Understanding Chiropractic Care Through Frequently Asked Questions

Millions of people turn to chiropractors each year for alleviation of pain and other health related problems. Even though the field of chiropractic care has been around for more than a century, there are many people who have never been to a chiropractor or do not understand what a chiropractor can do for them.

Here are some answers to the most commonly asked questions on the subject:

What is chiropractic care?

The chiropractic field was founded on the idea that manipulations of the spine can cure and prevent many aches, pains, and disorders. Chiropractors find joint and vertebrae that are out of place or "subluxated" and adjust the spine so that everything is once again in its proper alignment.

Is it safe to be adjusted by a chiropractor?

The good news is that yes, it is safe to be adjusted by a chiropractor. This field has prided itself on using natural and alternative health treatments, especially those that are noninvasive and do not involve medications. It is also interesting to note that chiropractors pay only a fraction of what medical doctors pay for malpractice insurance.

Is the method of adjustment the same for all patients?

No. The doctor will typically take some x-rays of the spine to look for displaced vertebrae in the spine as well as several other possible spinal issues. Taking the results of the x-rays and the symptoms described by the patient, the doctor will tailor the treatment plan to the needs of each individual case.

There are even unique treatment plans for children. Those in the chiropractic field believe that birth can be a major cause for spinal trauma in infants, warranting a quick check. Older children can also benefit from spinal manipulations when they are complaining of a myriad of other health concerns.

Is chiropractic care safe for pregnancy?

It is generally considered safe for pregnant women. Lower back pain is a very common complaint for expectant mothers regular chiropractic care can help ease that pain and even put the body into a better position for labor. Pregnant women should get permission from their physicians before trying any new treatments or adjustments.

Can back surgery patients benefit from chiropractic care?

Yes, and in fact, regular spinal manipulations after back surgery can help avoid future back surgeries. As it is today, almost 50 percent of back surgery patients who do not undergo any other treatments will experience a repeat of former pain and symptoms in the following years, requiring more surgery. Chiropractic care can reduce this possibility and may even help people with back pain to find relief without any surgery at all.

Can chiropractic care cure all health problems?

No. Not all health conditions are directly related to the spine and its alignment, like cancer and diabetes for example. Yet chiropractic care can be surprisingly effective for so much more than just back pain.

It can reduce and cure many conditions associated with the nerve system function such as neck and back pain, headaches, stress reduction and conditions such as sciatica. If you, or your family, suffer from any of these conditions, its time you tried out this alternative medical therapy.

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How & Why I Became a Chiropractor

Dr. Bejan Pazdel talks about how he became a Chiropractor. He, like many people who have never experienced a chiropractor had images of back and neck cracking, and other wild and potentially harmful things. And, like most people, once he tried it and saw the results, he was so excited about how that happened that he decided that was what he wanted to do.

See more at http://www.PazdelChiropractic.com

The 5 Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care has a lot of therapeutic benefits. From the beginning of the chiropractic therapy until now, people with chronic neck and back pain, generative disc disease and other spinal problems are experiencing an improved life with the use of safe and non-surgical chiropractic care. There are lots of benefits but the list below are just five from the many known benefits.

1. Avoidance of Surgery

After having an appointment and treatment with a professional or even with a local chiropractor, a lot of people were able to prevent surgery on their neck, back and spine. There is actually a new highly effective non-surgical alternative to surgery called the spinal decompression which is being used today for a better life.

2. Relief from Head, Neck and Back Pain

Surveys say that chronic back pain is the main reason why people miss work and physical activities. A person's life will surely be improved if he or she is able to be relieved from this kind of pain. People suffering from whiplash which was obtained from vehicular accidents were already helped by chiropractic care. Even migraine, headache and cluster can be treated through the help of a professional chiropractor.

3. Enhanced Immune System

Did you know that the immune system can also be improved with chiropractic therapy and wellness treatment? If your whole being is immune from disease, everything will work out just fine with your daily life. One of the chiropractor's philosophies is to live a healthy life, no worries, stress and pain.

4. Respiratory and Circulatory Benefits

Respiratory function can be improved as well as the lung opening if you receive treatment from chiropractor. Through chiropractic care, asthma, sinusitis, allergies and common colds can be treated. An improved blood supply or circulation to the nerve going to the heart and other coronary arteries is also an advantage.

5. Enhanced Well Being

According to scientific studies, chiropractic has said to be of great help to individuals when it comes to improving their sleep routines. It also shows that chiropractic helped people decrease their depression, stress and anxiety response.

By reading and knowing the five great advantages given by the chiropractic care, you should be of knowledge when you experience back pain, or even head pain, a chiropractor is someone to be contacted and chiropractic care is something to think about in order to feel relief and live a healthy moving life.

