Chiropractic Care

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Daniel David (DD) Palmer is widely credited with giving the first chiropractic adjustment in 1895. He also established the first chiropractic school in 1897 in Davenport, Iowa.

A chiropractic adjustment is a therapeutic treatment by a licensed chiropractor. Your chiropractor will use pressure to manipulate joints in your body to realign your spine and reduce pain and discomfort. Chiropractic adjustments complement traditional medical care you receive. You might feel sore after a chiropractic adjustment.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is a therapeutic treatment where a licensed chiropractor uses their hands or special instruments to manipulate joints in your body. This treatment is also called spinal manipulation or joint manipulation. A chiropractic adjustment can help reduce pain, correct your body’s alignment and how your body functions physically. Chiropractic adjustments offer treatment that complements traditional medical care you receive.

Who is a chiropractor?

A chiropractor treats many conditions affecting the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Think of a chiropractor as a doctor who cares for any kind of muscle, bone or joint pain or dysfunction. The most common reasons for a chiropractic adjustment include:

Lower back pain.
Neck pain.
Muscle pain.
Headaches.
In addition, chiropractors can treat musculoskeletal pain anywhere in your body: in your head and jaws, shoulders, elbows and wrists, hips and pelvis and your knees and ankles.

What does a chiropractor do?

Chiropractors treat aches, pains, creaks and strains. If you’ve got a problem that involves your musculoskeletal system, a chiropractor can offer alternative methods of treatment that don’t involve prescribing medicine.

Treatment that a chiropractor may offer includes:

Adjustments: To gently realign joints to decrease pain and increase range of motion.
Soft-tissue therapy: To relax tight muscles, relieve spasms and release tension in the connective tissue that surrounds each muscle (fascia).
Exercises and stretches: To restore and maintain joint stability and mobility.
Joint bracing/taping (Kinesio taping): To support sprained joints or muscles as they heal.
Nutrition and/or supplementation advice: For guidance on diet and nutrition to reduce inflammation and/or promote healthy eating to manage weight

Why is a chiropractic adjustment done?

Chiropractic adjustments focus on alleviating symptoms that affect the musculoskeletal system. This could be to treat aches and pain, muscle stiffness or chronic conditions. Some people choose to get a chiropractic adjustment if they want an alternative form of treatment that doesn’t involve taking prescription medicine.

How common are chiropractic adjustments?

Chiropractic adjustments are the most common alternative treatment option in the United States.

Who can get a chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is an effective treatment option for all ages, including ages from < 1 week to > 100 years old. It is for guys and girls, athletes and couch potatoes, active workers and desk workers.

You should receive a screening before a chiropractic adjustment to ensure that you’re a good candidate for chiropractic care. If chiropractic care is not appropriate for your condition, your chiropractor will refer you to another healthcare provider to help you.

What is the popping sound I hear during a chiropractic adjustment?

You may feel and hear a popping or cracking sensations during a chiropractic adjustment. These are gases, like oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, released from your joints. Gas gets trapped in small cavities of your joints when you move and stretch. While this gas release may be more apparent during a chiropractic adjustment, you experience a similar sound when you crack your knuckles.

Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?

Chiropractic adjustments offer little to no pain during a procedure, similar to what you might feel after a workout. You will not feel severe pain during a chiropractic adjustment. Your chiropractor will apply a controlled amount of force (pressure) to your joints, which creates a cracking or popping noise as the gas leaves your joints. While this may sound painful, it doesn’t feel painful.

What happens after a chiropractic adjustment?

After a chiropractic adjustment, you might feel mild soreness or have very minor aches in areas of your body that your chiropractor worked on. This feeling usually goes away within 24 hours and rarely affects people who see a chiropractor regularly.

After your appointment, your chiropractor might recommend “homework” for you to extend your therapy after an adjustment. These recommendations might include:

Exercises and stretches.
Proper ergonomics for improving your posture.
Icing/heat therapy or topical analgesics.
Advice on nutrition, diet, weight or general health.
Ways to manage stress and relax muscles.
Electrical muscle stimulation using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS).