Does Chiropractic Treatment Really Reduce Pain?
Clinical studies have shown that good chiropractic treatment is as effective and as safe as more conventional treatments. Millions of people around the world have enjoyed a pain-free life because of the care of chiropractors. Chiropractors have often been unfairly maligned over the years; they have been accused of being charlatans and lacking in professionalism, among other things. However, chiropractors are like doctors or any other profession for that matter: there are good ones and there are those who are not so good; and the latter are the ones who have given the profession a black eye. Chiropractic care has proven to be safe and effective. Here are some ways that chiropractic can really help patients cope with and overcome back pain.
It has been said that lower back pain that is caused by strain or other type of external injuries most often simply require an adequate amount of time to heal properly. However, pain due to slipped disc or pinched nerves when left untreated can, and usually does, get worse. It is far better to seek treatment immediately. The quicker the cause of the pain is removed, the faster will be the healing. Chiropractic adjustments to keep the spine aligned during the healing process, combined with other therapies to reduce swelling and mild pain medications will speed the recovery.
This is not to say that one should not see a physician for a thorough examination of the condition. If major complications requiring surgery or other therapies are indicated, then one should pursue those treatments. For those who suffer back pain for reasons that cannot be exactly pinpointed, a chiropractor should be consulted rather than leaving the condition to worsen. Chiropractic operates on the premise that it is restricted movement in the spine that is the root to lower and upper back pain. This restricted movement leads not only to decreased function of the back, but pain as well. The upshot is: If the spine can be put back into its proper position, there will be more freedom of back movement and less pain caused by undue pressures.
One should never let pain go untreated. Long term the pain may go away, but a misaligned spine can cause strain on other parts of the body, like in the knees and hips. Restriction of movement also causes degeneration of other muscles and ligaments.
There are many techniques that chiropractors use to help:
— Adjustments, which involve applying a sudden, forceful thrust to a joint
— Massage and stretching of muscles near the afflicted area
— Application of head and/or cold compresses to relax the muscles and reduce swelling
— Electrical stimulation
— Ultrasound
— Targeted exercises
In addition to helping specific pain, a chiropractor will concentrate on the prevention of future problems, so it is more of a holistic approach to wellness than most conventional treatments. Millions of chiropractic patients swear by this type of treatment and make visits to their chiropractor part of their overall wellness regimen along with regular doctor checkups.
Chiropractic treatment should never be used as an absolute substitute for doctor visits: rather, it is a supplemental course of action to alleviate pain and prevent further problems. If your back pain is accompanied by other symptoms, for example, or if you have suffered nerve damage in the past and you have numbness or tingling in your limbs in addition to back pain, you should definitely be seen by a physician first.
Chiropractic treatments really can help with back pain under most circumstances: make sure you take the time to find the best one in your area. Do a local search on the internet. Use the name of your city as part of the search. For example, for Folsom, California you can search for “Folsom Chiropractic” or some other similar term.
Author Bio: Will Moore is Marketing Specialist at Folsom Chiropractic. He writes on a number of subjects for himself and his clients. You may contact him at Folsom Chiropractic
Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: folsom chiropractic, folsom chiropractor, folsom chiropractors, back pain relief, neck pain relief