If you’re one of the millions of Americans dealing with back, neck, or joint pain, chances are you’ve considered whether a chiropractor can help.
Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who use chiropractic care, a popular alternative medicine designed to address issues with the musculoskeletal system, primarily the spine, to address the problems with pain and discomfort.
One of the main techniques utilized by chiropractors to achieve this is chiropractic adjustments. In this article, we’ll explore chiropractic adjustments, how they work, and why you should consider working with a Doctor of Chiropractic whose expertise extends beyond simple chiropractic adjustments to address underlying concerns to provide long-term relief.
| Key Takeaway |
|---|
| While chiropractic adjustments can effectively provide immediate pain relief for various musculoskeletal issues, they cannot solve many of the root causes of pain alone. Instead, patients dealing with chronic or potentially chronic pain should seek chiropractic care from advanced chiropractors who utilize chiropractic adjustments as one piece of an overarching treatment plan that also utilizes spinal traction to fix spinal misalignment and postural abnormalities that are often the cause of pain. |
Chiropractic Adjustment: What to Know
Chiropractic adjustments, often referred to as spinal manipulation, are holistic therapies skillfully administered by chiropractors to enhance joint function, alleviate pain, and promote overall well-being. This technique involves the precise application of controlled force, either manually or with specialized instruments, to the spine and other joints within the body.
Chiropractic adjustment is a fundamental pillar of chiropractic care, effectively addressing musculoskeletal issues. The focus on the spine is due to its pivotal role in the body, serving as the primary support structure, safeguarding the spinal cord, and maintaining balance.
Whether contending with back pain or joint discomfort, chiropractic adjustments are a highly effective treatment option. They have demonstrated the ability to enhance joint mobility and promptly alleviate muscle spasms, leading to an improved range of motion.
The specific type of chiropractic adjustments a chiropractor administers depends on the purpose of your visit. Chiropractors can tailor adjustments to your unique needs, utilizing either gentle or more forceful techniques, depending on the nature of your condition. Outside of this, there are various aspects of chiropractic adjustments to consider. Here’s a list of what to expect when receiving chiropractic adjustments.
| Chiropractic Adjustments: Things to Know | |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Improve joint function, alleviate pain, and promote increased overall well-being. |
| Technique | Skillful application of controlled force, either manually or with specialized instruments–that can be gentle or heavy depending on the need–to specific joints, primarily the spine. |
| Commonly Treated Areas | Spine, neck, shoulders, hip, knees, ankles, and other joints as needed. |
| Conditions Addressed | Musculoskeletal issues, including back pain, neck pain, headaches, sciatica, and other joint problems. |
| Benefits | Enhanced joint mobility, increased range of motion, reduced pain, and muscle spasm relief. |
| Individualization | Treatment plans are based on the patient’s specific condition, medical history, unique needs, and preferences. |
| Safety | Considered safe when administered by a licensed and trained chiropractor. |
| Frequency of Visits | Varied depending on factors such as the patient’s condition. It could be anywhere from 2-3 visits per week for a few months to multiple visits over multiple months and potentially periodic maintenance care for chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia. |
| Specific Techniques | Depending on the patient’s needs and preferences, chiropractors can employ various techniques, such as Diversified, Activator, Gonstead, or Thompson. |
| Cost and Insurance Coverage | The cost of chiropractic adjustments can vary by location and clinic, with the more experienced chiropractors capable of utilizing advanced techniques costing more. Estimates can range from $50-500 per session. Many health insurance plans cover chiropractic adjustments to some extent, but coverage will vary. Patients should check with their provider to understand the scope of coverage and any copayments or deductibles. |
Spinal Realignment: Beyond Chiropractic Care
It’s crucial to understand that chiropractic adjustment represents just one facet of the treatment spectrum available to chiropractors. While all chiropractors can perform basic chiropractic adjustments, not all are equipped to employ more advanced adjustment techniques or integrate chiropractic adjustments into a comprehensive treatment plan designed to achieve outcomes beyond pain relief.
To achieve results beyond short-term relief, Doctors of Chiropractic who are trained and certified in advanced techniques focus on correcting spinal misalignment and postural abnormalities. This is because many of the sources of pain patients seek out chiropractors for in the first place stem from issues with the spine’s natural curvature.
As the spine serves as the primary support structure for the body and plays a pivotal role in distributing weight across other body parts, any alteration in its natural curvature can disrupt its ability to perform these functions effectively. This disruption often results in pain and the potential development of chronic conditions.
PostureWorks Provides Advanced Chiropractic Techniques for Long-Term Relief
When seeking chiropractic adjustments, it’s vital to ensure that the true source of your pain is addressed. Otherwise, you can expect to return to the chiropractor for pain relief.
Instead, the experts at PostureWorks use chiropractic adjustments as part of a larger, comprehensive treatment plan designed to address spinal misalignments and postural abnormalities, usually at the core of pain.
We accomplish this with advanced, evidence-based treatment methods such as Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP) to isolate the underlying cause of your pain. With CBP, we assess your entire medical history and perform an in-depth postural analysis to create customized treatment plans with spinal traction, neuromuscular reeducation, and chiropractic adjustments to repair your spine, relieve pain, and keep it from coming back.
Contact us today for more information on chiropractic adjustment or to schedule your appointment with PostureWorks in Lakewood or San Francisco.
Chiropractic BioPhysics®, or CBP, is a deeply researched and results-oriented corrective care technique. CBP-trained chiropractors aim to realign the spine back to health and optimal function. As with all chiropractic care, CBP is conservative, painless, and non-invasive as with all chiropractic care.
