While many people have received chiropractic care for years, questions often arise concerning the work of a chiropractor. There is usually general knowledge about the benefits of using a chiropractor when someone has back pain, but that’s typically the extent of what people know about the field of chiropractic care. This lack of knowledge is unfortunate because not knowing what’s possible means you’re less likely to seek help for health issues that can be resolved.
If you’re thinking about visiting a chiropractor, it’s a good idea to understand what’s involved. It’s always beneficial to know about available treatments that can address any ailments that you have. If you’re like most people, you may not know that a chiropractor can treat a variety of physical issues, such as injuries that occur during a car accident, while playing sports or while engaging in everyday activities around your home.
Simply put, a chiropractor is a professional who provides health care with a focus on diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders. The work of a chiropractor often involves adjusting the spine manually to minimize pain and improve how your body functions. While each situation is different, it’s customary for patients to have a series of adjustments over time.
Chiropractic care is unique because it offers a holistic approach to wellness. They are also known for providing helpful information about how to improve and maintain your overall health. Instead of just treating the immediate problem, chiropractors aim to help you live a more vibrant life. It’s important to know that chiropractors are highly educated. They typically must earn an undergraduate degree and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.
Like many other health care providers, chiropractors are required to complete extensive training and obtain a license. Training to become a chiropractor involves learning techniques for adjusting the spine to alleviate various health issues. The reason chiropractors adjust the spine is that there is an understanding of how it’s connected to your nervous system.
It’s believed that a misaligned spine can negatively impact your health in many ways. This is a belief that has been proven time and time again. Given the connection between the spine and the nervous system, chiropractic care can be beneficial to people of all ages. Here’s what a chiropractor aims to accomplish when adjusting your spine:
- Address any misalignments that are creating discomfort or a health issue.
- Restore your body so that it is functioning properly again.
- Provide educational information to help you improve your overall health and wellness.
What a Chiropractor Can Treat
Now that you understand the basic role of a chiropractor, let’s discuss what they can treat in more detail. The first thing that often comes to mind for most people who think about chiropractic care is back pain. Others may think about neck pain.
While these are common ailments for which people receive adjustments, there is a long list of other issues that can be treated by a chiropractor, such as whiplash after a car accident, tension headaches, sciatica, migraine headaches, shoulder pain, nerve damage, knee pain and arthritis, among many other conditions. Some chiropractors choose to specialize in certain areas of medicine, such as pediatrics, sports, imaging, forensics, internal medicine or acupuncture.
These are just some of the areas in which a chiropractor can receive special training and obtain certification. The reason there is an extensive list of ailments that can be treated is that the condition of your spine has a lot to do with your overall health. Once a misalignment is resolved, other issues are often corrected. It’s not uncommon for a patient to deal with an issue for many years that is corrected after having their spine adjusted. Many patients with digestive issues have benefited from adjustments facilitated by a chiropractor when they had no idea that the problem was related to their spine and nervous system.
While the primary method used by chiropractors to treat patients is spine adjustments, they can employ the use of other methods based on the needs of the patient. Some chiropractors recommend a specific type of diet and nutritional plan to resolve the ailments of their patients. They also use physical therapy and massages to promote healing. These therapies are often utilized in conjunction with spine adjustments. Do you have an issue that you think might benefit from chiropractic care? Contact us today at 205-637-1363 with any questions or to get started.
