Among people seeking back pain relief alternatives, many choose chiropractic treatment because of its drug-free and surgery-free principles. Chiropractors diagnose and treat several spinal disorders that can cause nerve, musculoskeletal, or back pain by correcting localized joint issues and a person’s general posture. It can influence your overall well-being, especially your central nervous system.
Although chiropractic therapy focuses on spine-related problems, many chiropractors can also help patients improve their activity, bodily function, nutrition, and other lifestyle concerns.
Here’s an overview of the most common ailments that chiropractors can treat.
Back Problems
There are several issues associated with back problems, from strains, sprains to lower back pain. All of these conditions can occur when a person lifts too much weight, frequently plays strenuous sports, and improperly bend or twist when doing regular activities. These can cause general discomfort, localized pain, postural issue, or more complex conditions like fibromyalgia (a disorder that causes widespread musculoskeletal pain).
To treat back problems, a chiropractor will perform a thorough physical examination on a patient to diagnose what particular condition they may have, and make a customized treatment plan depending on the patient’s specific medical needs. Treatments can include:
- Adjustment – When performing this procedure, a chiropractor will use a device to apply slight pressure on your spine’s vertebrae to move them to the correct position.
- Mobilization Therapy – A chiropractor will gently extend and shift your muscles and joints, improving mobility and comfort for short or long term.
- Ultrasound Therapy – This procedure involves using ultrasonic waves to alleviate swelling and release your joints, ultimately relieving pain.
- Cold Laser Treatment – During this procedure, a chiropractor will use a handheld device that emits cold lower energy level waves through a patient’s tissue. It stimulates regeneration, repairing cells, and generally assists with uncomfortable symptoms.
Chiropractic therapy can serve as a complementary or alternative treatment solution of physical therapy for back problems or as a standalone treatment.
Arthritis
Millions of people have arthritis, a condition where an individual can experience joint pain and swelling. Inflamed joints can limit a person’s range of motion, making daily activities more challenging than they have to be. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which results from tissue degeneration due to vitamin deficiencies, hormonal issues, aging, and poor diet choices. Many individuals seek chiropractic treatment to fight against this condition, and chiropractors can help treat any form of arthritis by manipulating a patient’s joints to restore their mobility.
A chiropractor may use the following techniques to assist a patient with arthritis:
- Using Orthopedic Devices – A chiropractor may suggest using special pillows or braces to help make daily activities like walking or sitting more comfortable for a patient with arthritis.
- Trigger Point Therapy – During this procedure, a chiropractor will massage or use chiropractic devices to adjust the arthritic joints, relieving joint pain temporarily.
- Joint Manipulation Exercises – A chiropractor may encourage patients to stretch their tissues to reduce inflammation and improve overall mobility.
If you have arthritis, consult with your general practitioner if chiropractic therapy can be an excellent alternative or complementary treatment option to help ease your condition.
Neck Pain
A person’s neck is one of the most vital yet fragile body parts. The neck consists of seven small vertebrae that chiropractors call the ‘cervical spine.’ Neck pain can result from improper posture, remaining in a fixed position for an extended period, accidents, aging, and other injuries. A chiropractor can help ease uncomfortable aching, tightness, and immobility around your neck by adjusting your cervical spine and its surrounding joints. Doing this can restore a patient’s neck and spinal health while diminishing uncomfortable symptoms.
Chiropractic therapy and care for neck pain include:
- Cervical Adjustment and Manipulation – This procedure consists of several chiropractic techniques, including cervical mobilization, that requires the chiropractor to massage the neck to expand its range of motion gently. Another method is the manual cervical traction, where the chiropractor will stretch a patient’s neck muscles forward and backward while lying on an adjustment table. Most chiropractors will combine these adjustment and manipulation methods according to the patient’s specific medical needs.
- Electrical Stimulation – During this procedure, a chiropractor will pass low-frequency electrical energy through a patient’s neck joints to alleviate tightness and inflammation around the body part.
- Soft Tissue Massage – This chiropractic technique can relieve neck tension temporarily or permanently.
A chiropractor will create a personalized treatment plan depending on the severity of your condition, your needs, budget, and preferences.
Headaches
The most common type of headache is tension headaches or stressed headaches, creating a dull soreness around a person’s temples and behind the eyes on one side or both. This condition results from excessively tight neck or upper back muscles associated with misaligned posture or holding your neck and back in a fixed position for an extended period. If you suffer from this condition, a chiropractor can help identify the trigger points in your neck muscles and realign them to alleviate inflammation or loosen your tissues to ease unpleasant symptoms.
The standard chiropractic practices for relieving tension headaches can include:
- Adjust a patient’s neck muscles into the proper position and gently apply pressure to the trigger points to relieve tension.
- A chiropractor may encourage a patient to improve their posture while working or doing other activities.
- Make nutritional recommendations. For instance, they may advise you to avoid foods with sodium nitrite and or monosodium glutamate (MSG) to treat your headache.
A chiropractor will typically make a customized treatment plan specific to your tension headache. They may also collaborate with your physician or nutritionist.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
A chiropractor can adjust a person’s joints and improve overall alignment to correct various musculoskeletal conditions. These disorders include sprains, fractures, ligament injuries, strains, carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis, plantar fasciitis, and more. Chiropractors will design a personalized treatment plan, depending on the severity of your musculoskeletal condition. You can get chiropractic therapy alone or in conjunction with surgery or orthopedic treatment to restore your musculoskeletal function.
Chiropractic treatment addresses a plethora of conditions that range from spine-related disorders to holistic health, improving a person’s physical function and overall well-being. If you’re experiencing any of the conditions mentioned and feel like there’s no improvement with other remedies, it’s best to book an appointment with a chiropractor near you.