Chiropractic care is treatment for problems affecting the nerves, muscles, bones and joints of your body without the use of medications or surgery. Chiropractic is an effective treatment option for patients with low back pain. The term “chiropractor” originated from Greek words “cheiros” and “praktikos” that mean “done by hands”.
In United States, the practice of chiropractic care is very prevalent, as around 40 million Americans regularly receive this treatment. In past years, there was a lot of gap between chiropractors and medical doctors, due to the difference in their methods and viewpoints regarding low back pain treatment. Now this gap has been reduced with time, as now these two groups have started to share their information and are also providing a clear picture of their respective methodologies to each other.
Today chiropractors refer their patients to a medical doctor or communicate with the medical doctor if they think that an underlying condition of the patient needs attention so as to provide the best quality care to the patient. In this way chiropractors have become a part of a broad spectrum of providers that treat back pain efficiently.
The most common treatment of chiropractic care is hands-on therapy called spinal manipulation or adjustment. Your chiropractor performs spinal manipulation by using hands to apply pressure and to move a joint slightly beyond their normal range of motion. In chiropractic treatment, the joints and bones in your spine are realigned using twisting, pulling, or pushing movements. Your chiropractor may also incorporate nutritional counseling and exercise or rehabilitation therapies into the treatment plan. In addition to back pain relief, chiropractic care restores function and prevents injury.
Consulting a chiropractor
Visiting a chiropractor for the first time may include a physical examination and a brief medical history to diagnose your type of back pain. Your chiropractor may examine you with their hands to determine the limitation for your body movements. In some cases, additional tests such as X-ray of your spine may be required to confirm the diagnosis. After determining a clear diagnosis of your condition the chiropractor may recommend specific spinal manipulations to correct your misalignment. Some chiropractors incorporate massage, electrical stimulation therapies and supplements such as vitamins to treat their patients.
