Chiropractor

If you’re considering seeing a chiropractor, you probably know they manipulate the spine and joints to help with pain and other symptoms. But you may not understand what chiropractic care is all about.

History of Chiropractic Care

There are some ancient records of physicians attempting something like joint manipulations. The modern history of chiropractic care begins in the late 1800s with Daniel Palmer, who began to develop a system and philosophy of chiropractic care, along with founding a college which still exists. Chiropractic techniques continue to be studied, observed, and refined for greater effectiveness.

Effectiveness of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is often associated with spinal health and relieving back pain. This is indeed part of it, but since the spinal cord is integral to the entire nervous system of the body, the effects are more wide-ranging than just the back itself. Chiropractors are trained in and understand the entire nervous system of the body.

What Happens During a Visit To a Chiropractor

A chiropractor will discuss your health history with you. Especially during a first visit, they will often do a full spinal x-ray to determine the current state of your vertebra and joints. They will do manipulations on your spine and neck, and sometimes on your arms and legs. These manipulations will be done on a table, or sitting in a chair. They are not painful, but may involve putting a limited amount of pressure on your joints to produce the desired effects.

Some chiropractors also use devices that provide gentle electrical stimulation to the muscles prior to doing adjustments. These are sometimes used to relieve a muscle spasm and make an adjustment possible with less force.

Chiropractors typically discuss nutritional support and other factors during a visit as well. By contrast with other medical fields which sometime focus on relieving symptoms with drugs, chiropractors view the body as an integrated system.

What To Expect After an Adjustment

You will often experience immediate relief of back pain and other symptoms after a visit, although it make take multiple visits to complete the effect. Repeated, regular care is advisable to maintain joint alignment and health. Especially after visits due to acute symptoms, you may experience some short-term soreness. Your chiropractor may advise you to avoid strenuous activity for a period of time. He or she may also advise you to put ice on joints to reduce minor swelling.

Chiropractic care is intended to help the whole body, not just the spine. The best way to find out what chiropractic care is all about is to visit a chiropractor in Gaithersburg, MD and experience it for yourself.

 

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Thanks to AmeriWell Clinics for their insight into chiropractic care and how it works.