Chiropractors are licensed professionals who administer medical care.
Chiropractic care can be a controversial medical practice because of misinformation surrounding its purpose and effects. Chiropractic care isn’t about popping bones or putting pressure on your spine. This disciplined and legitimate area of medical practice can be extremely beneficial for people suffering from specific chronic pain conditions. If you are interested in chiropractics, you can learn how these treatments can help you while debunking some commonly held misconceptions.
What is chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care is a therapeutic treatment focusing on manipulating joints in your body to reduce pain. Chiropractors are licensed professionals who perform this therapy as a supplement to your other medical treatments. Chiropractic care is a holistic treatment, meaning its focus is to treat the entire body, inside and out. These treatments can be a beneficial addition to other types of care, including medicine and physical therapy. The benefit of holistic medicine is that it helps improve overall health and prevent further pain or injury.
Chiropractic care involves the chiropractor administering various chiropractic adjustments to the patient. During an adjustment, chiropractors use their hands or specially designed instruments to realign the patient’s joints. By manipulating joints, a chiropractor can help the patient address pain, musculoskeletal problems, and nervous system-related issues. For example, a chiropractor may administer a hip adjustment through manual manipulation to help improve your flexibility and balance by repositioning your hips.
Here’s the truth about some other common misconceptions in chiropractics:
1. Chiropractic adjustments are not dangerous
The spine, neck and joints are very delicate parts of your body, so it’s natural to be nervous about someone manipulating them. However, chiropractic adjustments aren’t dangerous because they don’t involve dislocating or moving bones-sensitive body tissues. Essentially, a chiropractor administers adjustments to release gases that have built up in your joints, which results in a popping noise. Chiropractic adjustments are not harmful to your joints or your bones. Instead, they can reduce inflammation and realign your joints, helping with skeletal disorders like scoliosis.
Like any medical treatment, chiropractic adjustments may have negative side effects. You may feel tired or sore or have a mild headache after your adjustment. Both side effects are temporary. In rare cases, a chiropractic adjustment can lead to more severe side effects like a pinched nerve. These minor dangers are why it is essential to work with a trained and licensed chiropractor, like the professionals we work with at Living Well Balanced.
2. Chiropractors receive extensive medical education
Chiropractors are well-trained professionals who undergo years of specialized training before they begin practicing with patients. When looking for a chiropractor, ensure that they have the required licensure before you begin your adjustments. Chiropractors must attend an accredited school for undergraduate study and then receive a four-year Doctor of Chiropractic degree, also known as a DC degree from an accredited post-graduate institution to legitimately administer chiropractic care to patients.
During their education, they train in classrooms and laboratory settings where they study anatomy, physiology, microbiology, public health, pathology, and biochemistry. Towards the end of their graduate studies, they gain clinical experience working with patients in supervised settings. Working with patients allows them to gain experience with spinal adjustment and manipulation. They may also study nutrition, neurology, orthopedics, geriatrics, and physiotherapy. Some chiropractors may also choose a specialization, meaning they choose a specific topic like sports medicine or pediatrics to master. They typically work within this field once they complete their education and earn their license.
To become licensed, chiropractors must pass a four-part examination administered by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). This exam tests their understanding of the principles and practices of chiropractic care and enforces a high standard of professionalism and care across the profession. At Living Well Balanced, we ensure that all our chiropractors are licensed and have the required experience to provide superior patient care.
3. Chiropractic adjustments are not painful
Chiropractic adjustments are not painful and often are a source of pain relief for those receiving adjustments. Some patients may experience discomfort during their first adjustment because of their apprehension around new sensations or tensing during the adjustment. However, as the treatment commences, these side effects reduce as the patient relaxes. If you’re new to receiving chiropractic care and are concerned about associated pain, you may want to make an appointment with one of our experienced chiropractors to experience see for yourself how the treatment minimizes your discomfort or pain.
4. Chiropractic adjustments can help with chronic pain
Chiropractic adjustments are a common treatment for the following conditions:
Back pain: The most common condition is chronic back pain. This condition can have several causes, but adjustments can help release tension and realign the joints and nerves in your spine reducing inflammation and mitigating discomfort.
Scoliosis: Scoliosis is a condition resulting from a curved spine. Chiropractic adjustments can help mitigate joints in your spine that are misaligned to help improve the effects of scoliosis.
Hip pain: Hip pain is often caused by the joints that connect your spine to other parts of your body. This pain can radiate to other body parts, including your feet or neck. By realigning the spine and hips, chiropractors can help reduce your pain in these areas.
Headaches: Tension and cervicogenic headaches can be treated by realigning your spine, which is connected to your neck and skull. Releasing tension throughout your spine and neck can help release tension that causes certain types of headache pain.
At Living Well Balanced, we offer chiropractic care administered by caring and experienced professionals. Speaking with your primary care physician, you can find out if chiropractic treatment can benefit your existing chronic pain treatment plan. Then, you can make an appointment with one of our chiropractors to find out how they can help. If you have any questions, you can always give us a call at 919-926-8890 or send an email at info@livingwbnc.com. Check out our blog for more information about rehabilitative therapies.