Chiropractor

Chiropractor

What is a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor, also known as “doctor of chiropractic”, is a healthcare professional who uses their hands to relieve pain in various areas of the body, especially the spine.

Chiropractic medicine is based on the belief that misalignments in the spinal joints interfere with the nervous system resulting in lower resistance to diseases and disorders of the nerves, muscles, and organs. They work on the principle of a manual, hands-on manipulation technique to adjust imbalances and misalignments in the joints, especially in the spinal column.

Chiropractic doctors usually diagnose and treat problems that are associated with the body’s muscular, nervous and skeletal systems. They use this natural healing method to treat a variety of maladies in the musculoskeletal system.

However, chiropractors are conservative care doctors; their scope of practice does not include surgery or the use of drugs.

Scope of Practice

In addition to manual manipulations, chiropractors’ scope of practice includes:

• Counseling on diet, nutrition and exercise
• Lifestyle methods and modifications
• Acupuncture or homeopathy (complementary medicines)

What do Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractors deal with issues and conditions involving the bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and the nervous system. That means they treat:

• Spine pain
• Pelvic pain
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Arm and shoulder pain
• Leg and hip pain

Additionally, chiropractors can treat other conditions ranging from constipation to infant colic (abdominal pain) to acid reflux (heartburn). They can also help women during delivery by realigning the pelvis. This helps get the baby into a good position (head down) for vaginal delivery.

How do Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractors are likely to start the treatment process by taking the patient’s medical history and then performing a routine physical examination (mainly the spine). If required, they may even call for additional tests, like an X-ray, to rule out fractures and other issues.

Chiropractors will then perform what is called manipulation using their hands along with small instruments to apply controlled pressure to the joints and soft tissues to treat the disorder.