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Chiropractic is from Greek words meaning done by
hand. It is grounded in the principal that the body can
heal itself when the skeletal system is correctly aligned
and the nervous system is functioning properly. To
achieve this, the practitioner uses his or her hands or an
adjusting tool to perform specific manipulations of the
vertebrae. When these bones of the spine are not correctly articulated, resulting in a condition known as subluxation,
the theory is that nerve transmission is disrupted
and causes pain and illness manifested in the back as
well as other areas of the body.
Chiropractic is one of the most popular alternative
therapies currently available. Some would say it now qualifies
as mainstream treatment as opposed to complementary
medicine. Chiropractic treatment is covered by many insurance
plans. It has become well-accepted treatment for
acute pain and problems of the spine, including lower back
pain and whiplash. Applications beyond that scope are not
supported by current evidence, although there are ongoing
studies into the usefulness of chiropractors for such problems
as ear infections, dysmenorrhea, infant colic, migraine
headaches, and other conditions. Patients continue
to visit chiropractors with complaints of headaches and
pain or injury to the neck, middle back, arms, or legs.
Benefits
Most people will experience back pain at some time
in their lives. A 2002 review reported that lower back region
pain accounted for 68 percent of patient visits to
chiropractors. Injuries due to overexertion and poor posture
are among the most common. Depending on the
cause and severity of the condition, options for treatment
may include physical therapy, rest, medications, surgery,
or chiropractic care. Chiropractic treatment carries none
of the risks of surgical or pharmacologic treatment. Practitioners
use a holistic approach to health, which is appreciated
by most patients. The goal is not merely to relieve
the present ailment, but to analyze the cause and
recommend appropriate changes of lifestyle to prevent
the problem from recurring again. They believe in a
risk/benefit analysis before use of any intervention. The
odds of an adverse outcome are extremely low. Chiropractic
has proven in several studies to be less expensive
than many more traditional routes such as outpatient
physical therapy. Relief from some neuromuscular problems
is immediate, although a series of treatments is
likely to be required to maintain the improvement.
Spinal manipulation is an excellent option for acute
lower back pain, and may also relieve neck pain as well
as other musculoskeletal pain. Although most back pain
will subside eventually with no treatment at all, chiropractic
treatment can significantly shorten the time it
takes to get relief. Some types of headache can also be
successfully treated by a chiropractor.
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