produced from a vibrating crystal inside the treatment sound head. The sound head emits therapeutic sound waves generally in the range of 1 MHz to 3 MHz. The sound vibrations penetrate deep into the tissue creating a heat response. The heat and vibration help to break down and disperse hard tissue accumulations.
Interferential electrical muscle stimulation - Channeling therapeutic low-frequency electrical current through muscle, nerve, and connective tissue for the purpose of reducing pain has been a widely accepted medical practice for many years. This stimulation prompts the body to secrete endorphins and other natural painkillers to help relieve pain. Ligament sprains, muscle strains and spasms often respond well to this treatment.
Moist heat therapy - When warm moist heat is applied to an injury, it dilates the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) in the affected area, increasing blood flow, which nourishes the tissues with essential nutrients and oxygen to accelerate the healing process. Heat also temporarily reduces pain in an injured area and helps reduce muscle spasm.
Ice & Inflammation - Injury caused by a trauma, such as a bruise or a sprain, or a repetitive strain, such as carpal tunnel, will cause inflammation. When a cell membrane is damaged, it releases prostaglandin around the cell, which causes the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) around the affected area to swell. Inflammation is a good thing because your tissues need it to heal. Inflammation acts to isolate the injured area and initiates the repair process. However, if proper care of the injury is not taken, inflammation can hinder the healing process. If inflammation is left uncontrolled, nutrition flow to the injury will decrease, which may lead to scarring and dysfunctional muscle groups, which may ultimately lead to improper motion and on-going pain.
Chiropractic Therapy Safety
Chiropractic is recognized as one of the safest types of health care in the world. Numerous studies, including those funded by governments, universities and nonprofit research institutions, have proven it to be a successful primary therapy for neuromusculoskeletal conditions -- a therapy that is safer, in fact, than most medical procedures used to treat the same conditions. Chiropractic is also widely used as a complementary mode of care for a variety of other conditions and diseases and to promote overall health and well being.
In comparison to allopathic medicine, which uses drugs and surgery as an integral part of treatment, chiropractic presents far less risk. Consider, for example, that in the United States an estimated 140,000 people die each year from drug-related reactions. And the risk of death due to gastrointestinal complications from taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen is 400 times greater that the complication rate for people who receive cervical manipulation, while the mortality rate for people who undergo cervical spine surgery is 7,000 times higher.
Human error is another factor that tilts the safety balance in chiropractic's favor. In the United States, it is estimated that up to 98,000 Americans die yearly from medical errors -- a doctor accidentally making the wrong incision, a nurse administering the wrong medication, and so on.
But with all forms of treatment, whether allopathic or alternative, any risks, however slight, should not be ignored. While the methods used by chiropractors have proven to be safe in almost all cases, it is a constant concern for chiropractors to evaluate their patients to determine if treatment will cause an adverse reaction.
Chiropractic is not recommended for disorders of other than musculoskeletal origin, and should be avoided for certain musculoskelatal problems as well. For instance, it is not recommended for osteoporosis, bone or joint infections, bone cancer, acute rheumatoid arthritis, and diseases of the spinal chord or bone marrow. It should also be avoided in an area that has been operated on, such as a spinal fusion, and near acute fractures and dislocations or healed fractures and dislocations with signs of ligament damage. Chiropractors do not treat fractures.
Scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves to the side, is generally considered a target for chiropractic therapy. However, idiopathic scoliosis, which develops over time instead of being present at birth (congenital scoliosis), is not appropriate for treatment by a chiropractor.
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Article Last Updated: 06/26/2009