Chiropractic

Those who practice Chiropractic are called chiropractors and they provide diagnosis and treatment covering a number of disorders, injuries and discomforts connected with the musculoskeletal system.

A chiropractor's main area of work is in the management of back problems, but they also concern themselves with ligaments, joints, tendons and nerves. Chiropractic treatments are broad ranging, but most are aimed at relieving pain and improving joint function in a non invasive way.

Most of a chiropractor's work tends to focus on the spine and, in chiropractic, there is a belief that any problems in this area can adversely affect "all" aspects of health and wellbeing through the nervous system. (This remains the main reason why this therapy is still regarded as complementary by those in other medical fields.)

Chiropractic is generally regarded as a mainstream therapy although it is classified as a complementary therapy by many in the medical profession. This is largely because of the history of its origins and a conflict of belief over a medical definition called "subluxation". However, in recent years the perception of chiropractic has improved and many doctors and GP's around the world now see value in this therapy.

What a chiropractor does

Chiropractic involves the manipulation of the spine and sometimes other body joints in order to make specific adjustments that will correct any underlying pain or problem. Soft tissue manipulation can also be undertaken and it is not uncommon for the chiropractor to give a patient exercises intended to stretch, release or work certain parts of the musculoskeletal system. Lifestyle recommendations may also be offered.

Chiropractors normally treat their patients by placing them on a chair, or a special bench-like bed that allows the patient to be positioned in the most suitable posture for the treatment. This apparatus can look strange and it may be electrically operated, but it is a necessity of chiropractic.

The actual treatment is applied through the skill and expertise of the chiropractor's hands and fingers which use manipulation to correct the diagnosed cause of the problem. Some chiropractic adjustments can also include twisting the patient's body in what may, to the layman, seem like an unnatural way. When this is the case the chiropractor will urge the patient to relax in order to facilitate the adjustment.

Patients undergoing chiropractic treatment will normally require a number of sessions and it is not unusual for the chiropractor to inform the patient that, the discomfort that they are suffering may temporarily increase after the first or second treatment. Obviously this situation reverses as the treatment sessions continue.

When a patient requires a prolonged series of chiropractic treatments there will often be significant breaks between the early stages of treatment. This allows the chiropractor's adjustments time to take effect. As the treatments progress, their regularity usually increases until a satisfactory conclusion is reached.

Nothing that a chiropractor does during a therapy session should be painful although some of the manipulations may feel strange or even slightly uncomfortable.

Who sees a chiropractor

Many people seeking the help of a chiropractor will have upper or lower back problems, or pains in other parts of the body like the hips, shoulders or legs that may appear to originate from the back.

A number of discomforts connected with (or originating from) the back can be successfully treated by chiropractic. These include everything from general aches and pains to injuries resulting from accidents. Many people have been successfully treated by a chiropractor and have had complaints such as severe back pain and chronic back problems relieved by this therapy.

Because of the traditional chiropractic view, that many ailments originate from a dysfunction of the spinal joints, some chiropractors believe that an even greater number of medical disorders can be treated with chiropractic. There is however no evidence to support this. Indeed, whilst chiropractic is largely regarded as helpful to many back and spine related problems, it effectiveness on general health (through musculoskeletal manipulation) remains in question.

If a qualified chiropractor employs recognised chiropractic techniques on a patient there should be no risk of injury or of the aggravation of any pre-existing problem.