Whenever someone is feeling pain or ache in their body, their first thought might be to visit their medical doctor immediately. While they are guaranteed to give their patients proper care, it can often come with medications. These drugs can come with side effects that not everyone can or is ready to handle.
As an alternative option, some individuals seek help from a chiropractor. Specializing in care for your musculoskeletal system, they often assist in relieving the pressure that patients feel in their neck and back in a more holistic manner.
Though their work is commonplace in society, those who have never seen a chiropractor might not fully understand their expertise or all of what they can do. To boost your knowledge and help you decide if going to a clinic such as Foundation Chiropractic is right for you, some of the most common queries have been answered below.
Are Chiropractors Actually Doctors?
One misconception about chiropractors that continues to spread is that chiropractors are not real doctors. However, these specialists go to school for work and get chiropractic degrees. Though they are not considered medical doctors, they are still considered doctors in the healthcare system. Most will use the abbreviation “D.C.” after their name.
However, chiropractors are not physicians, as being a physician means that you can prescribe medicine. Instead, they are trained to diagnose and treat ailments due to musculoskeletal system problems. Medical doctors often refer patients to their care as an extra treatment option or after some sort of spine-related surgery.
How Do Chiropractors Treat Patients?
The musculoskeletal system is made up of the body’s bones, joints, and ligaments. This system is in charge of helping your body move. The central part of your body is your spinal cord, which sends out signals to your body to activate its movement. When the cord or vertebrae in the spine have any tension or are thrown out of place, it can lead to problems in the back or neck.
Chiropractors use physical treatment procedures like stretching, cold packs, and traction. Massage and mobilization treatments are also used to assist in relieving muscular tension, increase bodily energy flow, and alleviate pain.
Chiropractors are specially educated to conduct spinal adjustments, which can realign your spine and restore equilibrium to your body’s systems. Adjustments are made by applying pressure onto joints so they can be realigned into their proper place. This will then alleviate stress in your problem areas.
Are Adjustments Painful?
There is hesitancy among many in regard to seeing a chiropractor, thanks to their portrayal on television and in movies. The loud snaps and cracks that are shown sound and look unbearable. However, the treatment is much safer and more soothing than you realize.
While there is bound to be a little discomfort, this is many because you are already in some pain or discomfort. Trying to realign misplaced discs or vertebrae is bound to cause pressure, but that soreness is not long-term or excruciating. Overall, that sudden jolt or sound you hear means that the procedure is working.
Most people who have any discomfort afterward said it is similar to the “burn” that is felt after going to the gym and goes away quickly. This small amount of discomfort is nothing in comparison to the debilitating pain that can be brought on by back and neck pain.
What Problems Do They Treat?
As their work includes spinal adjustments, any disorder or ailment that misalignment or illness can cause in this area of the body is their primary expertise. Many patients come to them for problems, including the following:
- Spinal Stenosis
- Sciatica
- Disc Degeneration
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
However, they can do more than treat physical health problems. By alleviating pressure on your spine, chiropractors are able to help with the brain. Since aches can hinder someone’s ability to move, they can cause them to become isolated, which leads to feelings of depression. Chiropractic work will make physical activity more manageable, which boosts energy and serotonin.
Pregnant women are also typical patients at the chiropractor. Along with reducing strains on the back that a growing fetus causes, pelvic adjustments can help make more room for the baby to grow and aid in an easier delivery. Pelvic adjustments can also increase fertility in those hoping to become pregnant.
Is the Treatment Effective?
Before going to a chiropractor for care, you’re going to want to know whether it is worth your time or not. Although it cannot replace medical help as a whole, going to a chiropractor has lowered the symptoms of many issues for patients. In fact, studies have shown that patients with ADD or ADHD can better manage their disorder with this assistance.
Outside of reducing back and neck aches, chiropractors are able to promote better flexibility and higher activity levels. This can cause patients to live healthier lifestyles and have better postures. Long-term effects include quality sleep, lowered blood pressure, and a boosted immune system.
While some people might want to try and crack their own back into place at home, this only provides short-term relief. Going to a professional ensures that the root of the problem is found and cared for immediately and using a much safer method.
Who Can I Go To?
It is essential to research the different chiropractors in your area before making a final choice. You will want to see what techniques they use, what types of patients they take, and have an understanding of their general patient experience. One of the most beloved clinics in Idaho is Foundation Chiropractic.
Most chiropractors use their hands whenever they treat patients, but not all people looking for care might be comfortable with this. Thankfully, there are clinics out there that use tools to assist in their work. At Foundation Chiropractic, they use TRT, also known as the torque release treatment.
Instead of their hands, they use a tool called an integrator and move it across the spine to make gentle adjustments. This method has been deemed so safe that they even use it on children and very old patients. Along with using TRT, Foundation Chiropractic delves into your full medical history to see how your genes and lifestyle may be affecting your body.
Throughout treatment, they will show you any changes that they notice so that you are aware of the progress you are making. Not only will this prove their care is working, but it will help to keep you motivated and to come back for future appointments.
For them, your physicality and mentality work hand-in-hand. They get to know you and your goals, so they can build a relationship with you and help you feel a fully renewed sense of wellness. Patients always leave the clinic feeling like they matter and that they are treated as an individual rather than as just another client.
Chiropractic care can do a lot for people struggling with tensions in the body, but their work can go even further than that. Consider seeing Foundation Chiropractic if you want a non-medicated option for your woes. Go to www.foundationmeridian.com to learn more about TRT and all of the different ailments that they treat.
