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Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on treatment of disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous systems, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractors usually treat neuro-musculoskeletal complaints and injuries, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, joint pain in the arms, legs, hands, and feet, as well as many types of headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic, who are often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes examination, diagnosis, and treatment.
Doctors of chiropractic assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, and diagnostic imaging such as X-rays, MRI and CT scans, and other diagnostic interventions to determine the cause of the problem and whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate.
Injury to the body's soft tissues: nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and discs can be caused by a single traumatic event, such overloading tissues while lifting a heavy object, or through repetitive or sustained stresses, such as repetitive lifting or prolonged sitting. These injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation and pain, resulting in decreased strength, function and either decreased or increased joint mobility.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic to treat pain and injury to the musculoskeletal system is known as "spinal manipulation," also called a "chiropractic adjustment." The purpose of manipulation is to restore normal joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile - or restricted in their movement - as a result of a tissue injury. Chiropractors may perform a spinal manipulation by hand while you lay on a special adjusting table or they may use specially designed tools to facilitate the adjustment. Treatments may also include exercises to restore stability and decrease mobility, should that be the case.
Chiropractors are trained to recommend appropriate therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, prescribe orthotics for proper foot and lower extremity biomechanics, and provide nutritional and dietary support. In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions co-exist, chiropractics may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects of the condition. Chiropractors also readily refer patients to the appropriate health care providers when chiropractic care is not appropriate, or when the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team.
Doctors of chiropractic believe that prevention is the key to health and wellness and that people of all ages can benefit from chiropractic care. Approximately 85% of the population will suffer from back or neck pain at some point in their lives and much of it is preventable. People who are overweight or obese, and who smoke, lift heavy objects, or who have had a previous episode of back pain, are more likely to experience back pain. People working in jobs that require heavy lifting, repetitive or sustained activities, or combinations of these factors are at a higher risk of pain and injury. Children carrying heavy backpacks or spending prolonged times sitting at a computer are also at greater risk for developing back pain. Even infants and frail older adults can be at risk for neck and back pain. All of these groups may benefit from gentle chiropractic care. A healthy spine is key to preventing pain and injury. Chiropractors are experts in musculoskeletal health and can help prevent injury and provide rehabilitative care once an injury occurs.
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