What is Chiropractic Care and How Can it Help Me?

A Chiropractic practitioner is a member of the physical health care providers. There discipline involves manipulation of the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems. There claim is that disorders in these systems can affect your overall health and these systems need to be brought into complimentary working relationships.

The most common reason to go to a local Chiropractor is if you are having headaches, back pain, neck pain, shoulder compression pain or any other pains in your muscles or in your spine.

Chiropractors are also doctors. They are doctors of Chiropractic medicine. What confuses some people is that they do not use medicine or any other drug. Their approach to medicine is holistic and involves a thorough knowledge of the skeletal system and the points of injury that could be causing your discomfort and your pain. A chiropractic doctor will diagnose your condition and offer therapy in his office that can be hands on manipulation of your spine, massage beds and other machines aimed at re aligning your muscular skeletal system to a healthy positioning.

Many chiropractic centers also offer counseling in lifestyle habits to encourage you to become healthy without drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic is commonly known as spinal manipulation. Most chiropractic patients go in regularly to have a chiropractic adjustment of their spine. Continued pressure on some muscles affect the spine and forces a restricted mobility because of the pain involved. These injured muscles or tissues continue to stress the spine and produce painful chemical reactions caused by the constriction of space between the injured tissues and the spine.

Inflammation, soreness. pain and compression of injured muscles cause an imbalance in your spine. A doctor of chiropractic realigns your spine and attempts to open up the injured tissues to normal body chemical transfers which lets your injured muscles and tissue heal naturally. Chiropractic procedures are not painful. They are a pain reliever without the pain medication. Chronic headache sufferers can probably find better and more long lasting relief by a spinal realignment than by prescription or over the counter medications that can in time affect other vital organs in your body.

Chiropractic doctors make their diagnosis based on your personal history and your initiating visits problem. They also use x rays and laboratory testing when they deem them to be necessary. Chiropractors can refer their patients to other health care practitioners if their patients condition is in need of it or can benefit from it.

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Chiropractic Care: A Migraine Headache Solution

Mostly everyone will agree that chiropractic care can certainly address all manner of physical ailments. In fact, the ability of talented chiropractors to treat physical injuries and strains in a holistic manner has allowed the field to grow as a popular alternative to traditional medical treatments. While many are well aware of the numerous benefits associated with chiropractic care, few realize the truly wide scope of treatment via chiropractic medicine. Case in point, few realize that chiropractors offer viable migraine headache treatment.

This might come as a great surprise to many because very few will automatically think a visit to a chiropractor's office is the right solution for dealing with a tension headache. Yet, as many will attest, exploring the treatment options made available by chiropractic care may be the best thing to do when dealing with serious migraine headache ailments.

A closer examination of how chiropractic care works quickly reveals that there should not be much surprise to its effectiveness with dealing with migraines. Chiropractic treatment can certainly alleviate the common underlying factors which can cause a migraine headache. For example, muscle tension in the neck region is a common factor that contributes to the presence of a migraine headache. Chiropractic treatment can reduce such tension which, in turn, can reduce the frequency in which migraine headaches occur.

There are scores of other physical ailments which can contribute to migraine headaches. These ailments can include limited mobility in the neck, excess tension in the shoulders or back, or postural misalignments in the spine. Once such problems are effectively addressed, the consistency of dealing with a migraine headache may very well be reduced.

Of course, questions will still arise regarding the safety and effectiveness of this methodology.

Is there any concrete proof that chiropractic treatment is a better option? And how can potential patients be sure that chiropractic care may be better for them than traditional treatments methods?

There has been quite a bit of research and work performed by those seeking to establish the merits of chiropractic care to treat a migraine headache. Recently, a study was performed that included a group of people who suffered from tension headaches. These headache sufferers fell into two groups - those that underwent six weeks of chiropractic care and those that took traditional medication for the same six week period. At the conclusion of the study, both groups of patients had experienced noticeable improvements. However, it was duly noted that the patients who underwent chiropractic care treatment had far fewer side effects. Once the six week treatment concluded, those that underwent chiropractic care did not experience a return of their headache symptoms. Those that had taken traditional medication saw their symptoms return almost immediately.

With such information available, it is strongly advised that anyone with a serious migraine headache problem should look towards an appointment with a well established chiropractor. The reason is simple: chiropractic medicine may very well be able to provide the much needed solution to your headache woes.

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Chiropractic Effective And Natural For Back Pain

Several people seek chiropractic as a natural and safe method for the treatment of back pain. About 22 million Americans visit the chiropractor each year and thirty five percent of these are seeking the chiropractor for the treatment of back pain. Other common complaints that people visit them for are neck pain, headaches and arm and leg pain.

