What Is a Chiropractor Adjustment?
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According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), back pain prevents millions of Americans from engaging in everyday activities. It is also the single leading cause of disability worldwide. People battling acute and chronic pain usually turn to a medical doctor for help. Traditional first-line treatment for pain revolves around the use of various pharmaceutical drugs.
Drugs such as over-the-counter painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are first-line pain relief medicines. In cases of severe pain, doctors may prescribe narcotics or opioids such as codeine or hydrocodone. The problem with these drugs is they are habit-forming and produce unwanted side effects both on a short-term and long-term basis.
Over the years, more patients are turning to chiropractic care and other alternative ways to alleviate pain. The reason for this is linked to the science behind chiropractic care. Chiropractic is really an attempt to treat pain by identifying the underlying condition instead of treating the symptoms. Chiropractor adjustment is the primary tool used by chiropractors to relieve back pain and pain caused by joint dysfunction.
Chiropractic adjustment is a skilled technique Doctors of Chiropractic use to realign the joints, bones, discs, and soft tissue of the spine in particular. Spinal adjustment, also known as spinal manipulation, is reserved for realigning the spine as the name suggests. It is typically done to correct a subluxation that usually results in lower or upper back pain of varying intensity and length of time. A subluxation is essentially where a portion of the spine shifts out of alignment.
Chiropractors also adjust other body joints such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, and knee, also called extremity adjustment. There are different techniques or methods they can use to correct joint misalignment. It all depends on the needs of a particular patient. Common techniques they utilize include:
For example, a herniated disc also called a slipped disc or ruptured disc.A disc or joint may slip out of its normal position and press on a nearby nerve causing back pain,numbness, or tingling.
A common pinched nerve condition is sciatica where a herniated disc compresses the sciatic nerve, causing lower back pain and leg pain. Other common back pain conditions treated with chiropractor adjustment include:
Adjustment is also used and is safe for neck pain, whiplash, headaches, and migraines. Some chiropractic clinics even offer gentle and safe adjustment to pregnant women with conditions such as sciatica or sacroiliac joint pain. Adjustment is also safe for infants and pediatric patients and is done to promote good nervous system development as well as structural balance as they grow.
That being said, in order for an individual to become a licensed chiropractic physician, he or she must successfully complete at least 3 years of undergraduate studies at an accredited college. This is followed by 4 years in a Doctor of Chiropractic program where they receive specialized training. A 1-year internship stint at a clinic is also required at some point.
Some chiropractors do an additional 2 to 3 years of residency after completing the program. To practice, they need to get certified by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and the StateBoard of Examiners in the state they intend to practice. Others take additional courses to master their techniques or as part of continuing education to maintain their license and stay up-to-date with advanced techniques.
Chiropractic physicians are what you can call “trained specialists” in the science of pain relief byaddressing problems linked to the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. There is irrefutable scientific evidence that concludes chronic back pain is linked to imbalances somewhere in the central nervous system (CNS).
So, the objective becomes to identify the imbalance or dysfunction and address it at its source.
This is in contrast with the traditional medical approach of treating pain as a symptom instead of seeking to correct the reason for the pain. In addition, spinal adjustment is considered the most effective way to correct dysfunctions or nervous system interference caused by vertebral subluxation and relieve chronic back pain.
You see, the brain and the spinal cord (a bundle of nerves) in the spinal column make up the nervous system. One main function of the nervous system is to regulate sensory information between the brain and spine. It sends signals or messages to the spine and other parts of the body and influences how the body responds to sensations such as pain. The CNS also plays an important role in body motion or movement.
When back pain develops and lasts for more than 12 weeks, doctors consider the pain as chronic and usually prescribe medication. Chiropractic doctors usually suspect that pain lasting this long or longer is a sign that something is “off” with nervous system functions. Once they do a detailedevaluation and confirm this is the case, they may recommend spinal adjustments to restore function and improve range of motion.
Realigning the vertebrae helps to relieve back pain since it takes the pressure off the disc, nerve, and soft tissue. It also helps stimulate the flow of vital nutrients to spine, which assists in reducing inflammation and healing of the disc and tissue.
Spinal manipulation is a non-invasive, painless, drug-free way to improve spinal motion and improve your body’s physical function. The manner in which the adjustment is done will depend on the technique used.
In general, a chiropractic adjustment is done by hands (manually) or using a small instrument. In the case of spinal adjustment, the goal is to apply gentle pressure to the segment of the spine where the subluxation or misalignment is present.
To be more specific, here is how an adjustmentis done and what it seeks to achieve using these 5 common techniques:
Chiropractors also use adjunct therapies to enhance the results of chiropractic adjustments and maximize pain relief. Some common therapies that may be recommended or included in your chiropractic care plan are:
There are different stages in getting a chiropractic adjustment. The process usually begins with your initial consultation at the chiropractor’s clinic. Here’s what you can expect at your first visit:
A thorough physical exam will be done. Depending upon the findings in the initial exam, further diagnostic tests may be ordered to complete the evaluation. Other tests may be done, such as:
At your first visit to the chiropractic clinic, you will need to fill out medical forms to provide information about symptoms and any other health condition you have. This will help in making an initial diagnosis in determining your care.
There may be a questionnaire to fill out on things like the nature and location of your pain, when it started, and whether you were recently injured, or if you are receiving any treatment or taking any medication currently.
An X-Ray, CT scan, or MRI may be necessary when soft tissue or musculoskeletal injury is suspected.For example, in cases of muscle tear, herniated disc, or nerve compression. Neurological tests may also be performed to assess the function of the nervous system. The results of the exam and tests will help with exploring whether chiropractic adjustment or other treatment options are right for you and to reach a more concise diagnosis for patient care.
Depending on your insurance and the wide variety of coverage, chiropractors will work with youand your particular plan to find the best coverage. However, there are certain exceptions to some insurance policies in this regard. For example, Medicare Part B is willing to cover manual manipulation of the spine if the procedure is medically necessary to correct a subluxation when provided by a chiropractic physician or other qualified provider.
Insurance plans, including Medicare Part B, are more likely to cover chiropractic services to correct a spinal subluxation following an auto accident. Private insurance plans may also providesimilar coverage. Note that co-pay and deductibles may apply.
It’s probably best to talk with your insurance provider upfront to find out if you have coverage for a chiropractic adjustment. Of course, those who can afford to pay out-of-pocket for chiropractic adjustments and other related services need not worry, most chiropractors will offer a cash discount for services provided.
Chiropractors generally work hand in hand with other specialists to give the patient the best treatment for relieving back pain. However, chiropractors are trained and specialized in non-invasive adjustments of the spine to relieve back pain and other symptoms due to an injury or degenerative condition. This is a unique technique that western medicine does not offer.
If you’re looking to avoid chemicals or prescription medicine or avoid surgery, then try chiropractic care. Furthermore, by combining other therapies, the patient not only has an opportunity to experience lasting pain relief but also to enjoy overall wellness. If you would like to try chiropractic for yourself, call us to schedule a consultation today.
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