Chiropractic Treatment
The Back and Spinal Conditions
Back Pain, especially in the lower back (lumbar spine), is a problem that most people experience at some time in their lives. The muscles that support the spine are in constant use even while simply sitting. As the spine bends, straightens and twists, constant stress on the back can result in strain and pain. The lower back supports most of the weight of the body and so is subjected to the most mechanical stress and subject to strains.
Back pain that lasts several days should be diagnosed and treated by a physician and if it persists for over 3 months, it is considered chronic back pain. If the back pain is severe, chronic or is accompanied by numbness or pain down the leg, a doctor should be seen immediately.
How Chiropractic Works
Chiropractic is a profession which specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions that are due to mechanical dysfunction of the joints and their effects on the nervous system. Chiropractors adjust the joints of the spine and extremities where signs of restriction in movement are found thereby improving mobility and relieving pain. The body’s own healing processes will then be able to proceed with the task of improving back health. This treatment is known as either adjustment or manipulation.
These conditions are what most people visualize when they think of chiropractors, however, chiropractic can help with a great number of health concerns. Because of the nature of chiropractic, many conditions and problems can be relieved by adjusting the spine. This allows an uninterrupted flow of the nerve signals to all parts of the body allowing your body to function as it was intended to.
However, chiropractors are primarily concerned with locating and treating vertebral subluxations. A vertebral subluxation, which is a misalignment of one or more of your vertebrae, can compromise parts of the nervous system and may impede proper organ function and general health. Subluxations not only occur in your spine, but in any joint that is not moving properly.
Your doctor will treat any found subluxations or misalignments using adjective techniques. There are many different ways to receive an adjustment. Usually, the procedures are hands on and the doctor will deliver a quick, gentle thrust. In other situations a slow, sustained pressure may be used. There are also specifically designed instruments such as the Pro-Adjuster or adjustment tables to aid in the treatment. Adjustments help in preventing or reducing the wear and tear that your joints and ligaments are exposed to everyday by helping the bones gradually return to normal motion and position.
The Pro-Adjuster, a noninvasive chiropractic tool:
Pro-Adjuster is a sophisticated computer analysis machine used to pinpoint problem areas in the back. The information is then charted graphically on a computer monitor so your doctor can detect the problem areas on each and every visit.
By applying the Pro-Adjuster’s Resonant Force Impulses precisely to the affected areas, a patient receives gentle, effective treatment to that specific area, thus reducing subluxation. This will relieve pressure on the nerve, allow the nerve to heal, help relieve the pain and restore the nerve’s ability to transmit signals to the brain more freely. The doctor may then take readings again after the adjustment with the Pro-Adjuster to compare the results.
In addition to adjustments, you may be given physiotherapy treatment, rehabilitation, massage therapy, nutritional counseling or a home exercise program to aid in a speedier recovery.