Chiropractors go through several years of schooling including both undergraduate and post graduate studies. Chiropractic school is a four year program. Students are trained on theory and knowledge in the classroom and then receive hands on training in the clinic. In the United States, chiropractors are required to have a license in the state they reside in order to practice. They are also required to take continuing education courses regularly to stay current in their education and techniques.

Chiropractic treatments involve hands-on methods to manipulate the spine in order to correct problem areas in the spine and other joints in the pelvis, arms or legs. The theory behind these adjustments is to remove nerve interference and restore normal function in the body. By removing this interference, the body is then able to do what it knows best, heal itself. Chiropractic adjustments are beneficial for injuries such as from car accidents, sporting injuries, falls, slips and chronic stress such as from slouching at the desk or sitting without proper back support.

Chiropractic is also helpful for injured muscles and connective tissue such as ligaments, tendons and cartilage. These are often injured in conjunction with misaligned spinal bones. Restoring motion of the vertebra often heals and relieves these surrounding structures. When visiting the chiropractor, they will perform a medical history, perform an evaluation and may also use diagnostic imaging to diagnose the problem and help determine the treatment that is most effective. Chiropractic is often used with conventional medicine. Chiropractors also refer to other healthcare providers when necessary.

Chiropractic treatment involves specific hands on adjustment to one or more problems areas of the spine to improve range of motion and alignment. The goal of the adjustment is not only to provide relief of symptoms, but to also restore normal function and prevent future problems.

Chiropractic is well known to be a safe and effective method of treatment for back pain and other musculoskeletal problems. Research also demonstrates its effectiveness for other conditions such as headaches, neck pain, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Chiropractors also incorporate other healthcare services such as nutrition and physical therapy to provide a multi-disciplinary approach.

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Chiropractic Pain Relief Without the Side Effects

In the United States, Chiropractic is a natural way of healing which does not include any drugs or medicines. It is into existence for more than 100 years. Chiropractors in recent times are very skilled and highly trained in the field of health care. Chiropractors can help you in many ways like treatment of back pain, joint pain or arthritis.

Chiropractic care has proven to be very beneficial for people with chronic pain. The kind of treatment chiropractic provides is said to be beneficial for normal functioning of the spine and in reducing pain as well. Chiropractors are highly trained for this. A recent study compared chiropractic spinal adjustment to Celebrax/Bextra/Cox-2 inhibitors for the treatment of chronic pain. This was published in July 2003 in Spine which is number one orthopedic journal in the world. Chiropractic treatment was proven to be 5 times better in case of chronic spinal pain as compared to Cox-2 inhibitors. It was also observed that the medicine caused more pain, side effects and reactions as compared to the natural healing process of chiropractic treatment.

Chiropractic treatment has been practiced for many years and has many ways to treat old patients in a safe manner. Food advice also comes under chiropractic treatment as some food have bad effects on inflammation and cause harm. There are other kinds of foods that help our body to produce hormones that are anti-inflammatory. There are nutrients that can increase the production of anti-inflammatory hormones in our body and are completely safe. There are no reactions or side effects as our body makes these anti-inflammatories itself. It is said, prevention is better than cure. With chiropractic treatment, you can reduce the rate at which your spine ages. It has been observed that spinal manipulation can help the spine from aging and avoid arthritis and other similar problems.

You can find all the advantages of spinal manipulation in the scientific literature and chiropractic care is becoming popular day by day. Research is being carried out regarding the various aspects of chiropractic care. It is a sad thing to notice that there is not the right kind of awareness in the people regarding the effectiveness of chiropractic care and how naturally it can heal various problems like neck pain, back pain and shoulder pain. It is an important field of health care and should be given proper attention as it is free from drugs, side effects and pain.

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The Importance of Stretching After a Workout

Dr. Bejan Pazdel who deals with a lot of sports -oriented clients talks about the importance of stretching before AND after exercise.

See more about Pazdel Chiropractic at http://www.pazdelchiropractic.com

Just How Safe is Chiropractic Care For Children (And Adults)?

Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Children as Well as Adults?

The short answer to this important question is a resounding "Yes!" Children, as well as adults, are successfully - and safely - treated with chiropractic care every single day of the year. Children can safely receive chiropractic adjustments for treatment of almost any type of dysfunction of the spine, back or neck. However, because the bodies of infants, toddlers and young children are different from the bodies of adults, a specialized approach is necessary.

Chiropractic Care for Infants and Toddlers

Infants often experience trauma during the process of being born, and it's important for parents to pay close attention to any neck or spine misalignment that might have occurred. Infants are unable to tell you how they feel or whether they're suffering any pain, so look closely at your baby while he or she is sitting.

