A Chiropractor is a health care professional that focuses on diagnosing and treating nervous system and/or musculoskeletal system disorders. Chiropractors usually emphasize on treatment using spinal manipulation through manual adjustment. Chiropractors educate their patients on exercises, ergonomics and other therapies that can be used to treat back pain.
Chiropractic is one of the oldest known healing practices.
Daniel David Palmer was the founder of modern chiropractic. He used the term subluxations to describe misalignments of the spine. Palmer believed the body’s natural healing ability was controlled by the nervous system. He noted that these subluxations interfered with this “nerve flow.” Some chiropractors today continue to observe subluxation as core to their practice. But others do not continue to observe the subluxation theory as other theories have now emerged.
Chiropractic is considered to be an alternative medicine or complementary medicine.
In fact it is one of the most popular alternative treatment approach as each year millions of people request chiropractic care. Chiropractic is generally used as an alternative pain relief mechanism for muscles, joints, bones and connective tissues. Chiropractic is occasionally used together with conventional medical treatments.
It’s A Controversial Topic.
Some chiropractic patients may report feeling better after a visit to the local chiropractor. However, there are other patients who mention adverse reactions from chiropractor visits. Reports of some chiropractors treating infants have also emerged. Chiropractors generally hold the title “DC” – this signifies that they have received an undergraduate degree as well as completed four years of chiropractic college.
This is however not the same as a medical degree.
Regarding lower back pain, many studies have actually concluded that the manual therapies that chiropractors use are generally effective. Along with this, the therapies are also considered to be helpful for the treatment sports injuries, headache, neck pain and several other conditions. Most research has shown that for back pain especially, chiropractic can be helpful.
However, studies have not confirmed whether some of the treatments used by chiropractors are actually effective. For example, prolotherapy or sclerotherapy for pain relief is used by some chiropractors to treat chronic back pain. Sugar water or anesthetic injections are utilized with the intention to strengthen the ligaments in the back. Studies have not confirmed this particular therapy to be effective.
In some rare circumstances, chiropractic treatment has been known to worsen slipped disc and also where neck manipulation has caused spinal cord injury. It is always recommended to check with your medical practitioner before visiting a chiropractor.Those with inflammatory arthritis, cancer, osteoporosis and other related ailments should not visit a chiropractor without first checking with their medical doctors.
In recent years, there have also been reports of people being duped by chiropractors. Besides this there are also those that have reported odd adverse reactions after being treated by chiropractors.
Takeaway:
- The takeaway here is that it is always best to check with your medical practitioner before visiting a chiropractor.
- As with everything there are risks involved in spinal manipulation used by chiropractors. Research has mostly shown that it helps with back pain however further research is still recommended before claiming that it can help with other ailments.
Some articles about chiropractic and chiropractors:
https://www.livescience.com/63744-eye-bleeding-chiropractor-visit.html
http://time.com/4282617/chiropractor-lower-back-pain/
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/chiropractic-a-summary-of-concerns/
