Relieve Lower Back Pain and Sciatica
Many people who often suffer from back pain and sciatica turn to local chiropractors for help with alleviating their suffering.
In fact, more than 22 million Americans visit chiropractors annually for body pains, usually lower back pain and sciatica.
Many people are confused, but let’s define chiropractic, chiropractors, and the chiropractic treatment.
What is Chiropractic?
The healthcare discipline that pertains to the connection between the joints, spine and their relationship to the nervous system is called chiropractic. The word “chiropractic” itself comes from a Greek word that means a treatment performed by hand.
Chiropractic practitioners manipulate the spine or other parts of the body to correct alignment problems, alleviate pain, and improve function and mobility. Chiropractors believe in encouraging the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
What’s a Chiropractor?
“In the most traditional sense, today’s chiroropractors are credentialed and licensed medical professionals who safely and efficiently treat body pains due to spinal issues with the use of manual adjustment or spinal manipulation. The aim is to reduce or eliminate the patient’s suffering,” says Dr. Marilyn Goodman, BSN, BSA, DC.
A chiropractor understands the importance of being pain-free to your wellbeing.
On your first visit to the chiropractor, he or she will ask you about your medical history and examine you — sometimes with the aid of lab tests or diagnostic imaging — to determine if your body pain will respond to chiropractic treatment.
Chiropractors aim to help improve your functionality and mobility, and they will also advise you on how to avoid injury offer new information about the varied techniques of exercise activity and help you understand ergonomics and other therapies to help alleviate the pain and prevent it from getting worse.
What Training Do Chiropractors Have?
Chiropractic training consists of a 4-year academic program. Just as in medical school, it involves classroom work and first-hand experience caring for people with lower back issues or sciatica for example. Those who wish to specialize in fields may pursue a 2 to 3-year residency.
Chiropractic is well-regulated. All states require practitioners to complete a Doctor of Chiropractic degree program from a CCE-accredited college. Afterward, they need to pass examinations administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners.
Most states require chiropractors to earn continuing education credits every year to maintain their practicing license.
Chiropractic practitioners can also obtain a license to dispense dietary supplements and use acupuncture or homeopathy.
How Does Chiropractic Treatment Work?
The central belief of the Chiropractic treatment focuses on the connection between the spine’s condition and the nervous system.
Chiropractors believe that with proper alignment of your body’s musculoskeletal structure will not only alleviate the pain or get rid of it eventually, but it also encourages your body to heal itself without resorting to surgery or medication.
Chiropractic practitioners use hands-on spinal manipulation to restore mobility to your joints that are most likely restricted by tissue injury. These painful health conditions are usually the aftermath of a fall, repetitive stress, an injury, years of bad posture, or an improper way of sitting.
But chiropractors are not only about spine adjustment. They also make use of the following approaches:
- Application of heat and ice
- Electrical stimulation with the use of Ultrasound
- Relaxation techniques
- Rehabilitative exercises and stretches
- Exercise for weight loss
- Dietary and lifestyle changes
- Use of nutritional supplements
The chiropractic treatment is so compelling that the Joint Commission which accredits more than 20,000 health care systems in the U.S. has added chiropractic treatment to its pain management standard.
Different Chiropractors, Different Styles
The chiropractic practice features a variety of techniques and joint manipulation styles. No two chiropractors will have an identical method, which is why you should choose your chiropractor wisely. The choice you make can make the difference between a successful treatment and a failed treatment.
During your initial consultation, find out the chiropractor’s spinal manipulation technique and overall style and see if everything agrees with you. Being comfortable with and trusting your chiropractor is vital to the success of your treatment.
While some perform joint manipulation with their hands, there are other innovative chiropractors who use instruments. They will also differ in the weight of their touch. Heavy-handed chiropractors do exist.
Find Out What You Can Get From A Chiropractic Treatment
Unlike medicines and surgery, chiropractic treatment is cheap, practical, and low-risk.
If you want to quit your reliance on pain medication that is expensive and comes with horrific side effects, you should be aware that you have the option of chiropractic treatment. If all else fails, isn’t it time to quit treating the symptoms and address the cause of your pain?
There are 77,000 licensed chiropractors in the United States. The best one will readily refer you to the appropriate healthcare provider if, after assessment, they see that chiropractic care is not suitable for your condition.
Contact your local chiropractor now and talk to someone who believes naturally and holistically in their approach to treating pain.