When Should I See A Chiropractor?

Each of us will suffer injury, disease or age-related illnesses throughout our lives. While some of these will be more serious than others, a chiropractor can help relieve the pressure and tension that these issues cause our bodies to experience. Chiropractors are trained in spinal manipulation, back and neck pain management and treat bone, nerve and muscle disorders, and most patients will have their symptoms completely eliminated after treatment. Find out what else chiropractors do and what to expect during a chiropractic appointment with this guide!

How Did Chiropractic Care Begin?

As the body ages or when it becomes injured, we tend to seek treatment by the best medical professionals out there so that we can get back on our feet again. Whether that’s through the help of a doctor, physical therapist or orthopedic surgeon, there are a variety of ways that our bodies can be healed. However, one of the least known but most effective forms of treating illness and injury in the body is through chiropractic care. A chiropractor is someone who treats the body’s muscular, nervous and skeletal systems through spinal manipulation and other physiologic therapies like ultrasound and electrical nerve stimulation. Chiropractic care varies from person-to-person, depending on the situation, and most patients will achieve pain-free living after treatment is done. Unlike other forms of medicine, though, chiropractic care has only been around since the late 1800s. A science lover and the future developer of chiropractic care, DD Palmer began using various forms of manipulation to fix anatomical issues in those who were willing to be tested on. In 1895, he performed his first chiropractic adjustment on a deaf janitor who had hurt his back 17 years prior and had been suffering from hearing loss since then. DD Palmer reviewed his back, determined that his injury was a displaced vertebra and then adjusted that specific area. Amazingly, the janitor reported better hearing after the initial adjustment, and after seeing his success, DD Palmer created the Palmer School of Cure (now known as Palmer College of Chiropractic) two years later in Davenport, Iowa. By 1931, 39 states had given chiropractors legal recognition in their field of study, and today there are more than 70,000 practicing chiropractors in the United States.

What Chiropractors Do

If you have heard of a chiropractor before, you probably have heard that they “pop” your body back into place after bones, ligaments or tendons have been displaced. This can make people feel wary to visit a chiropractor, even when dealing with a serious injury, because the sound and feeling of “popping” body parts makes them nervous. However, rest assured that chiropractic care is not only safe to perform, but your body will not be damaged or hurt in any way after an adjustment has been performed. Most chiropractors focus on spinal manipulations to ensure that your spine and nerves are healthy. Spinal adjustments restore natural alignment and relieve pressure on the back that otherwise would have to be corrected with surgery. By applying a small amount of pressure on the injured area, vertebrae can be moved and joints loosened so that they can be placed in their correct positions again. This is typically done lying face down on a chiropractic table, and the popping or cracking sounds that you may hear indicates that the joints are being moved as they should be. Many patients are often sore after these adjustments as the body tries to fight its way back into the incorrect position that it was accustomed to being in. As you receive more manipulations and your body begins to get back into the state that it should be, the soreness should disappear completely. Most patients will receive 6-10 spinal adjustments before their condition is healed completely, but some patients only need one adjustment and they’re good as new. The frequency of your visits will depend on what injury you have and how long your body is taking to heal itself after treatment.

When You Should Visit A Chiropractor

Like most doctors, chiropractors see patients of all ages and for a variety of reasons. In fact, little children and even infants make up a good portion of chiropractic patients to help heal ear problems and sleep issues. A chiropractor needs to be an expert in back, neck and headache issues, so the majority of their patients typically deal with one of these three issues. Patients with musculoskeletal disorders also benefit from chiropractic care as manipulations and other forms of therapy can help heal damage to their ligaments, tendons and muscles. Chiropractic care isn’t just about spinal manipulations, though; you can receive spinal decompression treatments, massage therapy and active release technique therapy to fix issues with Achilles tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, hip pain, tennis elbow, herniated discs, sciatica, whiplash, scoliosis and other complications caused by car accidents. In summary, you can see a chiropractor for basically any reason and you don’t even need to be referred to a clinic by your doctor. A lot of patients receive chiropractic care because they like having their bodies “popped” and it gives them the peace of mind that their bodies are in proper alignment. Whatever the reason for your chiropractic visit, you will have an in-depth evaluation by the chiropractor before any adjustments are made to your body. This way, your chiropractor will be able to determine what your exact needs are and create a personalized treatment plan (often combined with other forms of therapy) to ensure that your body receives the care that it actually needs.

Improve Your Life With The Help Of A Chiropractor!

At Texas Spine & Sports Therapy Center, Dr. Shaner and his staff are dedicated to your overall health and have the tools and technology necessary to get your body back to its regular self again. From car accidents to scoliosis to chronic pain, we can help! Call our office at (512) 806-0015 to schedule a consultation with the team and get the care that provides the results that you’ve been looking for!