Before visiting a chiropractor, you need to familiarize yourself with what the practice entails. At Palmercare Chiropractic Columbia, we encourage patients to approach their health from a holistic point of view. We use spinal adjustments along with other treatment options to help promote both health and wellness. Here’s what you need to know about chiropractic adjustment:
Who Is A Chiropractor?
A chiropractor is a health professional who uses spinal manipulation and other interventions, including traction and soft tissue manipulation, to diagnose, treat and manage neuromusculoskeletal disorders. The founding principle of chiropractic care is improving mobility and functional capacity by educating patients on caring for themselves. Chiropractic care centres around the spine and its relationship with other body systems. It focuses on the structure of the spine and how it influences the nervous system.The other concept is how chiropractic interventions restore the spine’s integrity, relieving neurologic symptoms. Chiropractors mainly address pain from different structures around the body and are used to complement traditional models of treatment. These professionals also recommend other treatments such as ergonomics, exercise, lifestyle modification, and the use of orthotics.
What Conditions Do Chiropractors Treat?
Chiropractors treat illnesses such as:- Tension headaches
- Migraines
- Low back pain
- Tennis elbow
- Neck pain
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Injuries such as whiplash
What Is A Chiropractic Adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is a medical procedure where a chiropractor uses their hands or instruments to apply sudden but regulated force to a portion of the spine. This medical treatment aims at improving spinal mobility and the patient’s overall functional capacity.The chiropractor will first conduct a physical examination after taking your history and then administer a series of imaging tests. You might be asked to get an X-Ray or CT scan so that they can inspect the general integrity of your spine and its associated structures.
Asking about your health status will help the chiropractor understand the progression of your symptoms, bringing them one step closer to devising a treatment plan. They’ll ask about the duration of the symptoms, how intense they are, and what alleviates or worsens the pain. Moreover, they will ask about your family history, your diet, and any previous illnesses and treatments.
During the physical examination, the chiropractor will attempt to move and palpate the affected areas. The outcome will determine what treatment plan they’ll prescribe to you. The chiropractor will then position you on an examination table when carrying out the spinal adjustment. Using their hands, body weight, and sometimes special devices, they will apply gentle but pointed force on a particular segment.
You might hear a loud popping or cracking sound. The sound comes from gases escaping the joint capsules. The synovial fluid which lubricates joints contains gases such as carbon dioxide, which are released anytime we crack our joints. Another reason behind the loud cracks is ligaments and tendons shifting out of their original position when moving a joint. It’s common in significantly larger joints, such as the knee.
Asking about your health status will help the chiropractor understand the progression of your symptoms, bringing them one step closer to devising a treatment plan. They’ll ask about the duration of the symptoms, how intense they are, and what alleviates or worsens the pain. Moreover, they will ask about your family history, your diet, and any previous illnesses and treatments.
During the physical examination, the chiropractor will attempt to move and palpate the affected areas. The outcome will determine what treatment plan they’ll prescribe to you. The chiropractor will then position you on an examination table when carrying out the spinal adjustment. Using their hands, body weight, and sometimes special devices, they will apply gentle but pointed force on a particular segment.
You might hear a loud popping or cracking sound. The sound comes from gases escaping the joint capsules. The synovial fluid which lubricates joints contains gases such as carbon dioxide, which are released anytime we crack our joints. Another reason behind the loud cracks is ligaments and tendons shifting out of their original position when moving a joint. It’s common in significantly larger joints, such as the knee.
Benefits Of Chiropractic Adjustment
Chiropractic treatment holds numerous benefits for the body. For starters, it improves your immune function and strengthens your ability to keep diseases at bay. The immune system fights off deadly pathogens that cause you to get sick.Another benefit is it releases sore and tense muscles, easing any pain and discomfort associated with the dysfunctional structures. Recent studies indicate that chiropractic adjustments are instrumental in lowering and managing low blood pressure by targeting major nerves in your upper neck.
Regular visits to the chiropractor help maintain balance. As we grow older, we tend to lose our sense of balance. Spinal adjustments, however, realign your back and limbs and help maintain strength and coordination. They also improve joint range of motion, thereby improving mobility. Lastly, chiropractic adjustments improve sleep and make sure you get peaceful rest.
You may experience side effects such as headaches and soreness after a chiropractic adjustment, but they usually fade after a few days.
Risks Involved With Getting A Chiropractic Adjustment
Although chiropractic adjustments treat many muscular and skeletal disorders, they are associated with certain risks and precautions. There are specific conditions that experts advise against getting chiropractic treatments on. These include:- Ruptured discs, spinal manipulations may cause paralysis.
- Muscle spasms
- Osteoporosis, since the bones are already brittle, any forceful manipulations may cause fractures.
- Cancer manipulation may cause tumours to spread to other organs (metastasis).
- Degenerative joint disorders, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
- Infections such as osteomyelitis, which are an inflammation of bone tissue.
