If you're exploring chiropractic care to treat pain or injuries naturally, you're not alone—many people have questions before getting started. The information below answers some of the most common questions and helps you determine if this kind of care is right for you.

What Kinds of Conditions Do Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractic treatment focuses on the muscles, vertebrae, joints, tendons, and ligaments. This type of treatment can be a good choice if you tend to experience joint, muscle, or nerve pain. Chiropractic care can also be very helpful to those especially after a car accidents, falls, or other injuries.

However, traumas aren't the only cause of pain. Chronic conditions such as overuse injuries, tendonitis, bursitis, and arthritis can also be treated by your chiropractor. Even pain related to poor posture such as back, neck and shoulder pain can be treated by a chiropractor.

When the spine becomes misaligned, it can lead to muscle stiffness, joint pain, nerve compression, and decreased range of motion. Chiropractic treatments are designed to improve spinal alignment, ease muscle tension and stiffness, relieve pressure on nerves, decrease inflammation, and improve range of motion and flexibility.

Chiropractic treatment can is helpful for many conditions, including:

  • Whiplash
  • Headaches and Migraines
  • Spinal Disc Issues
  • Spinal Stenosis
  • Arthritis
  • Pinched Nerves
  • Dizziness
  • Text Neck
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Immune System Issues
  • Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
  • Tingling and Numbness in the Hands, Feet, Arms, and Legs
  • Sciatica
  • Scoliosis
  • Pain in the Back, Neck, Head, Shoulders, Arms, Ribs, Hips, Legs, Feet and Pelvis
  • Poor Posture
  • Sprains and Strains
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

What Treatments Do Chiropractors Offer?

If you've ever seen a character on a TV show or movie receive chiropractic care, you may assume that spinal manipulations are the only treatments chiropractors offer. During spinal manipulation, your chiropractor uses quick, hands-on pressure to realign the small vertebrae in your spinal column. Many people refer to this as "cracking the neck," but the cracking sounds produced during manipulation are actually gas bubbles released from the joints.

Improving the alignment of the spine with spinal manipulation reduces inflammation, improves flexibility and range of motion, enhances blood flow, and decreases pressure on the joints, nerves, muscles, and ligaments.

In 2017, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a systematic review of studies that evaluated the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in treating acute low back pain. The review noted that manipulation was associated with less pain and improved function six weeks after treatment.

Other studies have shown spinal manipulation and chiropractic treatments to be effective in treating whiplash, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, hip and knee osteoarthritis, migraines and other conditions.

In addition to spinal manipulation, your chiropractor may also offer these treatments:

  • Massage Therapy: Massage is often used in conjunction with chiropractic treatments and may be helpful in decreasing pain, easing muscle tension and reducing stress. Massage increases blood flow to the injured area and promotes healing.
  • Soft Tissue Mobilization: Mobilization involves gently moving and stretching the soft tissues in your body to decrease pain and other symptoms caused by sprains, strains, stress injuries, scar tissue, plantar fasciitis, bursitis, tendonitis, and other conditions.
  • Heat and Cold: Both hot and cold packs may be used at various times during your treatment.
  • Ultrasound Treatment: A small handheld device directs ultrasound waves to your tissues. The treatments relax your muscles, decrease swelling and improve blood flow.
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation (TENS): TENS treatment uses a gentle, low-voltage electrical current that blocks pain signals.

Am I a Good Candidate for Chiropractic Treatment?

Chiropractic care is a safe, effective treatment option for most people. During your first visit, your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination, order X-rays or other diagnostic tests, and discuss your medical history and symptoms before recommending a treatment plan.

Although medication can temporarily dull your pain, your symptoms will return unless you address the cause. Chiropractic treatment treats the source of your pain, eliminating or reducing the need for painkillers or other medications. It's a good choice if you're experiencing sudden or chronic pain or have other symptoms, such as:

  • Pain that affects any part of your body or shoots down your arms or legs
  • Joint pain
  • Muscle pain, weakness, tingling or numbness
  • Difficulty walking, maintaining your balance, or sitting or standing without pain
  • Frequent headaches, fatigue or difficulty concentrating due to your symptoms

Chiropractic treatment can help relieve your symptoms naturally. Click here if you're ready to schedule an appointment.

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Sources:

Journal of the American Medical Association: Association of Spinal Manipulative Therapy with Clinical Benefit and Harm for Acute Low Back Pain, 4/11/17

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28399251

Spine Universe: What Disorders Do Chiropractors Treat?

https://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/chiropractic/what-disorders-do-chiropractors-treat

U.S. News & World Report: Surprise: Chiropractors Can Treat These 5 Conditions, 11/30/15

https://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/11/30/surprise-chiropractors-can-treat-these-5-conditions

American Chiropractic Association: What is Chiropractic?

https://www.acatoday.org/patients/why-choose-chiropractic/what-is-chiropractic

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