Although a form of alternative medicine, the chiropractic field is becoming increasingly accepted by mainstream practitioners. Today's chiropractors attend specialized post-secondary schools where they receive degrees in chiropractic medicine. Many health insurance companies will cover the cost of a chiropractic visit if the patient is referred to them by a primary care physician.
Although chiropractors are well-versed in biology and human physiology, the spinal cord is their area of focus. According to these practitioners, spinal misalignments, or subluxations, contribute to a wide range of mental and physical ailments. This is why a chiropractor in AZ will readjust the patients' spines or simply manipulate particular individual vertebrae. In doing so, the ideal end result is to relieve the pressure created by misalignments.
A basic chiropractic spinal exam includes taking the patient's measurements. This assessment typically reveals any spinal alignment imbalances. Common signs of subluxations include one arm that is more resistant to stress than the other arm or one shoulder that measures higher than the opposite shoulder.
Depending on the particular ailment, the chiropractor will provide treatment similar to that given by a physical therapist or a specialized spinal doctor. However, the majority of treatment revolves around hands-on manipulation of the back, neck and spine. It is common for a chiropractor to put the patient on a moving table to assist in realigning the spine. For some courses of treatment, the neck may be moved in a twisting motion. In other instances, the chiropractor will apply pressure between each vertebrae.
Although it is an overall accepted practice, there are some critics of chiropractic medicine. These people believe there are dangers in manipulating the spine. Some people even argue that the telltale "popping" noise made by the spinal cartilage is just a release of built-up gas; they feel the noise does not necessarily indicate a successful realignment. The biggest fear of chiropractic naysayers is the rare possibility of spinal column fractures, especially those that lead to paralysis.
Supporters of this type of medicine state that the treatments given by chiropractors are safer than the surgeries and prescription medicine provided by mainstream physicians. In addition, chiropractors emphatically insist that the benefits of spinal manipulation show themselves after a series of office visits. Chiropractors report long-term benefits such as a reduction of stress and restoration of damaged nerve pathways. Although the costs of repeated chiropractic visits can quickly become a significant expense, most people can afford treatment thanks to the coverage offered by health insurance providers.
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