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Why Sitting is Bad for You - Murat Dalkilinç

Sitting down for brief periods can help us recover from stress or recuperate from exercise. But nowadays, our lifestyles make us sit much more than we move around. Are our bodies built for such a sedentary existence? Murat Dalkilinç investigates the hidden risks of sitting down.

Lesson by Murat Dalkilinç, animation by Oxbow Creative.

Common Myths About Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic Care Myths and Misconceptions

Chiropractic care has proven beneficial and effective to those who undergo chiropractic therapy. Medical practitioners and other health experts have acknowledged the benefits of chiropractic. However, a great number of the population are still unaware of chiropractic or at least have an understanding of it. Because of the lack of information regarding this practice, many people doubt chiropractic care because of the misconceptions, myths and misinformation that they receive from others who, like them, do not understand chiropractic.

Below are some of the myths about chiropractic care:

1. Benefits of Chiropractic are all placebo

Placebo effect is the belief that benefits and cure are received yet it is not real and only psychological. Chiropractic Care is treatments that focus mainly the muscoskeletal system. It promotes the restoration a healing of the sore and painful areas through natural process in order to retain its normal function.

Many studies have been conducted to unravel the effectiveness and benefits of chiropractic care. Patient testimonials even further attest to the benefits of chiropractic. You can also conduct a simple search in Google to find and check case studies regarding the benefits of chiropractic therapy.

2. Chiropractic treatments are dangerous

Chiropractic is actually a field in healthcare and is practiced by chiropractors who are also licensed doctors. These chiropractors earned their degree and had rigorous training as their field are mostly focused on restoring the function of the muscoskeletal system. Chiropractic care is actually proven safe and effective as compared to taking in pain killers. It also provides the advantage of minimizing the possibilities of a patient having to undergo surgery.

3. Chiropractic treatments are painful

Chiropractors undergo years of training in order to specialize in this field that is why patients should not fear pain during adjustment. There may be some discomfort during the adjustment process which may not even be substantial enough to result to pain.

4. Chiropractic has negative side effects

Chiropractic treatments are natural and manually applied and are widely recognized in the medical field because of its proven benefits. It is even recognized as one of the safest practice in the medical field as it is not dependent on drug medications and surgery for treatment which is why a great number of the population have started to turn to chiropractic care.

5. Chiropractic is expensive

Chiropractic is actually an affordable treatment option for back pain treatments. The cost is around 90% less than the overall bill when paying for a back surgery.

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Pediatric Chiropractic Care Is Beneficial to a Child's Development

More and more parents are looking to chiropractic care as a complementary part of their children's health-care needs. The American Chiropractic Association reports survey findings showing an increase of at least 8.5 percent of chiropractic patients under the age of 17. A study by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention also stated that almost 3 percent of children in the United States receive treatment with chiropractic osteopathic manipulation.

As such, chiropractic is the most prevailing type of alternative medicine employed by children. Experts concur that chiropractic care can be useful for children who suffer from spine-related ailments. Like adults, children benefit from spinal manipulation and adjustments, as well as other kinds of care that fall under the purview of chiropractic.

However, chiropractic care should work as a complementary treatment to regular pediatric care. Chiropractic care works alongside a pediatrician's treatment, but it does not replace the role of a regular doctor. The pediatrician may prescribe medications for certain necessary conditions, and treat the patient for more serious illnesses and injuries. A pediatric chiropractor, on the other hand, is instrumental in providing preventative, supportive wellness care, as well as alternative treatment in some cases.

Some studies indicate that chiropractic care may help children with various common ailments, ranging from colic and bedwetting, to asthma and ear infections. This is in addition to back and neck pain treatment. Studies have been conducted in order to determine the value and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic care. These studies, which showed mostly positive results, concentrated on conditions other than musculoskeletal and included issues such as tonsillitis, enuresis, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, asthma and colic.

In the case of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chiropractors are showing results with an alternative approach to treatment that focuses on nutrition, lifestyle, and postural muscle adjustments as opposed to the regular route of medication. This is no small gain considering how prevalent prescriptions for Ritalin, a commonly prescribed medication for ADHD, have become. Americans consume 90 percent of all prescriptions for Ritalin in the world - a fact that makes many parents weary of the traditional medical approach.

The widespread labeling and use of medication to address ADHD has become controversial, with many vague, but "undesirable" symptoms falling under the umbrella of ADHD. Some skeptics have also pointed to the link between the number of disabled children in a school and the amounts of funding a school gets.

In the case of ADHD, a chiropractic doctor begins by seeing the child as a whole, and seeks to consult with the child and the parents, asking questions such as, "Is the child bored or undertaking too many activities? Does the child have dyslexia, or a different learning pattern? Is he/she experiencing problems at home or with a teacher's style?"

