A chiropractor is a professional who diagnoses the pain, figures out its origin, recognizes the spinal or muscle misalignments and uses chiropractic adjustments to relieve the pain by bringing it to proper alignment.
- Chiropractors can understand the misalignments, also called subluxations, and treat them to improve the overall functionality of the body or of that particular affected region.
- They make sure that the nervous system of the body does not get interfered with due to spinal misalignments.
- Chiropractors treat a wide range of pain including,
- Lower back pain
- Shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Migraines
- Auto accidents
- Sports injuries
- Repetitive Stress Injuries
- Disc Problems
- The use of the right chiropractic treatment is the key to relieving pain. In the first consultation session, the chiropractor will try to understand the cause of your pain. He/she will also ask if the pain started due to an incident or if it had been there for a long time.
- These questions support the chiropractor in finding out the cause of the pain.
- Next, the chiropractor will ask you to do a few physical movements depending on your area of pain. These physical movements around that joint or muscle give an idea about the mobility of that area to the chiropractor.
- Once the chiropractor has taken a holistic approach to diagnose your pain and has understood its origin, it’s now time to design a tailored chiropractic treatment program and choose the right chiropractic treatments.
- The chiropractor designs the chiropractic plan depending on the severity of your pain. Generally, for most of the lower back pains, the chiropractor recommends 1 to 3 chiropractic sessions for 2 to 4 weeks.
- According to a study, 3 to 4 chiropractic sessions per week for 4 continuous weeks can show significant differences in lower back pain.
- Also, a survey was taken of patients who visited the chiropractor for over 6 weeks getting around 6, 18, 12, or 18 sessions with hands-on adjustments. From this group, patients who took 12 sessions over 6 weeks had seen better results than other groups.
- Along with designing a chiropractic program, the chiropractor will also set some pain management goals. These are the short-term and long-term goals for pain management.
- Short term goals generally include reducing the patient’s pain and restoring normal joint function and muscle balance
- Long-term goals include restoring functionality and functional independence. This also means increased tolerance of daily activities.
- The chiropractor will carefully choose the chiropractic treatments to treat your pain. This will include manual and instrument-assisted chiropractic treatments.
- Manual Chiropractic Treatments include:
- The Diversified Technique: This treatment is used by 96% of the chiropractors to treat various pain points. This method helps in restoring joint function, restoring spinal alignment, and improving body posture.
- Spinal Manipulation: High-velocity low-amplitude thrusts are used to apply pressure on the joint. This is the most common chiropractic adjustment.
- Thompson Drop-Table Technique: This technique is performed on a specially designed padded table fitted with drop mechanisms. This helps to drop the patient a fraction inch when the chiropractor applies pressure.
- The Gonstead Adjustment: This is popularly used to restore normal disc alignment and restore maximum mobility. Here, the chiropractor manipulates the lower back and pelvis.
- Instrument-assisted Chiropractic Treatment includes:
- The Activator Method Technique: In this technique, a small device called the ‘activator;’ is used to apply impulses to extremities of the vertebral segments of the spine.
- Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator: Here, a small unit is used to treat the pain. This unit sends low-voltage pulses to the area where the pain exists. These pulses support in altering the sensations and provide relief.
- Lastly, the chiropractor undertakes Chiropractic Evaluation of the Treatment. The evaluation process will include everything from the patient’s progress, the effectiveness of the chiropractic program, the situation of pain, or any other conditions.
- Based on this evaluation, the chiropractor decides to:
- Continue the chiropractic treatment if it is appropriate.
- Release the patient from the chiropractic plan if all pain management goals have been met.
- Revise the chiropractic plans if the goals have not been met and the pain does not subside.
- If there is improvement in the pain, with the end of the chiropractic treatment program and sessions, it means the chiropractor was successful in treating the patient’s pain.
- After releasing the patient, the chiropractor may ask for follow-up sessions for a few months to get an update about the pain.
- Also, at the end of the chiropractic program, the chiropractor educates patients and teaches them to practice the right postures and other tips to prevent the pain.
Conclusion:
So in this way, the chiropractor completes the whole cycle of treating the patient’s pain. Chiropractic care is indeed the go-to solution for all your muscle and joint pains.
Consulting the right chiropractor who follows all these above procedures to treat your pain will prevent you from painful surgeries, medications and heal your pain in the right way.
CRM Wellness Center has the finest chiropractors in Los Angeles and you can book your online appointment instantly