Chiropractic care has been established as one of the safest forms of treatment to address pain, muscle and joint issues in patients. Doctor’s can recommend that you see a chiropractor or you may seek one out on your own after other methods of treatment have failed. If you’re not fully aware of what a chiropractor does, here’s a breakdown of what they treat and how it works.
A Closer Look at Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors concentrate on the connectivity between joints, bones and the nervous system. By working on joints that are misaligned, they aim to readjust and strengthen neural connections. Misaligned joints can lessen blood flow and oxygen to nerves, creating pain in specific areas of the body. A chiropractor’s goal is to identify the source of your pain and work with the joints and muscles involved to solve it.
Main Focuses
The spine and neck are priorities for reducing back pain, headaches and neck pain. Since the spine is the central pathway for nerves connecting the brain and the body, keeping it in good condition is one of a chiropractor’s essential goals. Distraught muscles, post-accident or post-surgery pain and immobile joints are also reasons to visit a chiropractor, as they specialize in adjustments for them.
Understanding Chiropractic Adjustments
An adjustment is the movement and pressure that a chiropractor asserts on a joint to realign it. You may often hear a loud popping or cracking sound, which indicates that the joint has moved and gas pockets have been released. Chiropractors have an array of adjustment methods to choose from depending on the area of your pain and the health of your body; for example, a patient with osteoporosis will receive gentler, motion-driven treatments as opposed to more targeted pressure methods. The point of these adjustments is to relieve tension and pain, and the adjustments themselves do not hurt.
Signs to See a Chiropractor
Understanding what a chiropractor does isn’t helpful if you don’t recognize signs that you should see one. Headaches, migraines, back pain, neck pain, pain or immobility in major joints, and continuous pain in specific areas can all be indications to see a chiropractor. Even people who spend most of their time sitting at work can benefit from visits to the chiropractor to improve their posture and reduce lower back pain. You can always consult with your primary care physician about seeing a chiropractor, like from Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic, that can help you make the decision.