If your baby constantly looks in the same direction, it could eventually lead to an irritation. Chiropractic adjustments should be performed to provide relief for your infant. In addition to reducing your baby's discomfort, adjustments will permit an increased range of motion in his or her neck area. The stability of a baby's spine is crucial to healthy, proper development, and chiropractic adjustments are necessary to establish a normal pattern of motion as your infant grows.

Also, I have noticed that children who receive chiropractic care enjoy other long-term health benefits. They seem to be ill less often and suffer less frequently from ear infections.

Chiropractic Care for Children

Older kids usually quite active, and many are involved in sports and other activities which can expose them to back pain or issues with their spine or neck. In addition, some children endure migraine headaches. These can be treated through vertebral adjustments designed to eliminate or reduce the frequency of the migraines and the amount of discomfort they cause. It may have been different in the past, but now, children are frequently treated through chiropractic care.

How to Know When Your Child Needs Chiropractic Treatment: Look at the Symptoms

Spinal problems in children can be difficult to identify unless they reach a crucial stage or have become quite obvious. Nevertheless, early detection is essential to ensure that your child receives the medical care he or she needs to normalize bodily functions and relieve any associated discomfort. The common symptoms listed below can indicate a possible spinal dysfunction in your child:

* misaligned shoulders
* limited mobility of the neck or head
* recurring ear infections
* persistent colds
* abnormal sleeping patterns
* scoliosis
* bedwetting
* constant headaches
* for infants, difficulty breastfeeding

One typical reason parents obtain chiropractic care for their young children is trauma caused by an injury. Whenever a child experiences a physical injury, it can result in a spinal misalignment. Sometimes, the injured child does not feel any immediate pain or discomfort, but the problem is internal and sometimes does not manifest itself for a while.

Is Chiropractic Care Truly Safe?

Chiropractic practitioners use a gentle approach with children. As with adults, chiropractic treatments administered to children can be painless.

A pediatric chiropractor would begin with an evaluation of the child's condition, conducted by asking the parents a series of questions. If the child is old enough, the chiropractor will ask the child if there are any specific complaints or problems.

Children typically respond to chiropractic care much more rapidly than most adults. In fact, most children only require a few treatments to restore normal function in the affected regions of the body.

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Sciatica And Lower Back Disc Problems Can Be Helped With Chiropractic Care

Sciatica is an abnormal health condition which causes people to have problems with pain in their leg. Sometimes it is called sciatic nerve pain. It is associated with pain in the lower back, buttock and leg or foot. Sometimes the pain in the leg is described as a numbness, tingling, burning or an ache. For some people it is a mild annoyance but for others it may be excruciating.

Sciatic nerve problems will occur in 10% of people, most commonly affecting those aged 25 to 45 years old. The nerves originate in the lower back and travel all the way down to both feet. In the buttock area the sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body and is about the thickness of our thumb. As it travels down the leg the nerve decreases in size and gives branches off to various aspects of our legs and feet.

Normally there should be no problems with the sciatic nerve. However the most common problem affecting it tends to come from a problem from a disc in the lower back. The discs of the lowest part of our spine are called the lumbar discs. They are small pads or cushions between the bones of the lower spine which are called the lumbar vertebrae.

Generally what happens to the lumbar discs is that a portion of it bulges, protrudes or herniates backward putting pressure or impinging upon the sciatic nerve. Sometimes the term "slipped disc" is used but this is really not a true descriptive medical term. There can be various reasons for problems with the disc such as a sudden trauma or prolonged wear and tear occurring over time.

Most people with a lumbar disc and sciatic nerve problem experience the worst of their pain early in the morning towards the end of their normal sleep time and the first hour or two after arising from bed. People who have occupations requiring them to sit in an office or drive a vehicle tend to be particularly uncomfortable with this condition.

The typical medical treatment for sciatica tends to include medications aimed at reducing inflammation. At times surgery is undertaken. Most studies show that taking medication provides only temporary relief. Some experts feel that only 1% of disc and sciatic nerve problems actually need surgery.

Chiropractic care is a natural healthcare alternative to conventional treatment of sciatica and lumbar disc problems. Chiropractors will initially see a patient and discuss the problem with them, perform a physical examination, and evaluate x-rays and other imaging such as MRIs. Chiropractic treatment is aimed at gently tractioning and repositioning the lumbar bones so as to take pressure off the disc. By doing this the bulging or protruding area of the disc is reduced resulting in less irritation of the sciatic nerve. Chiropractors may also use electrical stimulation to relax muscles and recommend the patient use cold packs over the area to reduce inflammation. Chiropractors will also discuss utilizing rehabilitative exercises and lifestyle recommendations that patients will need to follow through on at home and work.

Some studies have shown that 90% of lumbar disc problems causing sciatica are helped with chiropractic care. The sooner the patient visits a doctor of chiropractic the sooner they are likely to experience relief, be able to sleep, work and enjoy life the way it is meant to be.

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