Chiropractic - A Natural Treatment for Chronic Back Pain

Chronic back pain or back pain is a common problem affecting people of all age groups. It prevents people from living an active life and makes them depend on various medications, which may provide temporary relief but can lead to prescription painkiller dependency.

Chiropractic is an alternative medical treatment where trained specialists, called as chiropractors, use hands-on spinal manipulation and other techniques to treat back pain, neck pain and headache.

According to Web MD, chiropractic is the most preferred treatment over all the available back pain relief-related treatments. In the United States of America, approximately 22 million people visit a chiropractor annually, of which 7.7 million seek relief from back pain.

Chiropractic for pain management

The concept of chiropractic works on a simple principle - proper alignment of the body's musculoskeletal structure, especially the spine. Spinal column is made of 24 vertebrae which enable the body to move, twist, and bend. When two or more vertebrae don't function properly, they are said to be misaligned leading to pain, discomfort and other symptoms.

Chiropractic functions by correcting the structural alignments in the spine thus enabling the body to heal itself, without surgery or medication.

During chiropractic, manual spinal manipulation is used to restore the mobility of joints which are restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event. It is primarily used as a pain relief treatment for muscles, bones, joints, and connective tissues.

Chiropractic for back pain

A typical chiropractic for back pain begins with recording the medical history of the patient followed by a physical examination and/or tests to find out the root cause and the suitability of the treatment. Once the pain condition is diagnosed, a treatment plan will be developed by the chiropractor.

During the treatment, the chiropractor uses hands or a small instrument to apply quick and strong pressure on a joint between two vertebrae of the spine, which would push the joint beyond its normal range of motion. One can hear popping or cracking sounds during the session caused due to the breaking of vacuum.

Depending upon the severity of pain, the treatment requires multiple visits. Besides spine manipulation, the treatment may also include other therapies such as nutritional counseling, hot and cold packs, massage treatment, exercise, electrical stimulation and weight loss treatment.

Benefits and risks associated with chiropractic

Being a natural treatment, chiropractic is safe when performed by trained and licensed professionals. Besides relieving pain from back and neck, it results in improved nerve function, joint motion and coordination, physical function and performance and improved posture.

Before the treatment, patients should disclose their medical history including their ongoing medical conditions or any current medications to avoid unnecessary risks. People with some medical conditions such as osteoporosis, spinal cord compression, arthritis, and those who take blood thinning medications are not advised to undergo chiropractic.

To expect best results from the chiropractic adjustment, one has to approach a trained, certified and experienced chiropractor.

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Chiropractic Care - A Safe and Non-Invasive Way to Reduce Migraines

For people suffering from migraines, a non-invasive and safe way to lessen migraine suffering is Chiropractic care. Not just anyone should use chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is meant for patients who are unable to use prescription medicine because the medicines make them susceptible to other risk factors.

The cause of migraine headaches is still unknown in spite of the major advances in medical science that have been made in the last century. For this reason migraine headaches are said to be idiopathic. There are several theories that have been put forward to explain migraines and their causes. These include genetic malformations, arterial swelling in the cranium and serotin deficiency in the patient.

Another common theory associated with chiropractic theory stipulates that migraine headaches are caused by or in the least contributed to by subluxations in the muscles situated at the base of the skull and the neck. Subluxations can be defined as tense regions in the muscles adjacent to the upper spinal cord small bones. Medical doctors most often than not miss the tension since on an X-ray the bones appear to be in their correct positions. What a chiropractor does is relax the subluxations by manipulating the spine.

Mixed chiropractic and straight chiropractic are the two methods that a chiropractor uses to care for the migraine patients. Only the manipulation of the spinal subluxations and spine are involved when straight chiropractic technique is used. Mixed chiropractic however involves the combination of conventional manipulation and other complementary methods. Mixed chiropractic focuses on reducing the overall neck strain and tension.

A comparison between drug therapies and chiropractic care for chronic tension headaches and migraines was made recently by researchers from Northwestern College of Chiropractic. The college is in Minnesota. The result of the research was published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 218 patients were used in the research. Each patient was either given regular chiropractic care or drug therapy. At the end of the study the two groups each reported a forty to fifty percent drop in the headache pain.

After four weeks (four weeks from when all care was discontinued) a follow up on the patients from both groups was carried out and it revealed that the only patients who still had reduced headaches are the ones belonging to the chiropractic group. As for the drug therapy group, only twenty to twenty five percent of the patients still had the reduced headache pains as a result of the drug therapy administered earlier.

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Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustment : Principles of Chiropractic Care

Learn the basics of chiropractic treatment in this free chiropractic overview video from an experienced chiropractor.

4 Reasons Why Chiropractic Therapy Is Good for You

Do you panic when you hear about Chiropractic Doctors (CD)? Have you ever questioned the chiropractic profession? If you ever do, you're not alone. It's probably because a lot of debates and arguments are ongoing about the nature and activities of chiropractic treatments. So do you want to clear up your mind on whether chiropractic therapy is safe for you? Well, first, we need to define the term chiropractic and then analyze what chiropractic doctors do. The word chiropractic is derived from the Greek and means 'to perform with the hands'. This is because the most important component in a chiropractor's treatment is the manual treatment of the joints and muscles of the body. But is this treatment any good for you? Below are four reasons why chiropractic therapy is OK for you:

It's Safe

Chiropractic therapy is safe for you. Basically, when a patient visits a Chiropractic Doctor (CD), the Chiropractic Doctor will examine the patient first to see if he or she is eligible for chiropractic treatment, just as the medical doctor always does before treating a patient. Although, the title, 'Dr', as used by chiropractors, doesn't imply a medical qualification, chiropractors used it as a courtesy of a highly respective profession. The term 'chiropractor' is protected by law - anyone referring to themselves as a chiropractor has to be registered with the General Chiropractic Council, who can also provide details of registered chiropractors. So when you're afflicted with muscle or joint pain, but doubting whether to visit a chiropractor, be rest assured that you would be in safe hands. Chiropractic doctors are well-trained professionals who can treat your injuries specially.

It's Painless

Chiropractic treatment is painless. Chiropractors used their physical hands to treat all the pains in the patient's body. Whether you're suffering from lower back or neck pain, chiropractors relieved your pains using various techniques such as deep-tissue massage which is drug-free, risk-free and pain-free. Chiropractic therapy is definitely good for you.

It Treats All Your Injuries

Whether you're suffering from shoulder pain, neck pain, carpel tunnel syndrome, muscle pain, joint spasm, headache and migraines, poor posture, lower back pain or any stress resulting from work-related activities; chiropractic therapy relieves all your injuries safely.

It's Soothing

This is another icing on the cake about chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic therapy not only examines the cause of your ailment and treats it heads on; it does that in a relaxed and soothing way as well. Chiropractic Doctors usually treat the patient while the patient is lying down on soft elevated bed. Using only their bare hands, chiropractors manipulate the pain areas of the tissue, ease the nerves and improve body circulation of the patient as he or she lies down in a relaxed fashion.

Chiropractic therapy is very effective in treating different injuries and tensions in the body. It has proven great success in the past years, improving the health condition of millions of patients. It's safe, painless and comforting. Should you have any back pain or muscle contraction, chiropractic treatment is the right solution for you.

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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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