A chiropractor has helped a lot of people in the past. Some people may even see one often. But it seems like not many people know what a chiropractor does. Even for people who get regular chiropractic care, there are probably a lot of things that they don’t know. Read on to learn some interesting things about chiropractors and what they do.
Chiropractors don’t just treat back pain
People often think of chiropractors as people who treat back pain, but they do a lot more than that. Chiropractic care looks at the whole person. It tries to find out what’s really wrong with a patient instead of just covering up the symptoms.
One of the most important parts of chiropractic care is making sure the spine is in the right place. However, since all of the nerves in the body branch off from the brain and spinal cord, it’s easy to see how a chiropractor can affect the whole body.
Chiropractic services include treatment for more than just back pain
Headaches, neuropathy, problems with balance, focusing, range of motion, and joint degeneration are all signs of aging.
They can also give advice on how to eat, exercise, and live in ways that might be better for your health as a whole.
Adjustments to the spine don’t hurt
A common misconception about chiropractic care is that it will hurt. This just isn’t true. People say that the bones “crack,” but this is not true. Instead, there is a quick thrust to a certain bone in the spine. The sound that sounds like a “crack” is actually the sound of gas escaping from a joint.
People say that neck adjustment is one of the areas where they are most worried that the treatment will hurt, but in reality, it is the opposite. When many people go to the chiropractor, they are already tense and in pain. When they leave, they usually feel lighter and have more freedom of movement.
A chiropractor can ask for blood work and imaging tests
Most people know that a chiropractor can order x-rays, but they might not know that they can also order blood work, saliva tests, and other diagnostic tests like MRIs. As we’ve already said, chiropractic care is based on finding the cause of a person’s pain or illness. Sometimes this needs more testing and looking into.
Chiropractors also use advanced testing to figure out things like hormone levels, stress response, and gut function. Then, this information can be used to come up with the best chiropractic treatment plan.
Overall Health is Improved by Chiropractors
Chiropractic care focuses on taking care of the whole person to improve their overall health. This means that instead of just treating specific symptoms, a chiropractor works with you to learn more about what’s going on in your body, both physically and emotionally.
People think that everything that happens in our bodies is part of the whole. When everything is working as well as it can, our body’s self-healing systems can take over. This often leads to even better results. Many people are surprised by how much their chiropractors ask them about their health, emotions, and way of life, but it all helps them give each patient the best care possible.
Chiropractic care isn’t a quick fix
It’s important to know that one trip to the chiropractor probably won’t be enough to “cure” you. Depending on the situation, you might start to feel better right away. But it will likely take a while to get the results you want. Since you didn’t wake up with the pain that sent you to the chiropractor in the first place, it’s likely to take some time for you to feel better.
On the other hand, many people think that once someone starts chiropractic care, they have to keep going to the chiropractor every week to keep getting the benefits. Again, the results depend on the person, but chiropractic treatments are very similar to what your doctor might do for you. Most of the time, you will see them often when you have a problem, but once that is fixed, regular checkups should be enough.
Pregnancy can be helped by chiropractic care
Many people don’t know that chiropractic care for pregnant women is not only safe but also very helpful. In fact, research shows that women who get chiropractic care while they are pregnant have an easier labor and shorter times of giving birth.
Chiropractors help pregnant women by making adjustments to the pelvis and uterus to make sure everything is in balance. This gives the baby more room to move and turn, which makes a breech birth less likely. Getting regular chiropractic care can also help a woman feel less pelvic and back pain while she is pregnant.
Chiropractic care can keep you from getting sick
Chiropractic care can be a great way to reduce pain and other symptoms of many health problems. Your chiropractor can also be a great partner in preventing many health problems from happening in the first place.
A chiropractor does a lot of things that help reduce inflammation, which is a root cause of many serious health problems. When you treat inflammation, it’s like getting to the root of the problem before it has a chance to grow.
Using the “whole-person-centered” approach we talked about earlier, chiropractors look at each patient’s physical, emotional, and even mental health, as well as their work, hobbies, posture, nutrition, and many other lifestyle choices and habits.
This gives the chiropractor the information he or she needs to make suggestions for preventive care that will help you live a healthier life.
Chiropractors are used by the best athletes
A lot of athletes use chiropractic care both to get better and to keep from getting hurt. Top athletes put a lot of wear and tear on their bodies. To keep performing at high levels, they may need to make changes to their bodies often.
Athletes also use chiropractic care to improve their performance by making them more flexible and improving their coordination. A chiropractor can also help an athlete reach and keep their peak performance level by giving them advice on nutrition and other lifestyle choices.
Benefits Can Be Gained at All Stages of Life
When you think of chiropractic care, you probably don’t immediately think of treating a baby or an older person. But chiropractors can treat people of any age with success.
For example, babies are often hurt when they are born, and toddlers can get hurt when they are learning to walk. Gentle adjustments and repositioning can do a lot to relieve pain and discomfort.
Chiropractic care is also very helpful for older people. Chiropractic care could give an older person a much better quality of life because it is used to:
- Getting rid of pain and restoring balance
- Getting rid of the signs of neuropathy
- Preventing joint wear and tear and increasing joint mobility
Chiropractic care uses a wide range of tools, resources, and highly skilled professionals to relieve pain, increase range of motion, prevent future pain and illness, and help people live healthier lives.
Call Primary Health Center Chiropractic today at (703) 354-8111 to find out more about what a chiropractor can do for you.