Chiropractic therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that addresses disorders of the nervous system and musculoskeletal system and their effects on overall health.
Specialists are known as doctors or chiropractic (DCs) or just chiropractors who mostly conduct the therapy.
A chiropractor will diagnose and treat neuromuscular disorder through manual manipulation or adjustment of the spine. As a result, he or she will reduce pain and improve the functionality of a patient.
Chiropractic therapy is a type of complementary and alternative medicine convenient for patients suffering from back pain, neck pain, headache, and joint problem.
In this guide, we dive deeper into chiropractor therapy to help you decide if it’s the right treatment for you. Continue reading to learn more…
Table of Contents
Benefits of a Chiropractic Therapy
Treats Headaches
The two most common ailments handled by chiropractors are migraine and tension. Most patients have seen reduced occurrence and severity of their migraines and tension headaches after receiving chiropractic therapy.
According to research, about 25% of the patients who had received chiropractic treatment for severe headaches experienced a 90% reduction in headache attacks. Also, the research revealed that 50% of the individuals experienced a major decrease in the intensity of their migraines.
Reduced Chest Pain
Chiropractic treatment is a cost-effective way to manage chest pain compared to self-management. It’s a good treatment approach for those with non-specific chest pain.
Lowers Blood Pressure
A research report published in the Journal of Human Hypertension found out that Chiropractic adjustments can improve blood pressure just like blood pressure maintenance prescriptions.
Most medical specialists favor this non-invasive treatment over medicinal care because it has no adverse side effects. Medications come with serious side effects such as nausea, anxiety, fatigue, and dizziness.
Address Low Back Pain and Neck Pain
Chiropractic care might be effective at treating lower back pain. A literature review published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that over 60% of patients with either lower back pains showed significant improvement after receiving chiropractic treatment.
Similarly, a 2017 review found that spinal manipulation can help in reducing lower back pain.
Chiropractic adjustment can also ease neck pain. A 2017 literature review revealed that the use of chiropractic in the workplace might reduce mechanical neck pain among office workers.
Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation can lead to the development of muscle tension, pain, and joint issue. Chiropractic treatment has shown significant effectiveness in reducing chronic inflammation. Therefore, alleviating problems with the joints and lower back pain.
Other Chiropractic Treatments
Besides spine manipulation or adjustments, chiropractors perform the following treatments:
Therapeutic Exercises
A chiropractor might prescribe specific strengthening exercises for individuals suffering from neck, back, and extremity issues. The exercises help with the following:
- Reducing pain
- Preventing muscle deterioration
- Increasing strength
- Improving stability and range of motion
- Promoting joint health
- Protecting against new or recurring injuries
By doing various exercises prescribed by chiropractors, you can heal faster and resume your daily life activities.
Therapeutic Stretches
Therapeutic stretches help to prevent scar formation after an injury. Regular stretching helps to increase the mobility and flexibility of tissues. If you had a spine injury, stretching might prevent the injury from recurring. Chiropractors often provide patients with the proper instructions to follow when stretching. They also supervise them until the patients are comfortable performing the stretches on their own.
Spinal Traction
The treatment involves applying traction to specific areas of the spine. It allows gentle separation of the vertebrate to promote disc decompression. Thus, reducing nerve root pressure and pain.
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy
A Chiropractor can also use different hands-on soft tissue therapies to boost the function of soft tissues. The tissues include ligaments, joint capsules, muscles, and tendons.
Physical Therapy Modalities
Chiropractors perform a variety of physical therapies, including:
- Muscle Stimulation –Using electrical pulses to treat muscle spasms and to reduce muscle atrophy.
- Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) – Helps patients to get through periods of acute pain.
- Ultrasound – Chiropractors use therapeutic ultrasound to reduce swelling, improve blood flow, and decrease stiffness, muscle spasms, and pain.
- Ice and Heat Therapy: Ice therapy decreases swelling and controls pain immediately after an injury. Heath therapy increases circulation, relaxes muscles, and even eases chronic pain.
In addition to the mentioned treatment, a chiropractor might advise you about changing your diet and lifestyle. These will help to relieve pain and allows patients to manage their condition at home much better.
Who Shouldn’t Receive Chiropractic Treatment?
It’s wise to consult a doctor first before you have chiropractic therapy. In most cases, you will be able to go ahead with chiropractic care.
However, doctors and chiropractors won’t recommend treatment to the following individuals:
- Anyone on anticoagulants or blood thinners: There is a high risk a person might suffer from stroke because of the manipulation of the spine.
- Women with weak bones or osteoporosis from breast cancer: Chiropractic therapy might cause a broken bone.
- Individuals with bone cancer (primary or secondary bone cancer).
- Those with diseases that affect the spinal cord.
- People with diseases of the bone marrow, like leukemia and myeloma.
- Persons with broken bones.
If a patient gets chiropractic therapy after breast cancer, the specialist has to be extra careful with adjustments near the area where the surgery was done.
Bottom Line
Chiropractic therapy is worth a try. However, if you find any clinician who says his or her treatment will permanently cure your condition, walk out.
And if you don’t see any improvement within 4 to 10 days of treatment, either change chiropractors or try a new treatment path.
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chiropractic-adjustment/about/pac-20393513
https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/complementary-therapies/physical-therapies/chiropractic-care-for-arthritis
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/chiropractic-care-for-pain-relief
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/chiropractic-care-for-pain-relief
Why CMRC?
CMRC Hospitalis the specialized provider for Long-term Care and rehabilitation services in Saudi Arabia. With one main facilities in Saudi Arabia, which are designed in a rehabilitation and long-term care hospital with a capacity of 66 beds.
CMRC provides an interdisciplinary clinical approach for Vent Rehabilitation Services which is customized for adults, adolescents, and children. The best rehabilitation services are not only our goal but our ultimate objective is to customize the care plan for each patient and make sure that the patient’s family and their members are integrated into the treatment plan.
When you joined Saudi Arabia hospital for any kind of our rehabilitation services or even for long-term care you will feel as if you are at #Your Second Home.
