The Basics of Chiropractic Care

In terms of pain relief nowadays, people are seeking a variety of options as an alternative to prescription medication or surgery. One of the options available is chiropractic care. If you aren’t familiar with chiropractic care, then you are not alone. Before you decide if chiropractic care is for you, it’s important to learn more about it. Here is what you should know about chiropractic care.

Who Performs Chiropractic Adjustments?

Chiropractic adjustments are performed by physicians who specialize in spinal health. These health care providers focus on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of spine-related disorders and other issues. They can provide soft-tissue therapies and adjustments.

Chiropractors undergo training to perform these adjustments on patients. In order to become a chiropractor, a person must have four years of undergraduate training and then must attend a chiropractic graduate program. These generally involve another four years of education. Chiropractors are highly specialized health care providers. There is a myth that chiropractors do not undergo training and that they do not have the same qualifications as other doctors, but that isn’t true. These doctors are highly trained and familiar with a person’s musculoskeletal structure.

What Are Chiropractic Adjustments?

During a chiropractic adjustment, a chiropractor uses his or her hands or a small instrument. Then, he or she will apply a controlled and sudden force to the spinal joint. This goal is to improve your body’s function through improving spinal motion. When performed by a licensed specialist, it is completely safe.

On your first visit, you can expect the chiropractor to ask about your health history. Then, they will perform a physical exam with special attention paid to your spine. They may also ask for x-rays, depending on your condition. During the procedure, a person lays in a specific position so that the doctor can treat different areas. For instance, you may be placed face down on a padded table. Then, he or she will push your joint beyond its normal range of motion. Often, you will hear cracking or popping noises during these sessions. This is completely normal.

Chiropractic care is more than a trend. It is an alternative medicine that provides patients with pain relief by focusing on the spine and other body structures. Chiropractic treatment helps with lower back pain and other musculoskeletal related pain. If you have lower back pain or believe that chiropractic care might aid your condition, you can set up an exam and consultation with a chiropractor, like a chiropractor in Glen Burnie, MD.

Thanks to Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic for their insight on the basics of chiropractic care.