Many individuals across the world have likely experienced musculoskeletal pain at least once in their lifetime. And a number of these individuals may be suffering from chronic pain or soreness and discomfort that last more than three months.
In Australia, about 20% of individuals over 45 years suffer from persistent pain. Estimated losses due to chronic pain in the country were valued at AUD$ 139 billion in 2018, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Additionally, about 42% of chronic pain sufferers have issues with the musculoskeletal system and connective tissues. (1)
In such situations, family chiropractic services may help ease the condition. In Canada, about 4.7 million, representing 16% of the country’s total adult population, visited a chiropractor in 2019. The country has about 9,000 practitioners, according to the Canadian Chiropractic Association. (2)
These figures show that visiting the nearest family chiro may benefit you and your loved ones, especially if you have persistent pains or mobility issues. To ascertain whether it’s time to search for a ‘family chiropractic near me’ online, we’re presenting you with the basics of what a chiropractor does in this blog.
What is chiropractic care?
The term refers to a healthcare method focusing on a patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system, including the muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and nerves. ‘Chiropractic’ originates from the Greek words ‘cheir’ (hands) and ‘praktikos’ (done), meaning ‘done by hand.’ (3) (4)
Family chiropractic clinics can also cater to children because chiropractic care is a hands-on, drug-free, and non-surgical approach to relieving pain and improving the body’s functional capacities. Besides adjustment techniques and spine manipulation, chiropractic care also uses other methods to help you with your concerns. This approach acknowledges the body’s self-healing abilities, and recommendations such as shifts in nutrition and exercise may form part of the treatment plan. (4)
What does being a chiropractic mean?
A chiropractor administers chiropractic care. They’re healthcare specialists who can perform spinal and other adjustments to restore proper alignment and to enhance the body’s overall functions. (3)
Chiropractors are professionals who’ve acquired their Doctor of Chiropractic degree and passed the licensure exams and other certifications required in the city or state where they’re currently practising. As such, they’re educated and trained to fix and maintain certain conditions related primarily to the muscles, bones, and joints. (4)
They may also work with other doctors and specialists so patients can have comprehensive and complementary treatment. Similarly, patients can seek consultation with a chiropractor even without a referral from their physician.
What does a chiropractor do?
A chiropractic care professional is trained to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients with issues in the spine, joints, muscle, and nervous system. They use different methods to achieve these objectives.
Before proceeding with any intervention, chiropractors often require diagnostic tests to ensure that chiropractic treatment is best for you and your family members. They’d refer you to another practitioner if chiropractic care isn’t deemed appropriate for your case. Conversely, they can either work alone or with other specialists for optimal results.
Expect a family chiro to perform the following steps on initial and subsequent consultations:
- Gather your medical history
- Perform tests to assess your spine, shoulder and hip alignments, and muscle strength and response
- Conduct further orthopedic and neurological tests, if necessary
- Request imaging diagnostic tests such as X-rays, ultrasound, and MRIs to ensure they can help you
A chiropractor can also provide you with a diagnosis after gathering your medical history and the results from diagnostic and other examinations performed. They’ll explain the likely causes of your primary health complaints, the diagnosis, and the potential timeframe in which you can expect the issues to be addressed. They’ll also discuss the treatment solutions available, alongside the risks involved for each option. (4)
If chiropractic care is the right treatment for your condition, a chiropractor may proceed with the following:
- Perform any or a combination of more than 150 hands-on and gentle manipulation methods
- Administer massage therapy or joint bracing and taping (for injuries)
- Create an all-natural treatment plan which includes hot and cold therapy, relaxation and stimulation methods, or diet shifts and exercise, etc.
- Monitor your progress (3) (4) (5)
As an all-natural and non-invasive healthcare approach, chiropractic care does not recommend pain medications. The treatment plan will include mostly natural home remedies.
Concluding Thoughts
Chiropractors are professionals who can help alleviate musculoskeletal issues, most notably back and neck pain, headaches, arthritis, and stiffness. As the treatments are non-invasive and all-natural, chiropractic care can benefit anyone from children, adults, and the elderly. It may also be the perfect option for individuals suffering from debilitating pain but who don’t want invasive treatments or heavy medications.
References
- “Chronic Pain in Australia”, Source: https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/10434b6f-2147-46ab-b654-a90f05592d35/aihw-phe-267.pdf.aspx?inline=true
- “What Does A Chiropractor Do?”, Source: https://chiropractic.ca/about-chiropractic/what-does-a-chiropractor-do/
- “What Is a Chiropractor”, Source: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-chiropractor
- “Chiropactic”, Source: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/chiropractic
- “Chiropractic Adjustment”, Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21033-chiropractic-adjustment
