Did you know that your spinal health literally impacts your overall health and wellness?
The central nervous system relies on your spinal cord to control every cell. This implies that if the spine is not able to support it, you’re likely to experience a lot of health issues.
Your spine allows you to move, supports your whole body, and protects your nerves. It is what makes you special.
According to research conducted by the national institute of health, you have an 80% chance to experience back pain at some point.
It is, therefore, crucial that you make your spinal health your number one priority.
Common causes of spinal disorders
Some of the leading causes of spinal injuries are;
• Falls – 31% of spinal injuries result from falls, mostly in the elderly.
• Sports and recreation activities – impact sports and athletic activities constitute 10% of spinal cord injuries.
• Alcohol – is a contributing factor in 1 out of 4 spinal cases.
Chiropractic care
It is estimated that 22 million Americans visit chiropractors annually.
35% or 7.7million amongst them seek relief from back pain that’s in most cases caused by falls, muscle strains, and sports injuries or accidents.
So what does chiropractic treatment involve?
Chiropractic care is based on the assumption that with proper alignment of the spine, the body can heal itself without medication or surgical interventions.
Usually, it involves spinal manipulation whereby a chiropractor exerts a controlled thrust on a particular joint on your spinal cord. The exerted force causes the joint to move more than it would do on its own.
Spinal manipulation therapy is used to restore mobility to joints that were restricted by injuries caused by poor posture or traumatic events like accidents and falling.
Chiropractic care sometimes incorporates nutritional counselling, exercises, conventional medicine, and other occupational therapy.
When to visit a chiropractor
The following symptoms are a sure sign that you need to see a chiropractor;
Shooting pain in your legs
Sharp shooting pain in your legs is an indication of a slipped disc or a pinched nerve.
A trained chiropractor will accurately diagnose the cause of pain and perform a spine alignment to alleviate the unwanted pressure on the nerve.
If you were involved in an accident
Seeing a chiropractor practitioner should be your number one priority if you were recently involved in a motorcycle or car accident.
Usually, these accidents will leave you with severe injuries that only a trained chiropractor can help heal.
Chronic back pains
There are several causes of back pain, such as poor posture, the type of work you do, the number of hours you spend on your feet.
Chronic back pains can be nagging, leaving physically and emotionally drained. If you’re experiencing such back pains, it’s sure to tell sign that you need to seek help.
Chiropractic care can offer you pain relief without invasive surgery.
How an integrative chiropractic center try to detect spinal issues early
If you suspect that you have spinal issues, it’s imperative that you work with a professional chiropractor who’ll give an accurate diagnosis and help address the problem early before it metastasis.
Like any other medical doctor, a chiropractor will perform a neurological and physical examination to make an accurate diagnosis. He’ll also take your past medical history and carry out lab tests to ascertain if the treatment is suitable for your back pain.
Some of the ways chiropractors use to detect spinal issues are;
Xrays
Xrays are more effective than physical examinations because they are able to detect spinal fractures that the natural eye cannot see.
They are however less useful in identifying smaller fractures in the neck.
CT Scans
Computed Tomography is extremely accurate compared to X-rays.
Many doctors prefer using CT Scans in identifying bone problems and spinal fractures as it gives a more accurate and comprehensive result. However, it’s less effective in detecting soft tissue damages affecting the nerve roots, ligaments, spinal disc, and spinal cord.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRI is more effective than both Xray and CT scan as it can clearly and comprehensively identify specifics about the spinal injury.
MRI can identify disc herniation, hemorrhage, and other soft tissue disruptions.
It may be the most useful diagnostic tool, but it also has risks as moving a patient with a spinal injury to the machine may cause more injuries, and it’s usually the last option, meaning waiting for it would delay intervention.
Are you ready to show some love to your spine? Do you have a nagging back pain, and are you looking for treatment options? Let us help you live an optimal life free from pain. Call us today on 205-637-1363 and let us walk this journey with you.
