Even more ways a chiropractor can improve your quality of life. In addition to these 10 common conditions, chiropractic treatments can also help with arthritis, lack of sleep, poor posture, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, tennis elbow, knee pain, and a host of other sports, work injuries, and accidents. Some patients experience mild pain or stiffness after chiropractic treatment, but this usually goes away within a few hours or days and is similar to the pain felt after certain exercises. In addition to completing a minimum of 4,200 hours of clinical, laboratory and classroom practice, chiropractors must also pass national board exams and meet the requirements for obtaining a state license.
Chiropractic care has been shown to be particularly effective for people who have suffered a musculoskeletal injury, as the treatment returns the skeleton to where it should have been before the trauma. In terms of chiropractic care, it means that a chiropractor never treats a problem without considering the factors that influence it. Some chiropractors can treat carpal tunnel syndrome and other problems caused by musculoskeletal damage. The risk of serious complications from chiropractic treatment is estimated to be 1 million treatments lower than the chance of being struck by lightning, and reported adverse effects generally come from of a pre-existing medical condition.
Hayden, for example, has a wide network of specialists, ranging from family doctors to oncologists, to whom he refers patients who present with problems that he cannot treat. In the case of serious injuries, the chiropractor may request images, such as an X-ray or magnetic resonance imaging, to check for fractures. While applying force to a sore joint may seem counterintuitive, chiropractors are trained to dislodge “stuck” joints. The chiropractor will consider how inflammation affects surrounding tissues and joints and how the rest of the body is related to the inflammatory process, and how the patient's history, lifestyle and diet may affect the condition.
Keep in mind that chiropractors have extensive knowledge of the musculoskeletal system and its biomechanics, and they use very precise movements to help restore proper joint function. Much of traditional chiropractic treatment involves manipulating the spine and other joints to release tension and help restore body alignment. Most chiropractors focus on joints and muscles, but they can incorporate the alignment of other soft tissues into their treatment. In addition to adjustments, chiropractors use many types of treatments that can be found in a physical therapy office: heat and ice, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, lasers and therapeutic exercises.
