Chiropractors Treat More Than Spinal Adjustments
Gonstead Chiropractor are known for their hands-on spinal adjustments, but they also treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal issues. A 2019 study found that chiropractic treatment can lower your need for pain relievers. This is because they can help you overcome injuries and nagging pains by treating the root cause rather than just masking the symptoms.
A spinal adjustment is a hands-on holistic procedure performed by chiropractors that helps to improve spine movement and physical function. When your spine is out of alignment, it can cause a wide range of health issues, such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches. Spinal manipulation, or chiropractic adjustments, help to restore spinal motion and provide drug-free pain relief.
To perform a spinal adjustment, your chiropractor will use their hands or specialized tools to apply pressure to specific areas of the spine called vertebrae. This is often done while you lie on a table. The pressure is delivered with a quick, controlled thrust that can help to improve the movement of the joint. During this process, you may hear a popping sound, which is normal and indicates that air bubbles are being released in the joint.
Your chiropractor will assess your condition by discussing your medical history, performing diagnostic tests like palpation (feeling around the body for any stiff or misaligned areas), leg length analysis, and X-rays or MRI, as needed. Once they have a full understanding of your symptoms and injury, they will be able to determine where your spine needs to be adjusted.
There are several different types of spinal manipulation, but they all have the same goal: to increase blood flow and nerve conductivity to the joints and muscles in your body. To perform spinal manipulation, your chiropractor will have you lie on a special table that can be adjusted to different positions depending on the location of your pain. They will then apply pressure to your spine, often with a twisting or turning motion, which will help to move the vertebrae into alignment.
Not only does a straighter spine reduce back and neck pain, but it also improves your overall health by promoting a healthier immune system. Research has shown that spinal misalignments interfere with the nerves that control cell functions, causing the body to be more susceptible to infections. By helping your spine to be in better alignment, chiropractic care can help prevent bacterial and viral infections from occurring and improve the quality of your sleep.
Many people are surprised to learn that a chiropractor is capable of helping with auto injury pain. Typically, when you think of car accident injuries, you think of broken bones and lacerations. However, minor injuries like whiplash can cause lasting pain and even long-term damage if left untreated. A chiropractor can do a thorough examination to find any signs of injury and determine the best course of action for healing.
Many car accident injuries don’t show up on x-rays or other diagnostic tests. This is especially true for soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains. These types of injuries can take hours, days or even weeks before the victim feels symptoms. In these cases, conventional medicine will often prescribe pain and anti-inflammatory medications to mask the symptoms. Unfortunately, these medications do little to help the underlying issue and can lead to side effects like addiction and drowsiness.
A chiropractor can identify these hidden injuries and perform spinal adjustments to restore proper function and alignment. This can reduce inflammation and increase circulation, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen to injured areas to speed up the body’s natural healing processes. This can also help reduce scar tissue formation, which can create stiffness and limit movement.
Another common problem for car accident victims is impaired range of motion. This occurs when the muscles and tendons are stiff and tight from scarring. A chiropractor can release these tense muscles to improve mobility and decrease pain.
Lastly, a Chiropractor can treat the internal organs that may be affected by car accident injuries. This can include damage from the impact itself or from any loose objects inside the vehicle that were thrown during the collision. A Chiropractor can use spinal manipulations to break up scar tissue and restore normal function to the organs and surrounding muscles.
It is important to see a car accident chiropractor as soon as possible after an accident. This will ensure that your injury is treated as effectively as possible and prevent it from worsening over time. Ideally, you should visit a chiropractor within 72 hours of the crash. This will not only give your insurance company proof of your injuries but will also allow your treatment to begin sooner and reduce the risk of long-term problems.
Almost everyone experiences a headache at one time or another, but when the pain becomes debilitating and reoccurs frequently, it’s important to see a doctor. Depending on the type of headache, a Chiropractor can recommend soft tissue therapy, spinal manipulation and/or acupuncture to relieve the discomfort.
Migraine headaches can be severe, disabling and difficult to treat. They often include throbbing pain, sensitivity to light, sound and smell and sometimes even nausea and vomiting. Medications can help with the symptoms, but many people experience unpleasant side effects from them. Chiropractors can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines by addressing underlying imbalances that contribute to them.
Aside from spinal adjustments, a Chiropractor can also provide advice on lifestyle changes that can help to prevent headaches and migraines. These can include dietary modifications, stress reduction techniques and exercise regimens specifically tailored to each patient. They can also recommend certain vitamins and supplements that can reduce the occurrence of migraines in those who are susceptible to them.
Symptoms of headaches can be caused by muscle tension, misaligned vertebrae, sinus congestion, changes in the weather, poor posture, skipping meals, certain foods, caffeine, alcohol and poor sleep habits. Some headaches are triggered by specific scents, light and noise and others are aggravated by medications or other medical conditions.
A Chiropractor can diagnose the cause of your headache and develop a treatment plan that may include spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, acupuncture and/or lifestyle recommendations to minimize the pain and other symptoms. The goal is to return the body to a state of balance that allows it to function as it was designed. In some cases, regular chiropractic care has been shown to be as effective as some migraine medications in decreasing the frequency and intensity of headaches and migraines. However, it is important to discuss any changes to your medications with your doctor. This is particularly true if you are taking blood pressure or antidepressant medications. This will ensure that your medication is safe for you to take in combination with any new treatments. In some cases, combining treatments can lead to better outcomes than relying on one approach alone.
Wellness Care is routine, affordable and easily accessible chiropractic care for those that want to maintain health & wellness. Unlike therapeutic chiropractic care that is needed for those with injuries or illness, maintenance chiropractic is performed on a regular basis to prevent injury and promote health. This type of care is often not covered by insurance as it is deemed “not medically necessary”.
Chiropractic adjustments can improve the function of your spine and overall health. By maintaining proper spinal alignment, you can avoid many of the diseases and aches that we are prone to develop. Regular chiropractic treatment can help you feel more energized, healthy and happy.
Spinal misalignments, or subluxations, interfere with your nervous system’s ability to communicate properly with the rest of your body. This can cause a wide variety of symptoms including pain, fatigue, and even poor emotional balance. During a chiropractic adjustment, the chiropractor uses their hands or a tool to realign the vertebrae back into place. The adjustment technique varies depending on the chiropractor but can include:
Many people who come to see a Chiropractor do so because of an injury or chronic pain, however, when you get regular checkups, it can reduce the chance of those types of problems from occurring in the first place! It’s like getting an oil change in your car to keep it running smoothly.
It has been shown that people who receive chiropractic treatment on a regular basis have a healthier immune system, less stress, and a better quality of life. This is because the nervous system is a master control center for all the other systems in your body such as your digestive, endocrine and reproductive functions.
A study conducted on patients in a homeless shelter found that those who received regular chiropractic care had higher SF-36 scores in the vitality and social functioning domains than a control group who did not. While this was a small study it provides hope for those who are at risk of not having a good quality of life because they can’t afford or don’t go to a doctor.