What Is a Chiropractor and What Do They Do?

Understanding Chiropractic Care

Chiropractors are a type of medical doctor who focuses on musculoskeletal health. They can diagnose and treat many different types of medical conditions. However, a chiropractor is an alternative medicine practitioner and is not fully incorporated into contemporary health care. 

While some doctors use their expertise in orthopedics to treat patients, most will either refer you or write you a prescription for physical therapy, which focuses on injury healing rather than addressing the root cause of your issue.

What Is Spinal Health and Why Is it So Important? 

Chiropractors like Taylor Chiropractic & Wellness specialize in a treatment called spinal manipulation.

Spinal manipulation is a form of chiropractic treatment that involves using fingers, hands, elbows, and knees to apply force to the spinous processes (the bones of the spine) to relieve pain and discomfort. It also treats neurological conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and headaches.

Is Spinal Manipulation Safe?

 Yes, the technique is safe when performed by an experienced and qualified chiropractor. There are many potential benefits to having a chiropractor manipulate your spine; research has shown that it effectively treats pain and symptoms of many different health conditions in adults.

Understanding the Science of Spinal Decompression

Many chiropractors will advise against spinal decompression for various reasons, but the truth is that it is a legitimate treatment for improving your health and reducing your pain.

Decompression removes pressure from nerve roots or spinal bones caused by anything from a slipped disc to back pain. Similar to symptoms that one may see with a slipped disc (just on a bigger scale), these symptoms can be reduced or eliminated by taking an epidural injection of steroids, which will naturally heal the issue while relieving your pain.

Points to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Professional Chiropractor

Verifying a chiropractor’s licenses, qualifications, and overall credentials is a must before choosing one to visit. However, another crucial element when vetting chiropractors to help manage your pain and symptoms is selecting one who is gentle and caring.

Most good chiropractors spend most of their practice time on treating their patients while understanding that they are investing in your health, not a purchase. Therefore, pick a chiropractor who puts patient wellbeing and results first – not money.

Working with Chiropractors for Your Spine Health

 The world of manual and manipulative therapy is evolving, which means the options available and approaches used by practitioners to treat musculoskeletal health are changing with the times, too.

Today, many types of manual therapies are used to treat conditions that have traditionally been treated through surgery and other more invasive treatment techniques – so you have plenty of solutions available depending on your ailment if you don’t want to go down the surgery route right away.

In any case, when you meet with a manual therapy practitioner, start by telling them about your symptoms and your concerns. Together, you can decide what is right for you regarding therapy to reduce your pain and improve your health.