Chiropractic care is an extremely common choice for back pain relief among patients today. Chiropractors also see patients for the relief of sore necks, pain due to auto accidents or sports injuries, muscle pain or headaches, among other conditions. Spinal manipulation is the foundation of effective chiropractic treatment.
About Chiropractic Care
Proper alignment of the spine through hands-on manipulation allows the body to heal on its own, often without the need for medicine or surgical treatment. Manipulation can also reduce swelling caused by injury, leading to improved joint mobility. Chiropractic methods can be used as an alternative means of pain relief for areas of the body like ligaments, tendons, cartilage, bones, muscles and joints. Chiropractors receive a four-year undergraduate degree and an additional four years of chiropractic college to become qualified to practice as a DC or Doctor of Chiropractic.
How Does a Chiropractor Address Back Pain?
You will be asked about your medical history and given a physical exam to evaluate your needs. You may also require certain lab tests or diagnostic imaging to determine the source of your pain. It is likely your treatment will involve manual chiropractic adjustment or a series of adjustments over time in which a controlled and sudden use of force is used to manipulate the joints. This manipulation is meant to improve the range of motion of the affected joints, leading to ease of movement with less pain.
Depending on your specific injury, you may also receive nutritional counseling, along with some rehabilitative exercises to employ to facilitate healing. This prescription of exercise and rehabilitation should strengthen your back, providing a stronger foundation to prevent further injury.
Benefits and Risks of Chiropractic
Acute back pain, which refers to pain that lasts no more than six weeks or so and can improve with time, is effectively treated through chiropractic spinal manipulation. This method has been deemed safe when performed by a trained DC.
There are times when spinal manipulation should not be considered. If you suffer from spinal cord compression, osteoporosis or inflammatory arthritis, this type of treatment is not recommended. Also, avoid undergoing manipulation of the spine if you are taking blood thinners. If you have a history of cancer, check with their doctor to see if a chiropractor is safe for you.
Sharing your medical history and undergoing an exam prior to treatment will help to pinpoint your particular needs, as well as the source and origin of your pain. Your chiropractor can then use this information to provide the most effective treatment, providing back pain relief quickly.
At LaGrange Chiropractic, we will work with you to determine the safest and most effective chiropractic treatment options for your needs. Contact LaGrange Chiropractic today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Lido Petrucci.