Chiropractic care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects that such disorders have on the general health of the patient. Other pain, such as back, neck and joints are also a focus for the chiropractic. Increasing mobility is often the goal of any chiropractic care. This is done through manipulation of the skeletal system and tissue. There are no drugs involved in the practice just hands on treatment and adjustments yet the benefits of the care are numerous. Perhaps more surprisingly, chiropractic care can also aid in ailments such as headaches and chiropractic care professionals are also trained to be rather versatile diagnosticians, being able to spot the cause of not only musculoskeletal troubles, but also those related to nutrition, diet and lifestyle and can provide professional recuperative therapy in these areas.
The method of diagnosis for a chiropractic care professional is just as demanding as with any other medical professional. Assessment may include clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, testing in laboratories and diagnostic intervention. Contrary to some people’s misconceptions, chiropractors commonly refer patients to other professionals when chiropractic care is deemed insufficient, ineffective or detrimental to the patient’s condition. Sometimes a patient’s needs’ will demand not just chiropractic care, but chiropractic care in conjunction with the skill set and attention of someone else on the health team with different qualifications. A capable, learned chiropractor can be trusted to do what’s right for the patient and this care necessitates just as thorough a diagnosis process as any other medical professional employs.
Most commonly, chiropractic care treatment entails what is called ‘spinal manipulation’ or ‘chiropractic adjustment’. Spinal manipulation involves the use of controlled force applied manually to joints that have become less mobile due to tissue injury. Tissue injury can take place either thanks to a single traumatic event, such as a car accident or lifting something an object that is too heavy, or through repeated excess strain over a long period of time, this latter cause might be something as seemingly harmless as sitting in an awkward position or falling asleep in the recliner on a semi-regular basis.
Chiropractic care is not known to cause discomfort in most cases, however, some patients may experience some noticeable discomfort for a day or two afterwards, due to soreness or swelling, similar to the discomfort one might feel after some forms of extraneous exercise. These issues generally resolve themselves before long and rarely signify any serious problems.