Health and Chiropractic Therapy
Chiropractic has become the second largest main health care field in the world and one of the fastest growing. There has been a greater awareness of wellness using holistic therapies in recent years as well as the danger posed by many medical procedures.
Chiropractic also works very well for many people and a search for a non-medical approach with back and neck pain has led millions of people towards the chiropractic approach to regaining health. With its emphasis on wellness, patients have recovered from a variety of illnesses, injuries, and many other serious health problems.
How does it work?Chiropractors use safe adjustments to the spine to allow the body’s healing powers to reach and maintain the highest possible level of health. The practice focuses on the relationship between the structure of the spine and the function of the nervous system.
When there is nerve interference caused by misalignments in the spine, tension and/or pain can be felt and the body’s defences can be compromised. By adjusting the spine to remove these misalignments, normal nerve function can be restored.
The backbone consists of 24 small bones called vertebrae and extends from the back of the skull to below the small of the back. The vertebrae form a protective “tunnel” for the spinal cord.
Pairs of spinal nerves branch off from the spinal cord between each of the vertebra and extend to every part of the body, including muscles, organs, bones, and glands. Over this complete system of nerves, the brain sends messages that regulate all bodily functions and receive feedback about the health and functioning of each part of the body.
When a misalignment happens, it can result in tension in the tissues of the nervous system, which can lead to distorted communication between the brain and the rest of the body and contributes to a wide variety of health problems.
What symptoms does it help?Symptoms can include muscle spasms, pain, headaches, stiffness, and digestive problems. A spinal misalignment may be quite subtle but it can slowly undermine one’s health. It can cause long term damage to organs, which doesn’t become obvious until the condition has progressed.
When the vertebrae are properly aligned, the spine is mobile and allows the electrical impulses from the brain to travel freely along the spinal cord to the organs, and regain proper mobility. Millions of patients who have suffered for years report finding relief from back pain, asthma, headaches, hearing problems and a long list of other conditions after receiving chiropractic care.
The chiropractic philosophy is based on common sense. Each patient has the ability to heal themselves and that’s what a chiropractor does – they allow the body to heal itself by making adjustments to the spine to correct misalignment or “subluxation”.
Chiropractic advantagesChiropractic is a lot safer than conventional medical care, and has been shown to be as effective or more effective for treatments for back pain. It is also totally non-invasive and drug free. Chiropractic adjustments are also helpful for preventing wear and tear on joints and ligaments. It can also help to prevent later weakness or stiffness of affected joints.
During a chiropractic session, treatment will usually focus on increasing spinal motion if this is found to be the problem. This can be achieved by having the patient bend or stretch in precise ways and passive movement where the chiropractor assists the patient, to get a specific adjustment.
One of the most common complaints from patients seeking chiropractic care is low back pain. In a two year study by Britain’s Medical Research Council, chiropractic treatment was found to be more effective than hospital out-patient care for low back pain.
Years later those patients treated with chiropractor care continued to suffer less pain than those treated by medical doctors. Doctors now realise that it is a valuable therapy and chiropractic is now offered as a treatment on the National Health Service in the U.K.
What happens in a Chiropractic Visit?A typical first visit to a chiropractor usually is a consultation and a complete spinal examination. Most practitioners will also give some education if you are not familiar with the treatment.
After taking a health history and personal information, an examination takes place. The most common examination is called palpation. The therapist feels the entire spinal region to detect vertebral misalignments. Other methods or x-rays may be used to verify findings and to rule out illnesses such as cancer.
All of the examination techniques and treatments are safe, painless, and non-invasive. After the examination a course of treatment is then recommended. Most adjustments are done by hand.
Most adjustments in the lower back are carried out with the patient lying on their side, and adjustments to the mid and upper back occur with the patient prone (face down) cervical and neck adjustments are usually given with the patient in an upright position or whilst sitting.
How long do the treatments last?It is impossible to predict how many adjustments a person will need to get the maximum benefits. It depends on the length of time the nerves have been affected, as well as lifestyle factors, and fitness level.In all cases though, a chiropractor will recommend a treatment plan with appropriate re-evaluations after an initial period of time.
Other Alternative Health Therapies:
Learn the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
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