Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) are physicians who consider all aspects of the patient’s life: family history, work, lifestyle, environment, diet, exercise and the patient’s physical and emotional stress factors. They place special emphasis on the care of the spine.
Benefits of Chiropractic careThe Basic Concepts of Chiropractic Can Be Described as Follows:
- The body has a powerful self-healing ability.
- The body’s structure (primarily that of the spine) and its function are closely related, and this relationship affects health.
- Chiropractic therapy is given with the goals of normalizing this relationship between structure and function and assisting the body as it heals.
In 1997, it was estimated that Americans made nearly 192 million visits a year to chiropractors.1 Over 88 million of those visits were to treat back or neck pain.
In one recent survey, more than 40 percent of patients receiving chiropractic care were being treated for back or low-back problems.3 More than half of those surveyed said that their symptoms were chronic.
Conditions commonly treated by chiropractors include back pain, neck pain, headaches, sports injuries, and repetitive strains.
Low-back pain is a common medical problem, occurring in up to one-quarter of the population each year. Most people experience significant back pain at least once during their lifetime.4 Patients also seek treatment of pain associated with other conditions, such as arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Your chiropractor will take your health history during your initial visit . He will perform a physical examination, with special emphasis on the spine, and possibly other examinations or tests such as x-rays. If he determines that you are an appropriate candidate for chiropractic therapy, he will develop a treatment plan.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
- Reduces muscle spasms
- Reduces recovery time
- Enhances immune system
- Improves oxygenation
- Increases nutrient flow
- Reduces stiffness and pain
- Promotes relaxation
- Improves athletic performance
- Encourages tissue regeneration
- Decrease in symptoms
- Improvement in quality of life
- Decreased reliance on medication