The term ‘chiropractic’ is originated from the Greek language, chier (hand) and praktikos (done). Chiropractors are referred to as primary contact practitioners since patients can consult them without requiring a referral from a GP. Their primary focus is to treat the spine using their hands, and to determine any health conditions related to muscles and bones that need to be treated.
Chiropractors are skilled in recommending exercises to treat and rehabilitate health conditions along with offering nutritive, alimental and lifestyle advice. Back problems and painful joints are often caused by accidents, injuries, sports or from everyday chores. The treatment will help you if you are experiencing muscle or joint pain that’s physically affecting you. Besides, it helps in maintaining healthy spine and joint functions, even if you are not experiencing any painful symptoms.
Therapeutic Exercise
Typically, chiropractors prescribe certain strengthening exercises for the patients with painful neck or back. These workouts significantly assist in relieving pain, prevent muscles from deterioration, and promote good health, strength, and stability. Your chiropractor will also show you how to perform these exercises and provide you with detailed instructions so you do the exercise in the best possible way. Similar to medical prescriptions, you must keep up with these exercises as prescribed.
Spinal Traction
Spinal traction is a common technique in which chiropractors use traction devices to apply on affected areas of the spine. This treatment smoothly separates the vertebrae resulting in minimized nerve root pressure, disc decompression and minimal pain.
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy
Chiropractors use various hands-on soft tissue therapies to enhance the functioning of soft tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and muscles. Usually, this includes a pin and stretch and frequently known as Active Release Technique (ART).
Therapeutic Stretches
Therapeutic stretching is another effective way to prevent any scar tissue from forming. Even if you have treated your spinal injury, make sure to maintain an everyday stretching program since it helps in keeping tissues flexible and improves mobility. Your chiropractor will guide you on various stretching techniques and direct you unless and until you are comfortable doing the stretches on your own.
Diathermy
Also known as electromagnetic therapy, it comes in a form of shortwave that passes through the soft tissues and provides heat to the denser ones. The therapy comforts the muscles and connective tissues. It reduces muscle spasms and speeds up the healing process by enhancing blood circulation. Chiropractic treatment using diathermy, the healed area will feel pleasingly warm.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is all about the body’s reaction to hot and cold stimuli using hot baths, saunas or whirlpools. In chiropractic, hydrotherapy is frequently used to minimize the sensitivity of back pain through cold stimuli that numb the pain and use hot stimuli to increase blood flow that speeds up the healing process.
Ultrasound
Sound waves are created using ultrasound for heat therapy. This is frequently applied to the joints and soft tissues creating a form of micro-massage that help in reducing swelling, increasing blood flow, and minimizing pain and stiffness. The technique is not used for reducing back pain or spasms, instead, it enhances blood flow and improves the healing process.
Muscle Stimulation
Among many chiropractic services, muscle stimulation has gained tremendous popularity. In this chiropractic therapy, electrodes are placed on the skin that direct light electrical pulses to various areas of the body to reduce inflammation, curtailing muscle spasms, and relieve back pain. There are different types of electrical stimulation. Some are more beneficial for reducing pain while others are best for treating muscle spasms and also some cause muscles to contract and minimize muscle atrophy. There are certain forms of electrical stimulations that have combined effects.
Ice and Heat Therapy
Ice and Heat have been long used to treat painful conditions. Ice therapy is frequently used to minimize swelling and controlling pain immediately after an injury. On the other hand, heat therapy is used to soothe muscles, enhance circulation and provide pain relief to patients with chronic pain. Both ice and heat therapy can be used primarily depending on the patient’s condition.
Traction
A chiropractic traction massage helps in stretching the spin, decompressing the discs, and minimizing the pressure on the nerve roots. In this therapy, rollers are moved through the back of patients while stretching and massaging the muscles.
Diet and Nutritional Counseling
Poor diet and nutritional imbalances result in many serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Chiropractors are proficient in recommending a healthy diet and nutritional counseling. Your chiropractor will formulate a nutritional program specific to your needs that help you reduce the risk of developing serious health conditions and maintain good health.
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators (TENS)
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulators is another very common form of electric stimulation featuring electrodes that are put over the painful area. A TENS is a small, portable and battery-powered unit that can be used at home to control pain. The user is given the control to monitor and regulate the intensity of electrical stimulation. Various intensities of electric current are used to regulate pain. It is strongly assumed that TENS help in blocking the transmission of pain signals through the nerves that release the body’s natural endorphins and painkillers. This treatment is often recommended for patients who are going through critical pain. However, Tens units are not suggested for chronic pain.
Lifestyle Modification Counseling
Good health is directly associated with your everyday lifestyle choices that affect your health in the long term. Your small unhealthy lifestyle choices can eventually turn into major health problems. Some common examples of everyday choices that have negative effects on your health include lack of regular exercise, poor diet, extreme mental stress, smoking, increased consumption of alcohol, etc. Your chiropractor will discuss lifestyle choices and help you identify your unhealthy health habits. They will design practical strategies for you to deal with your daily choices.
Conclusion
Chiropractic treatments are used primarily for pain relief for muscles, bones, connective tissues, ligaments, and tendons. At times, it is used in combination with conventional medical treatment that we have discussed above. These varieties of treatment modalities help the body to treat itself and return the patients to a pain-free and healthy life.
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