Perhaps one of the things that make people hesitant to see a chiropractor for examination and treatment is their ignorance of what happens during chiropractic care. Fear of the unknown – as we always say.   Let’s have take a walk-through of a typical chiropractic office and the the activities inside.

What Happens at the Chiropractor Office?

The setting inside a chiropractic office or clinic including the intake procedure is familiar even for one who has not been there before. What will strike you initially though, is the treatment table used in the examination and treatment of patients. It is more elaborate and specially designed to facilitate physical examination and treatment of the patients in varying specific positions.   In a typical visit to a chiropractor, you will undergo the following process: initial intake, physical examination, treatment, and a follow-up plan.

Intake  

The initial intake is very similar to the intake procedure in a medical office. You will most likely be asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding your condition and health history, noting risk factors you may have. More commonly, you will be asked to indicate or mark on a drawing of the human body the specific areas you are having discomfort in.

Physical Examination  

The intake will be followed by a routine physical exam. You will then undergo an examination that focuses on the areas you have a complaint on. The chiropractic doctor will most likely examine the entire length of your spine.  This is necessary because even if you complain only of back pain, for example, the adaptations resulting from subluxations or injury in one area may result in secondary irritation to other parts of the spine.   The chiropractor will likely take x-rays of your spine before treatment starts. Here he or she will be able to study the condition of the bone structure and soft tissues. Through this, the chiropractor will also be able to understand any anomalies in your spine, the extent of wear, and other factors that will help in the formulation of the treatment plan.   Among the assessments done in the physical exam are range of motion tests, palpation, muscle strength comparisons, reflex testing, and neurological and orthopedic tests, all focusing on the main complaint.

Treatment Plan  

After assessment has been made, the chiropractor will develop a treatment plan that will consider your general health, the extent of your injury and pain, the condition of your spine as regards to your previous injury and age, and most importantly what you want to achieve during the treatment. It is most important to discuss this with your chiropractor to let him or her know whether you simply want to get rid of the pain and discomfort or to start a comprehensive chiropractic care program for you.   Adjustments in the spine area are the central focus of the chiropractic treatment. It consists of a combination of controlled force, direction, leverage, amplitude and velocity aimed at specific joints. It is a much simpler procedure compared to the surgical way of opening up a joint. Your chiropractor will also make adjustments in other joints, as necessary to improve overall structures.   The frequency of your subsequent visits for treatment will depend on the severity of your condition, and how well your body responds to the adjustments.   You should not have worries seeing chiropractors. They are competent professionals who live by the ideals of their profession and carry out their mandate, which is applying the scientific principles and techniques upon which chiropractic is based.      

Chiropractic treatment started to create a buzz when it has become a popular alternative for traditional medicine. As it is drugs-free and involves hands-on approach, chiropractic is sometimes preferred over medicinal treatment when it comes to back pain, neck pain, and other related ailments. In this article, you will learn the concept of chiropractic care and it is for you to judge whether this type of alternative treatment is right for you or not.

 

What is Chiropractic?

 

Chiropractic is an alternative medicine treatment that aims to prevent and treat disorders affecting the musculoskeletal and nervous system of the body. In the science of chiropractic, it is believed that the general health of an individual can be affected by the nervous system such that any abnormal condition in the body results from malfunction of the nerves.

 

Chiropractic care involves adjustments and manipulative treatments of particular body structures including muscles, joints, and tissues. Once any of these body structures fails or malfunctions, it is the objective of chiropractic treatment to restore its mobility and function so that the patient can also go back to his daily routine.

 

The Doctor of Chiropractic Care

 

A chiropractic specialist is called a chiropractor. A person can become a certified chiropractor after he has undergone a thorough training and education about the diagnostic skills, knowledge, and practical procedures related to chiropractic care. Depending on the case of a patient, a chiropractor can provide rehabilitative and therapeutic exercises, and can recommend nutritional advice, as well as lifestyle changes, in order to completely restore treat the person.

 

In case other forms of medical treatment are required, a chiropractor will also refer the patient to a specific doctors or health care specialists.

 

Conditions that Respond Well to Chiropractic Treatment

 

Any condition, ailment, or disease in which the musculoskeletal or nervous system of the person is involved or affected can be treated by chiropractic sessions. The most common, however, include back pain, neck pain, poor posture, tension headache, whiplash, sinusitis, premenstrual discomfort, slipped disc, arthritis, and other spinal disorders.

 

As mentioned above, chiropractic cures these ailments by restoring mobility to the affected nerve, muscle, or tissue. This is performed by applying controlled force to the affected area. For example, since tension headache is normally caused by tensions coming from the neck and going up the head, chiropractic can relieve such condition by doing an adjustment to the neck. It goes the same with other nerve- and spine-related injuries and conditions.

 

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

 

If you are still looking for reasons to engage in chiropractic care and treatment, here is a list of the known benefits of this procedure.

 

1. Chiropractic treatment is non-invasive. The procedure does not involve the use of drugs or surgery. Thus, it is safer compared to mainstream medicine and health procedures.

 

2. Chiropractic is considered safe and identified to have lower risk compared to traditional medicinal procedures and physical therapy.

 

3. Chiropractic is effective and can relieve pain involving joints, muscles, bones, and tissues. In some cases, it is even used as a supplemental treatment for traditional medicinal procedures.

 

4. Chiropractic is for everyone. Whether you are a male or female, young or adult, you can engage in chiropractic care as it is safe and proven to cure certain health conditions.

 

Getting Started with Chiropractic Care

 

If you are ready to engage in chiropractic treatment, the first thing you have to do is verify that your condition is indeed something that a chiropractor can treat, i.e., it is an ailment involving an injured joint, muscle, or tissue. You can do this by undergoing a physical exam, x-ray, or CT scan, whichever is most suitable.

 

Once verified, you can start looking for a qualified chiropractor who will diagnose and treat your ailment. Your chiropractor will also perform his diagnosis and study the history of your condition. Depending on your case, he will suggest the type of chiropractic procedure he will perform on you and for how long. If everything is settled and agreed upon, your chiropractic care can start.

 

Depending on the severity of your condition, your chiropractor can recommend rehabilitative exercises that you can engage in. When done religiously, the chiropractic procedure shall treat you of your condition.