Chiropractors focus on resolving disorders involving the nervous system, muscular system, and skeletal system by focusing on manual manipulation of the spine. Although technically considered a form of alternative medicine, the practice fits somewhere between general primary care and specialized medicine like orthodontics or cardiology.
What can chiropractors treat?
Chiropractors can treat back sprains or strains, herniated or bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, scoliosis (a curvature of the spine), and whiplash. But treatments don't just focus on issues involving the back. When the spine is misaligned, the nervous system can be affected, which can cause pain in other areas of the body. Headaches, sciatica (a pinched and extremely painful nerve running through the hip and into the leg), and even pain in the chest, stomach, or other parts of the body can all be treated through chiropractics.
The relationship between the muscular system and the skeletal system is essential to properly functioning joints. When joints and muscles are not in alignment, they can cause pain in other parts of the body from the actual location of the problem (known as referred pain), and chiropractors can often thus find solutions to pain in shoulders, hips, knees, feet, or other problem areas that may actually originate in the spine.
What are the different methods of chiropractic treatment?
The main method of treatment is to manually move the joints farther than the patient would be capable of doing on his or her own in order to increase the functionality and regularity with which the joints can move. This is usually called a spinal adjustment or spinal realignment. The result is increased range of motion, increased comfort, and decreased pain.
Because chiropractors also work with the muscles and tendons, sometimes soft tissue treatments are incorporated. These usually involve massages and stretching.
Counseling about lifestyle and work practices may also be included. Because many injuries can result from improper posture or lifting practices or as accidents during sports or at work, it is important to identify the root causes of the malady and, once the issue has been resolved, prevent it from occurring again.
Does it work?
Chiropractic treatments are usually used as a form of complementary care in addition to traditional medicine. Patients generally report a much higher rate of satisfaction with chiropractic care than medical care, with 83% of those surveyed in the U.S. in 1998 reporting that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the care they received.
Author Resource:-
If you have neck or back pain, come to the Salt Lake City chiropractors who can help at CSLC (http://www.chiropractorslc.com/) and get rid of your discomfort. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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