How Does Chiropractic Work?

Introduction

If you are new to chiropractic care and everything it entails, you’ll probably have many questions about how it works and, more importantly, how it may help you. Perhaps all you know is that your back hurts. Chiropractic care should be at the top of your list of options to consider for addressing your health concerns as it offers many benefits ready to improve your life. Take a look below for answers to all your questions. 

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments. According to the hypothesis, appropriate alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, especially the spine, will allow the body to repair itself without the need for surgery or medicine. Manipulation is a technique for restoring mobility to joints that have been restricted due to tissue injury from a traumatic incident, such as a fall, or from repetitive stress, such as sitting without sufficient back support.

Chiropractors treat muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, and provide pain relief. It is occasionally used in conjunction with traditional medical care. However, most chiropractors aim to alleviate pain, enhance patients’ functionality, and educate them on taking control of their own health through exercise, ergonomics, and other back pain treatments.

Essentially, chiropractors believe the biomechanical and structural derangement of the spine affects the nervous system negatively. By establishing normal spinal mobility, it can diminish irritation to the spinal never and alter reflexes. As the spinal cord affects the entire body, this treatment can assist with almost all aspects of health. 

How does chiropractic care work?

Chiropractors will perform adjustments using special instruments or their hands to manipulate joints in the body, often called spinal or joint manipulation. The goal is to reduce pain by correcting the body’s alignment and function. Any issues with the musculoskeletal system can gain help from a chiropractor. Along with alignment, they can help with soft-tissue therapy, joint bracing, exercise, and stretching. 

Chiropractors can help with pain in the head and jaws, shoulders, elbows and wrists, hips and pelvis, knees and ankles, and other areas of the body. They examine the entire musculoskeletal system and treat the underlying issue. Chiropractors ensure that not just the joints but also the surrounding muscles are in good working order. 

The initial appointment will serve as a consultation which will include x-rays, an exam, and possibly a CT or MRI. Next, your chiropractor will develop a treatment plan suited to your needs. The first appointment after this, the chiropractor will use their hands to apply controlled pressure to a joint to reduce issues. Additionally, the chiropractor will give you methods to eat and live more healthily. You can also expect the chiropractor to examine you for a range of motion during the process. 

How often should I see a chiropractor?

How often you visit the chiropractor depends on several factors. First, your chiropractor may make a clinical recommendation. Second, the condition can change the number of necessary treatments. Third, finances can impact the number of visits you can afford. Not all insurance companies cover chiropractic care, and you may have to pay out of pocket for all services. 

Additionally, some people take the health and nutrition practices offered by the chiropractor into practice while others do not. Those who do may be able to delay time between visits. On average, though, you can expect to visit the chiropractor twice a week for a month and then stabilize at one-month visits. 

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

The purpose of this chiropractic treatment is to reduce the subluxation (partial dislocation) while also increasing the range of motion, reducing nerve irritation, and enhancing function. A chiropractic adjustment usually consists of a high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust to a misaligned vertebra, as well as an audible release of gas (joint cavitation), which releases joint pressure. 

The chiropractor will adjust bones and joints to establish proper alignment while they push on certain places. Your bones should not move much during the procedure but rather feel like pressure that dissipates when the adjustment is completed. It’s not your bones if you hear popping, cracking, or crunching sounds from the escape of gasses in joint gaps. Your bones may be in strange positions that affect your entire body if you have a severe case of subluxation, but an adjustment may move those bones back to their proper places.

How do chiropractors know where to adjust?

Chiropractors employ the same diagnostic techniques as other health professionals to determine the cause of physical discomfort. Chiropractors utilize a variety of techniques to assess where patients need help and where they should be adjusted. One of the most used is palpation. They also examine the patient’s response to pressure and manipulation with our hands, looking for trouble places. Your range of motion and gait are also used as indicators to evaluate where we need to work with your body to get you feeling better.

In addition to our hands, chiropractors employ basic diagnostic tools. Diagnostic thermography is a sophisticated medical imaging technology used to locate sites of nerve pressure. Heat will register as a signature on the skin when the nerves are weakened, which can be easily diagnosed with this diagnosis. 

While not all chiropractic offices use this infrared imaging equipment, it is one of the most reliable ways to assess where you need to be adjusted because it offers information about nerves that are suffering as a result of spinal misalignment.

How do you keep your chiropractic adjustment in place?

A few steps can ensure your adjustment lasts longer. First, maintain strong posture. Using ergonomic furniture to ensure you have the correct posture. Second, take regular breaks to stand up straight and stretch. Third, avoid awkward movements and lifting, especially when exercising. 

Next, drink a lot of water as your body needs to stay hydrated to function properly. Next, get both exercise and a good night’s rest every night if possible. Finally, for women, make sure you are wearing a supportive bra, as unsupportive bras can cause discomfort and lead to improper posture. 

How safe is chiropractic care?

When conducted by someone who has been trained and licensed to provide chiropractic care, chiropractic adjustments are very safe. However, it is normal to experience fatigue and soreness after treatment initially because it’s the joints being manipulated. In addition, patients with osteoporosis, spine abnormalities, spine cancer, elevated stroke risk, and other serious illnesses that may require surgery are not advised to seek chiropractic care. 

Do chiropractic treatments hurt?

When done correctly and in accordance with the individual condition being treated, chiropractic adjustments rarely hurt. After a therapy session, you may feel a little sore or instant relief. A warm or tingling sensation in the body may occur following a chiropractic adjustment treatment. 

Why Choose Portland Wellness Care for chiropractic treatment?

Portland Wellness Care uses both western and eastern therapies to assist in relieving pain and improving body function. We also have several medical specialists on staff, including a chiropractor, who can assist with a wide range of issues. When you come to our clinic, you will receive a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs and circumstances. We provide same-day consultations and walk-ins to help you feel better. In addition, from massage to sports medicine and beyond, we can help you live a more enjoyable life by encouraging your body to work effectively.

Conclusion

Chiropractic therapy is based on the idea that the relationship between the structure and function of the body impacts health. The spine protects the spinal cord, which connects a substantial part of the peripheral nervous system to the brain and acts as the main support for our bodies. This is why even a little spinal injury or misuse of muscles can have a significant impact on a person’s strength, sensation, and performance. Call Portland Wellness Care today to schedule a chiropractic appointment.