Chiropractic

-A definition

Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.

-American Chiropractic Association

Chiropractic care has been and continues to be rigorously researched and studied for its safety and effectiveness. Time and time again, the literature supports and encourages the use of chiropractic care for:

  • Neck pain

  • Headaches

  • Back pain

  • Sciatica

  • Sports injuries

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My Approach

To me, chiropractic is all about restoring motion, improving function, and relieving pain. These goals can be accomplished in different ways.

  • Manipulation-the classic chiropractic adjustment that most people think of. Manipulation delivers a specific, direct force into the restricted joints, relieving tension in the surrounding muscles and allowing the joints to function more appropriately. Spinal manipulation is consistently shown in research to be an effective treatment option for back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

  • Mobilization-There are certain conditions and patient circumstances when manipulation is not able to be performed in the spine. Joint mobilizations are then employed to provide a lighter, gentler force in the joint to restore proper motion in the area.

Improving joint motion isn't the whole story though! We must also work on the muscles and tissues that are moving those joints to help make longer-term improvement. That includes soft tissue work (by hand, with IASTM, or with dry needling) and with therapeutic exercises.