Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) – often referred to as Chiropractors or Chiropractic Physicians – practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
Chiropractors may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, and other diagnostic interventions to determine when Chiropractic treatment is appropriate or when it is not appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other health care providers.
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Auto Accident Victims
- Headaches and Migraines
- Whiplash
- Hip Pain
- Ankle Pain
- Tendinitis
- Shin Splints
- Neck or Back pain with radiating symptoms
- Sciatica
- Postural Pain
- Joint Problems
Chiropractors employ treatments, including joint manipulation, physical therapy modalities, patient education, manual therapy, nutrition, and rehabilitation exercises, to approach each patient's different situation.
As chronic pain proceeds to grow within the US healthcare system, chiropractors utilize established methods to diminish pain and disability without the need for medications and surgery in most cases. Here are a couple of reasons people may choose to visit a chiropractor.
LBP troubles our society as one of the most prevalent causes of disability and healthcare expenditures. Joint dysfunction in the lower back is the main risk factor for the growth & progression of low back degeneration. (1) Luckily, chiropractors give a researched-backed treatment of these joints through spinal manipulation, exercise, and specific patient education.
Most patients have decreased pain within their first appointment.
If neck stiffness is left untreated, a person may encounter restricted joints and less range of motion. Spinal manipulation, performed by chiropractors, has unrivalled success and safety for these types of neck pain. (2) Manipulation, in conjunction with exercise and postural reeducation, often alleviates symptoms quickly.
They will ask questions, conduct a physical exam, and possibly order imaging to get to understand your condition completely. Your pain is multi-dimensional, influencing many areas of your life—and so should your treatment plan.
A chiropractor can thoughtfully craft a care plan to attack all of the postures, activities, hobbies, and stresses that may be resulting in your chronic pain.
The strong management of headache patients requires a multifaceted approach with spinal manipulation as a foundation of a pain management strategy. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of spinal manipulation for these kinds of headaches. (3-5)
A recent study in The Spine Journal found that spinal manipulation cuts the number of symptomatic headache days in half, and the amount of treatments has a linear dose-response to improvement. (4) Chiropractors can promptly recognize the type of headache and the most relevant treatment strategy.
Most acute pain is due to musculoskeletal impairment, sometimes referred to as mechanical neck and back pain. Mechanical pain does not typically react well to a chemical solution (opioids).
This ineffective approach leads to diminished results and constant use. Opioid dependence, understanding, and addiction often commence following an acute problem such as a dental procedure, surgery, or injury. More than 25% of chronic use follows post-operative or injury-related pain. (6). Here is how chiropractors are helping with the opioid epidemic:
