Although a lot of Americans go to the chiropractor each year, many controversies still surround this medical treatment option. Spinal health affects overall well-being, and chronic pain is common in many adults; as a result, chiropractic therapy is a good alternative medicine for pain management.
Chiropractic programs focus on spinal manipulation to provide pain relief. The spine exists at the center of the musculoskeletal system, and discomfort or pain can materialize if it gets misaligned.
A typical chiropractic adjustment enhances your body’s ability to function. Also, being proactive with health maintenance can prevent health complications even before they start, thereby reducing the need for drugs or certain medical procedures to sustain your well-being.
What is Chiropractic Treatment?
Chiropractic treatment is a medical procedure whereby trained medical physicians, known as chiropractors, with the aid of a small instrument or their hands, apply bursts of controlled force to a spinal joint to relieve pain, unlike conventional medicine. The essence of this procedure, otherwise called spinal manipulation, is to enhance spinal motion and the body’s physical function.
Chiropractic treatment is akin to massage therapy and also has similarities with physical therapy; it can essentially help alleviate pain in the joints and muscles, like the following:
- neck pain
- shoulder pain
- back pain
- elbow pain
However, from scientific research, there is little enlightenment on whether it can help treat patients with more serious conditions or problems not associated with the joints or muscles, like heart problems, mental health issues, etc.
Types Of Chiropractic Treatments
There are several types of chiropractic treatments, each with its own specific techniques and benefits.
Spinal manipulation
Spinal manipulation is the most common type of chiropractic treatment and involves applying controlled force to the spine in order to improve joint mobility and reduce pain. This technique is often used to treat conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches.
Mobilization
Mobilization is a gentler form of chiropractic treatment that involves stretching and movement of the joints and muscles. This technique is often used to improve joint flexibility and range of motion and can be effective in treating conditions such as arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Soft tissue therapy
Soft tissue therapy involves the use of massage and other manual techniques to manipulate the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This technique is often used to relieve muscle tension and improve circulation, and can be effective in treating conditions such as sports injuries and chronic pain.
Rehabilitation exercises
Rehabilitation exercises are often recommended by chiropractors in order to strengthen the muscles and improve flexibility and range of motion. These exercises can be customized to the patient’s specific needs and goals, and can be effective in treating conditions such as sciatica and herniated discs.
Advantages of Chiropractic Treatment
Helps to improve posture
Undergoing spinal adjustments has the potential to aid in correcting poor posture, especially poor posture caused by excessive sitting. In our contemporary society, maintaining proper posture is difficult as an individual sits in front of the computer all day. Fortunately, chiropractic care can properly align your spine, making all those tight muscles that contribute to poor posture loosen and strengthening weak muscles crucial for a straight spine. Maintaining proper posture can help eliminate back pain and also reduce the likelihood of spinal arthritis occurring.
Helps Prevent Long Term Musculoskeletal Problems in Adults and Children
Newborn infants and kids have been safely and successfully given chiropractic therapy. An infant’s musculoskeletal system can sustain trauma during childbirth, facilitating the need for chiropractic therapy. Also, with the rise in the use of handheld technology by children, chiropractic therapy may be necessary to address posture issues. Manual therapy is as safe for kids as it is for adults.
Helps with Weight Loss
The majority of individuals who experience chronic pain, specifically low back pain, find it difficult to lose weight. It is very difficult to exercise as a result of chronic pain. Also, constant pain sufferers often take solace in consuming processed foods against the advice of medical doctors. In most situations, the pain starts to go away after a few adjustments, making exercise a possibility again.
Chiropractic examiners often encourage trivial forms of exercise, and most chiropractors even give nutritional advice. As a result, patients lose weight and become healthier, making the excessive pressure on their joints vanish.
Enhances Overall Organ Function
Although organ function is not entirely dependent on the spine’s health, there seems to be a connection. The autonomic nervous system communicates with the organs and brain through the nerves in the spinal column.
Therefore, a spinal subluxation that prevents effective communication may affect organ health and function. This is among the reasons chiropractic care is increasingly becoming a proactive measure rather than a reactive treatment.
Reduces Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation is beneficial when it assists the body in healing. However, chronic inflammation can bring about pain instead of subduing it. A lot of conditions, such as stress, diet, arthritis, obesity, bone misalignment, etc., cause chronic pain. Various chiropractic modalities address these underlying causes in various ways, mitigating chronic inflammation and the pain that comes with it.
Helps Prevent Injury
In addition to chiropractic treatments helping injuries heal quickly, they can also prevent such injuries. How is this possible? It’s easy; when the body is in alignment, it is better prepared to protect itself. Consider the analogy of a car with a low tire; the tendency of something going wrong or a blowout is high because the tire is not as it should be. The same is attainable in the human body.
What Type of Training and Certifications do Chiropractors have?
After completing their undergraduate chiropractic education in chiropractic colleges, and subsequent degrees, chiropractors must earn a postgraduate degree known as Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), which takes four years to complete.
All states require practicing chiropractors to be licensed. The licensing requirements vary from state to state, but the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam is mandatory for all chiropractors in every state.
Why Chiropractic Therapy should be Part of Your Everyday Life
Many people do not see the need to visit a chiropractor until they need a quick spinal adjustment to subdue pain or have sustained an injury. They consider it a reactive measure for conditions they have already sustained, not a proactive health care measure.
In as much as chiropractic therapy is a successful method of treating existing medical issues and injuries, it is also a viable healthcare procedure that effectively improves overall wellness. There are many persuasive reasons to incorporate chiropractic care into your everyday life. Chiropractic therapy can do the following:
- Elevate your mood
- Energize you
- Strengthen your immune system
- Make you feel better without medication
- Manage your pain
- Help you sleep better
- Help reduce your risk of injury
Do You Need Chiropractic therapy in Riverhead NY? Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care Got you covered
Quantum Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care offers a thorough approach spanning advanced procedures and individualized care plans for pain condition recovery.
Our advanced treatment procedures against chronic pain are highly extensive, such as spinal manipulation and chiropractic massage therapy. Other treatments and services available include physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapies, interventional pain management, orthopedics, acupuncture, massage therapy, Electro Diagnostic Testing, computerized ROM and muscle testing, and physiatrists (PM&R) and Neurologists.
As you develop your desired health goals regarding chiropractic management, we can assist you in achieving them. Probably, you desire to create a working health plan for yourself. We can assist you in developing care plans that suit your budget and goals.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans including no-fault, PIP, and workers’ compensation.
Simply call us at (631) 591-2293 and let us help restore your body’s natural alignment and balance.