Chiropractic Care as Alternative Medicine

Chiropractic Care as Alternative Medicine

Chiropractic care has a long history in healthcare and is a significant branch of complementary and alternative medicine in the United States. Chiropractic physicians perform spinal adjustments to relieve nerve impingement at the vertebral level and support the whole body. The treatment provides patients an alternative to traditional western medicine drugs and surgery for many different health issues. So many problems we experience stem from an imbalance in the body’s muscles, nervous system, and posture, and chiropractors are the best practitioners to correct these problems. Headaches, neck pain, back pain, hip disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, and plantar fasciitis are just some of the issues that respond well to chiropractic care. These and other ailments all relate to the spine and nervous system. Hands-on or Activator adjustments to the spine and extremities are effective treatments when misalignment exists. 

Making an Assessment

Before the adjustment, your chiropractor palpates the spine. Touching the back helps your doctor determine the location of spinal misalignment or and distal pathology stemming from the injury. For instance, hand or finger numbness can relate to the neck or cervical problems because nerves from the neck go to those regions. Similarly, foot or leg pain indicates low back vertebrae nerve flow disruption because of nerves from the lumbar spine region travel there. Your chiropractor will also evaluate posture and range of motion limitations to determine areas of spinal restrictions and muscle imbalance. Once he or she has a full understanding of how spinal subluxation affects your health, he or she can adjust those segments. 

Making an Adjustment

The chiropractic adjustment is a high-speed, hands-on maneuver. Your chiropractor will assess how to accurately and effectively mobilize each segment, using the least amount of force required. To perform the adjustment, he or she places their hands on specific regions of your back and quickly and painlessly presses until the poorly-positioned vertebral segment returns to place.  The adjusted area responds with less pain, muscle tightness, and inhibition, and an improved range of motion. 

Using an Activator Adjustment Instrument

In some instances, your chiropractor can utilize a hand-held tool called an Activator Adjustment Instrument to perform the adjustment. The Activator applies a swift thrust on specific vertebrae and muscle segments in a similar way as the hands-on technique. Some people prefer its specificity and lack of full-body movement, and for some people, it seems more gentle. The Activator Technique may be especially helpful for older patients, patients suffering from osteoporosis, or anyone concerned about whole body maneuvers. If you prefer the Activator technique, be sure to inquire before making your initial appointment that the machine is available.

Chiropractic treatment complements many other kinds of healthcare because it provides a unique perspective to the healing community and emphasizes good posture and nervous system integrity. Call a chiropractor, like a chiropractor in Chapel Hill, NC, today if you are experiencing headaches, shoulder pain, back and neck problems, or hip, leg, and foot disorders. The treatment you receive can help your whole body. 

Thanks to Acupractic: Acupuncture and Chiropractic in Chapel Hill for their insight into how chiropractic care can be used as an alternative form of medicine.