What is Chiropractic?

Imagine you have been suffering from back pain for as long as you can remember. You’ve tried resting it out, pain medications, even looked up some YouTube videos on yoga stretches and practiced them. But when you wake up, there it is. It puts a certain damper on your lifestyle, doesn’t it?

If you’re tired of the “traditional” routes of improving your health, Chiropractic is for you. Chiropractic is simple. After a thorough examination of your health, including your history, your movement patterns, and the areas that are painful, a Chiropractor will use their hands to assess your spine. Using a quick, short thrust, they can eliminate areas of your spine that aren’t moving so well, and get your nervous system functioning better. The spine is a sensitive piece of your body, and a Chiropractor is expertly trained at handling any issues arising from there.

Because our nervous system is so important to our health, visiting a Chiropractor is a great option for people with pain and without. Think of your body as a messy closet. A Chiropractor can organize your closet, allowing you to have complete ease of access to all parts, including the stuff way inside. Of course, there are more areas a Chiropractor can help. We’re trained just like Medical Doctors (MD/MBBS), only with less emphasis on prescribing medicines and more interested in the function of the human body. In fact, we have over 200 techniques that we can be trained in!

Without the use of medicines with harmful side effects, risky surgeries, and invasive injections, we’re confident we can help you #HealBetter.

How does Chiropractic help?

The reason many methods fail to bring relief is because they are aimed at fixing the symptom. Think about it – you have a headache, you swallow a pain killer, and the headache goes away. Right? If you’re like most people, the headache just returns after the effect of the pain killer wears off. This is the most important way that Chiropractic helps - we aim for the root of the problem, not just the symptoms. If the source of the headache is taken care of, not only do you feel better at that moment, but we also teach you how to prevent it from happening again.

When should you see a chiropractor?

If you have a computer, then you know the hassle of that fateful moment when the system becomes extremely slow. Through daily usage, the addition and removal of dozens of files and programs, and general wear and tear, it starts to lag and things don’t run as smoothly.

Our spine is a lot like this. Even with regular exercise and attention to posture, your spine can still get stuck in certain areas, leading to pain, stiffness, and restricted movement. If you’re currently having issues like this, or perhaps you wish to prevent them, both are equally good times to visit a Chiropractor.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Chiropractic care can assist with the body’s natural healing process.

 

Frequently asked questions
Precautions to follow with ongoing chiropractic treatment

"There are three major precautions to follow when taking a treatment plan from a chiropractor. The first precaution is to make time for healing. Injuries and pain are never convenient, and most of the time, they don’t disappear on their own. In order to heal well, you need a good combination of rest, treatment, and good nutrition. If you are always stressed because of work deadlines, not eating well, and not getting adequate sleep, your healing time will definitely be longer than you expect. The second precaution is pay attention to your posture. Thousands of regular visits to the doctor for back pain and neck pain can be avoided if we were to sit less, walk more, and spend less time on our phones or tablets. This is difficult to create as a habit, but it will ultimately save your spine in the long run. The third precaution is follow the prescription. If you have a cold or the flu, and you visit a medical doctor, he or she will prescribe a medication to be taken once or twice a day for 7-10 days, which 90% of people follow religiously. So, if the chiropractor asks you to perform a set of exercises daily, you should be performing those daily. Similarly, if the requirement is to visit the clinic twice a week for adjustments, we should attempt to prioritize those sessions, because the body heals in a pattern."

Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?

"Chiropractic care is absolutely appropriate for children. The delivery process can be a very traumatic process, whether it is a natural delivery or a C-section. In many cases the attending doctor needs to twist or turn the baby’s head as it is removed from its mother, so, that could quite easily put a lot of stress on a very delicate nervous system. Chiropractic adjustments for babies and children are gentle, and do not require a lot of pressure. In fact, most adjustments delivered to infants involve just enough pressure to change the shape of a grape. Sometimes, the pressure on the nervous system is what is causing the child’s discomfort, but of course they cannot communicate that. A few chiropractic adjustments is often all that is required to make the little girl or boy more comfortable. Finally, children make ideal chiropractic patients, because they have not yet developed the bad habits that create pain and suffering in adults. They tend to respond better and quicker to chiropractic care compared to adults due to the unburdened status of their nervous system."

Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?

"The popping sound when a chiropractor performs an adjustment is similar to opening a can of soda – basically around every joint in the spine is a sac filled with fluid. Dissolved in that fluid is a gas – nitrogen – which is released when the shape of the joint is changed as in when the chiropractor performs the adjustment. As the gas is released, more of the fluid is pushed into the joint creating a more optimal level of movement within the joint."

Can chiropractic treatment help in cervical pain management?

"Chiropractic care is a very effective healthcare method for people suffering with pain in the cervical spine, whether it is recent or acute or chronic (lasting over 6 months). Many patients who come to the clinic with acute cervical issues are usually suffering from muscular pain, or a temporary joint restriction. Chiropractic care can quickly and effectively reduce the amount of pain, improve the range of motion, and reduce the stiffness in the muscle by improving blood flow. Chronic issues such as cervical spondylosis, spondylitis, or other degenerative changes such as disc herniation can be very painful and irritating. In these cases, Chiropractic care can help to re-establish proper joint mechanics, and restore muscle memory by strengthening weak structures, and stretching tight structures. The key to improvement is the ability of the brain to send the correct signal to the body via the nerves, all of which is improved by chiropractic care."

