Why Chiropractic Works
Why Chiropractic Works & How Can a Chiropractor Help in Pain Relief?
It’s no secret that back pain is widespread – It’s one of the most common medical problems, and often leads to missed workdays. This is why people are turning to more pro-active methods of self-care.
According to the National Institutes of Health, eight out of 10 people will experience such pain at some point in their lifetime. Many causes of back or neck pain include accidents, sports injuries, years of bad posture or being desk-bound, and other lifestyle factors.
To help alleviate musculoskeletal pain, people seek chiropractic care. Whether you’re a sportsman or a desk worker, chiropractic can help you reach your health and general wellness goals in a pain-free environment.
Chiropractors & Chiropractic Care: Non-Invasive and Drug-Free Pain Relief
Chiropractors are health professionals who work to help patients with a reduction in pain through spinal adjustments. Following chiropractic treatment, you will be given a treatment plan that will include options such as spinal alignment, soft-tissue therapy, acupuncture, joint manipulation, etc.
Chiropractic is a healthcare practice that focuses on the central nervous system and musculoskeletal system and their impact on overall well-being. Instead of relying solely on medication, chiropractors use specific care plans. Treatments may vary from include manual adjustments or manipulations to correct alignment issues, reduce discomfort, enhance function, and boost the body’s natural healing abilities.
Does Chiropractic Work?
According to the research, your body will perform at its optimum as a whole when your nervous system is in good health. Throughout the body, the nervous system transmits and receives information, and any interference with this communication can result in disease or harm.
Chiropractic is a type of healthcare that focuses on the alignment of the spine and its impact on overall health. The spine isn’t just a bunch of bones; it’s also home to the musculoskeletal and nervous system, which plays a critical role in processing pain.
The techniques used help to treat a plethora of pain conditions. They promote the mobility of muscles and joints, which can significantly reduce pain.
Why Does Chiropractic work?
The simple answer is, that a chiropractic treament is not a magic solution to a problem.
A full featured treatment session and care plan will contain spinal or other joint manipulation, soft-tissue work (on the muscles), exercise prescription, spinal or other joint manipulation, and lifestyle advice over a period of time. The goal is to improve someones health by removing interference within their nervous system, and adding functional improvements to the body. This may be joints that are immobile, muscles that have too much tension or not enough flexibility, bad habits or poor ergonomics, or bad lifestyle (food, drink, supplements).
People all want a magic pill or a magic “crack” that will take away years of problems, but thats just not how our bodies work! It takes repetition, time, and adding “good stress” while removing “bad stress” aka bad habits.
What are the most significant benefits of Chiropractic?
The benefits of spinal manipulation are endless, and patients benefit from these adjustments in a number of ways. Not only do they help in reducing low back pain, but chiropractic care can help relieve pain in different parts of the body.
From helping with chronic back pain, to ensuring proper alignment, chiropractic adjustments work by correcting aka “mobilizing” joints in spinal column. Many patients report a positive treatment experience and start feeling an increase in their general health throughout the body after their first appointment.
Some of the well researched benefits of chiropractic include:
- Pain Reduction
- Reduction in intensity, severity, and frequency of headaches
- Improved overall body function and quality of life
- Reduced medication usage
- Sports performance improvement.
Who Shouldn’t seek Chiropractic Care?
There are a few contraindications to care. Chiropractors are trained to identify any area’s of instability, or pathology that may require outside care or a referral, this is why they train to be a primary care practitioner with the title of Doctor of Chiropractic. These may be things like cancer in the area being treated, fractures, or open wounds. There are some types of conditions that would cause a chiro to treat around that particular area, where the benefits of being adjusted could help with recovery for that particular issue. Or for example if you’re an older adult with osteoporosis or narrowing of the arteries to the brain, be sure to tell about issues that chiropractors should know about before starting treatment.
Can Chiropractic Treatment Help Reduce Back Pain and Muscle Tension?
The first step in the treatment of back pain will be examining your medical history and conducting a physical exam. Depending on your situation, chiropractors might utilise lab tests apart from diagnostic imaging to determine the appropriate treatment.
The treatment plan may involve some manual adjustments where the doctor manipulates your joints with a sudden but controlled force to improve your range of motion and the quality of movement. In addition to back pain relief, many chiropractors also provide nutritional counseling and exercise/rehabilitation to help you get back on track.
Muscle therapy compliments your chiropractor’s treatment methods. It involves a range of treatments that can help ease muscle pain and improve your overall health and well-being. These treatments include kneading, holding, moving, and applying pressure to your muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia.
What is that “Cracking Sound” while Making Chiropractic Adjustments?
When you receive adjustments, you may hear a satisfying cracking sound. Little air bubbles cause this sound in the fluid surrounding your joints that “pop” when your joints are stretched during an adjustment. Don’t worry. This cracking sound is normal and nothing to be concerned about.
This is your joint’s synovial fluid is releasing gas, which is what causes the popping sound. This phenomenon happens as a result of the mechanical force expanding the joint’s volume and causing gas to escape.
You could believe the popping noise connected to a spinal adjustment is the sound of your bone realigning. Many of people do. This is not the case, though. Cavitation is the cause of the popping sound. It is a situation where a gas bubble develops as a result of the increased space in the in joint capsule.
In a chiropractic adjustment:
- A spinal joint is thrusted.
- The joint space is increased as a result of the distraction imparted to it.
- The dissolved gas in the joint fluid reacts to the volume increase by forming an air bubble (no different from when you open a bottle of coke, really)
- There is a popping noise.
- This is just like opening a beverage can or bottle.
- The creation of gas bubbles, which also produce the hissing sound, results from the escape of the soda’s dissolved gas from the liquid.
Conclusion
In summary, chiropractic care works because our bodies prefer to be in a state where they can move appropriately and adapt to our daily environment. Keeping your spine and body mobile, relaxed and functional keeps us in top shape and performing at our best!
