Is chiropractic effective?
Yes. Chiropractic care is safe and effective. Scientific evidence proving that chiropractic care works is overwhelming. Over the past 30 years, many controlled and independent research studies have shown again and again that chiropractic care is safe and effective for treating low back pain, neck pain, headaches and other conditions relating to the spine.
Based on these scientific studies, the consensus is that chiropractic care is the treatment of choice for most spinal problems.
The extent to which a person can benefit from care varies depending on the severity of the problem, how long it has existed, age, and other related conditions. Your Doctor of Chiropractic should be able to give you an estimate of the extent of relief you should receive from the recommended treatment and how long you can expect it to last.
Your response to treatment is monitored by your chiropractor, who looks for an improvement to your specific condition, as well as for changes in your overall health.
Chiropractic adjustments or manipulations are extremely safe. The risk factor is estimated to be in excess of one million to one for a serious complication, making it arguably one of the safest medical procedures available today.
An adjustment is the main method of treatment used by your chiropractor. It is a specialized, controlled and safe pressure applied to your spine to restore the proper motion and position of your vertebrae. It is a precise procedure that your highly skilled chiropractor has learned and perfected over years of training at a Chiropractic University and in clinical practice.
Worker's Compensation Board studies show that employees with low back pain return to work much faster with chiropractic care.
How does chiropractic care work?
Chiropractic helps to remove postural imbalances and structural misalignments that can accumulate in our bodies over time. Our spines change and develop problems just like our teeth, eyes and heart. Left unchecked, these changes may lead to pain, early onset arthritis or other more serious problems.
Each of us is born with the ability to heal and recover from illness. Our bruises heal, cuts mend and common colds are overcome. Your nervous system regulates this inborn healing ability.
Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. For your body to remain healthy, your nervous system must function well. By restoring spinal function with Chiropractic Adjustments, nerve interference is reduced by misaligned vertebrae, thus allowing optimal nervous system function and improved health.
What is a chiropractic adjustment? Is it safe?
Spinal adjustments, or spinal manipulation as they're sometimes referred to is the gentle movement of vertebrae in the spine. The objective of this movement is to restore optimal motion to the spinal joints and to realign vertebrae that have moved out of place for a number of reasons ranging from normal daily activity to trauma such as a car accident.
When these vertebrae are out of place, it has an overall systemic effect on the musculoskeletal system as well as the central and peripheral nervous systems. Without proper alignment and mobility, stress points can build up and begin to affect our overall health and well being.
An adjustment is a gentle, manual thrust delivered by the chiropractor to restore proper motion and alignment to a vertebrae. This is achieved most often without any discomfort whatsoever. You may hear a noise that sounds like you're "cracking your knuckles". This is referred to as joint cavitation. It is the release of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen from the joint. It is very safe, natural and actually a very healthy sound.
Overall, adjustments are an excellent way to keep the body functioning at its highest level. When the body is in alignment, it is able to respond and perform as it was designed to.