What are the benefits of chiropractic care?

"Chiropractic care is mostly aimed at nerves, muscles, and bones – or neuromusculoskeletal issues, but it’s also known to improve things that are outside of these common ailments. The number one problem that patients present to my office with is low back pain. Also, neck pain and headaches are common issues. In fact, according to research, chiropractic care is more effective for low back pain, neck pain, and headaches than common medication. The most common reaction I hear after an adjustment is “I feel lighter” – which means people are inherently carrying a load, which can be alleviated by the adjustment. Chiropractic has also been linked to improving breathing, digestion, energy levels, sleep, mood, and even infantile colic. Equine, canine, and feline chiropractors also exist around the world – so basically everybody with a spine and nervous system has something to gain by visiting a chiropractor. As holistic practitioners, chiropractors also open up a lot of options for patients when it comes to non-medical care. Often chiropractors are the “last resorts” for patients who have been recommended surgery, are tired of taking medications, or have had bad experiences with medical treatment. However, chiropractors always receive high marks from patients for patient care, attention to detail, and patient satisfaction."

Is chiropractic treatment safe?

"Chiropractic treatments are extremely safe. Chiropractors are expertly trained to evaluate, assess, and diagnose hundreds of issues and injuries. Every new patient is evaluated thoroughly, including an extensive history of their health, so any risk factors can be identified. Every patient is slightly different, so every chiropractic treatment is customized and tailored to what is presented. As with any medical or healthcare procedure, there are minor risks, but your chiropractor will identify and discuss those wherever applicable. Chiropractors are also trained with multiple techniques and tools, so they will be able to pick and choose the most conservative, safe, and effective options in each case."

How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?

"Chiropractors are trained with a variety of techniques throughout their education. Some professionals also choose to learn advanced techniques via seminars and continuing education. Because of the wide variety of techniques available, it is difficult to generalize how each practitioner performs their adjustments. However, at Atlas Chiropractic & Wellness, we use the diversified adjustment technique. After a thorough examination of the involved structures and history of injury, chiropractors using this technique palpate or feel the joint movement, assess the range of motion, and correct any restriction using a precise and controlled thrust."

What is meant by a chiropractic adjustment?

"The term "chiropractic adjustment" refers to the procedure a Chiropractor uses to improve their patient’s health. Current estimates suggest that there are over 200 chiropractic techniques, some of which are more similar than others. Diversified technique is the primary technique currently used at our clinic, Atlas Chiropractic & Wellness. This adjustment is known as a high-velocity low amplitude thrust or HVLA, delivered to the area of concern. The aim is to restore normal joint motion, increase range of motion, decrease pain, and/or reduce muscle tension. Of course, this adjustment is tailored to the individual and their respective condition. Not all patients receive adjustments in this manner, that is decided by their individual health history."

What is the safety pin cycle in chiropractic?

"The safety pin cycle is an analogy to the way the body and the brain communicate. Basically, imagine a safety pin, with the pin safely tucked away in the holder: This is how the brain and body should be communicating – information from the brain passes smoothly to the body, the body performs the tasks, and provides feedback to the brain from the environment. A nice closed system. Now imagine the same safety pin with the pin out of the holder: this is what happens when there is tension in the nervous system, either from spine or joint being out of alignment, or from muscular tension. The signal from the body back to the brain is broken, interrupted, or interfered with, resulting in improper response. This is the foundation of the state of unease in the body, pain syndromes, and overall discomfort."

How can chiropractic help back pain?

"Chiropractors treat back pain by adjusting the thoracic and lumbosacral spine, sometimes including the hip joints. Adjustments are used on joints which do not have proper motion, are restricted, or are rotated out of position. Another way chiropractors help with low back pain is by reducing the inflammation of muscle tissues with a variety of physical therapy modalities including electrical muscle stimulation, ultra sound, laser, myofascial release technique, ice and heat as necessary. A stretching or strengthening regimen may be introduced for the patients to follow which aims to stabilize the region, and prevent future occurrences of back pain."

What is chronic pain?

"Chronic pain is a complicated process including physical, mental, and emotional factors. In many cases, there is a direct link to the spectrum of mental health issues involving depression, anxiety, and panic. Many chronic pain patients are averse to treatment due to the lengthy nature of their pain. As chiropractors, our goal is to assess, diagnose, and treat the root causes of chronic pain. We can achieve significant improvement by modifying a patient's diet, lifestyle choices, and social activities, along with regular adjustments. Chronic pain takes time to set in, as such, most chronic pain takes longer to improve than acute pain. Chronic pain treatment plans almost always take longer to carry out. Certain cases may require a team approach to healthcare, where a chiropractor refers the patient to another healthcare expert, and together they co-manage the patient’s outcomes. A multidisciplinary approach to healthcare is sometimes the only means for success for a patient’s condition, and chiropractic care is increasingly included in the healthcare process."

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