This is a startling different approach to the standard, questionnaire-based evaluation for ADHD. Another criticism for the traditional treatment for ADHD is that drugs don't cure ADHD, and that most children who are diagnosed with it still experience ADHD symptoms in later years.

Chiropractic and chiropractic neurologists provide a non-invasive, holistic treatment approach that focuses on the underlying issue a child may be experiencing, not just the surface symptoms. Chiropractic neurologists identify the malfunctioning part of the brain, and seek treatment methods to address and correct the problem. A brain function exam is used, as well as tests focused on evaluating visual and auditory reflexes.

Once the underlying problem is singled out, patients are put on a treatment program that can often be done at home. Some patients might be asked to wear special glasses, smell a certain scent, or be put into timing therapies that help with planning, organizing, and coordination. It all depends on the individual child's needs. But the most striking element of chiropractic treatment is that it seeks to address brain activity itself, paving the way for long term results. Nutritional changes are also recommended in order to prevent biochemical imbalances that lead ADHD.

As for chiropractic spinal manipulation, the treatment itself is sophisticated and individually tailored; the treatment for children is also extremely gentle. Doctors of chiropractic employ an active, drug-free method of health care, which includes patient examination, diagnosis, and subsequent treatment. Most parents claim their children receive the benefits of improved health by regularly visiting a chiropractor, and their children enjoy their chiropractic visits and adjustments.

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Chiropractic: An Important Ingredient to Health and Wellness

The art and science of the practice of Chiropractic has been around for over 100 years and can be a valuable tool for the person seeking improvement in health and wellness. Chiro- is derived from the Greek word for hand and praktikos - meaning the practice of or practical. Generally speaking Chiropractic focuses on finding small misalignments in the spine or vertebral column termed subluxations (luxation is a complete dislocation) and aligning the relationship of one vertebrae to the next one. These subluxations or misalignments in the spine are commonplace and can happen due to posture or chronic repetitive movements as well as acute pathology, injury and even pregnancy.

Chiropractic has over the last hundred years become mainstream moving from Eastern philosophy to becoming a part of Western medicine. Fundamentally, traditional Western medicine had treated the disease or pathology or symptom from the outside in with computer diagnostic equipment, medications and surgery. In contrast, Chiropractic is based on diagnosing the underlying cause of the disease or symptom with the premise that the central nervous system and related sympathetic and parasympathic system controls all body functions and operates like a computer program. The nervous system is comprised of nerve pairings which are split to perform their respective functions. Each pairing is split into a sympathetic branch to the muscles for fight or flight instincts as well as a parasympathetic branch for rest and digestion functions.

With a general understanding of the history and philosophy of Chiropractic let us now look at how this discipline can be used to assist in the achievement of improving and maintaining health and wellness. Few if any of us are fortunate enough to get through this life without experiencing spine or extremity misalignments. These misalignments can come as early as the birthing process! Then from toddlers through school age adolescence it is rare to not be involved in accidents such as falls, sports accidents, car accidents, poor sleep and sitting postures. As we get old enough to work there becomes more opportunity for postural imbalances and work and auto accidents. Then as we age into hopefully better health habits we face new obstacles in the form of arthritis and generally decreased activity. The list of who can benefit from Chiropractic is a simple answer...everyone can to some extent. How much one can benefit and how often treatment is required depends on many factors including age and acuteness or age of condition.

Chiropractic is by nature not a treatment of conditions but rather an alignment of the body to heal itself by being able to function as efficiently as possible. With that being stated however, patients have increasingly chosen Chiropractic to improve and at times alleviate symptoms such as headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain as well as helping with arm and leg pain and numbness, disc problems and much more.

Most importantly Chiropractic should be considered as a resource in achieving and maintaining an optimal state of health and wellness. Chiropractic has become a leader in alternative medicine and natural healing. With much criticism by Western medicine and western model insurance companies, Chiropractic has had to prove its necessity through word of mouth for much of the past hundred years.

Starting with the champion San Francisco 49er's of the 1980's Chiropractic became introduced into the NFL with documented positive outcomes for the star players of the team. Many of the players were in fact documented attributing Chiropractic to helping prolong their careers. Today it is commonplace for all sporting teams from high school to professionals to have Chiropractic be a part of the healthcare team.

Health and wellness therefore requires a combination of considerations to achieving optimal function. Chiropractic can be used effectively to achieve and maintain efficiency as well as assist following any occupational or environmental stressors that create injury, postural or nerve imbalances. Remember, do all you can to achieve health and wellness...the quantity and quality of your life depends on it. Best wishes.

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