Chiropractic
hiropractic care supports the health of the nervous system through adjustment of the bones and joints, particularly the spine. The underlying theory of chiropractic care (Greek word: "done by hand") is that spinal misalignment (called subluxation) disrupts the flow of vital energy through the body. With the spine being the body's primary pathway for the nervous system, when any part of the spine is subluxated, nerve impulses can be impeded and thereby impact the functioning of the body's organs. The end result may be dis-ease.
History of the Healing Form
The practice of the Chiropractic healing art was developed by David Daniel Palmer in the late 1800s. As with every other form of healing arts outside the AMA, chiropractic care was dismissed, disparaged, and certainly not a legitimate healing art to be covered by U.S. insurers until fairly recently. In 1980, this changed with a successful antitrust lawsuit. Today chiropractic is the fastest-growing and second-largest primary health care profession in the U.S. In 1993, more than 30 million consumers made chiropractic care a routine part of their healthcare. Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) are licensed in all 50 states, and their services are widely covered by private and government insurance programs. In some books on "alternative" medical therapies, chiropractic is no longer included, having moved over to mainstream.
Doctors of Chiropractic receive professional education in line with medical doctors and osteopaths. Candidates for the chiropractic degree must complete undergraduate prerequisites, four years of graduate-level instruction, and an internship at an accredited chiropractic institution. Knowledge of all systems of the body and diagnostic procedures enable the DC to thoroughly evaluate a patient, address disorders related to the spine and determine any need for referral to another healthcare provider.
What to Expect
On a first visit you will complete a comprehensive medical history form. To rule out any conditions that might preclude chiropractic adjustment, x-rays are usually taken of the area causing pain. X-ray equipment is on the premises, and the DC is trained to read x-rays. In preparation for spinal manipulation therapies common to physical therapy are used. Laying on a bench with a back-roller or vibrator relaxes the back muscles. Hot or cold compresses may be used to increase circulation and relax painful muscle spasms. Ultrasound is often used as a micro massage to stimulate circulation and remove fluid from area around a joint.
The spinal adjustment is done on a specially designed bench with mechanized parts that move independently, adjusting to the patient's size and area of the body that requires treatment. After determining which disks or area of the spine require adjusting, the chiropractor applies pressure to return it to its proper position. Usually a popping sound is heard (like popping your knuckles) with the adjustment; the sound may be surprising, but it is generally painless. As the joint or disk snaps into place, pain is relieved and proper functioning is restored.
The first visit will last about one hour and succeeding visits 10 to 30 minutes depending upon the physical therapies applied. An average course of treatment is 3 to 5 visits per week for 2 weeks, and maintenance visits after that. This widely varies depending upon the severity and duration of the condition being treated.
Many chiropractors also give instruction on rehabilitative exercises and relaxation techniques to prevent strain.
Experiences
Ray, 37, awoke one morning to discover he could not walk normally, one leg slightly dragged. If there were any forewarnings to this condition, he had not noticed. The family's general practitioner had no recommendations and referred him to an orthopedic specialist. The orthopedic doctor recommended surgery; the MDs must have taken x-rays, but they did not discuss the results of what they saw. The response of Ray's wife to the diagnosis of surgery was, "We'll see a chiropractor before anyone takes a scalpel to your back." The x-rays done by the Doctor of Chiropractic showed three disks at the base of the spine were fused together, probably since birth. A spinal adjustment was done, and Ray was advised to stop the heavy lifting his occupation required. He walked out of the DC's office without any limp or discomfort after the first (and only) treatment. He didn't change his occupation, and in the 17 years since he has not had the problem again.
