What does a chiropractor do?
If you’ve ever asked yourself what does a chiropractor do exactly, how effective is the treatment and whether it’s right for you, then we hope this blog post can offer some answers..
What does a chiropractor do?
While chiropractors are widely known for treating back and neck pain, they also treat bone and soft tissue conditions. Our clinic specialises in many different treatments, including spinal manipulation and mobilisations (which is a more passive form of manipulation), acupuncture, K-Taping, recommending exercises, stretches as well as postural and lifestyle advice.
A common myth is that all a chiropractor does is crack your back or bones. While chiropractic care is centered around spinal manipulation, practitioners also study how the spine and its structures are related to the body’s function. More information about chiropractic can be found here.
Chiropractors often receive additional training and certification in a wide variety of specialties, including nutrition, sports medicine, acupuncture and rehabilitation.
What does a chiropractor treat?
We treat many different patients presenting with a variety of different conditions here at the clinic. Many of our patients are maintenance appointments, who are experiencing little to no pain, but choose to receive monthly treatments to prevent back or neck issues. Chiropractic is a suitable treatment for people of all ages, from babies and children to elderly adults. Chiropractic care can also be used to help heal pain in the foot, elbow, shoulder and neck.
But some of our patients visit us after an injury or to treat more serious conditions.
This includes:
- Back and neck pain
- Disc problems
- Trapped nerves
- Exercise related injuries
- Pregnancy related pain
- Shoulder pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Muscular aches and pains
- Arthritic pains
Additionally, some of our patients visit us as part of their workplace health insurance schemes as they are entitled to free chiropractic care. We also see insurance patients who have been involved in car accidents and need a check-up or treatment.
Does chiropractic work?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, chiropractic therapy is the type most commonly used for back pain. In the US, an estimated 74% of people with back pain have used chiropractic care as a method of treatment.
Results of a 2010 review suggest that spinal manipulation may be useful for treating back pain, migraine headaches, whiplash, as well as other conditions affecting the upper and lower extremities.
A 2018 review that included 17 years of studies involving spinal manipulation and mobilisation investigated the effects of these treatments on chronic lower back pain, and the authors concluded that chiropractic is a viable option for managing pain.
Like all forms of treatment, chiropractic care will not be beneficial to all injuries. Sessions should be tailored to a person’s needs and performed by a licensed chiropractor. Here at Andy Davies Chiropractic Clinic, we work with you to develop a treatment plan tailored to your complaint that fits in with your lifestyle. We are committed to only providing chiropractic care should you actually require it.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Understandably, one of the most common questions regarding chiropractic treatments are concerns of safety. During your initial chiropractic consultation, you should be made aware of the possible side effects of spinal manipulation, which can include:
There have been occasional reports of long-term danger related to chiropractic care. According to the American Chiropractic Association, most discomfort and soreness subsides within 24 hours of spinal manipulation. The World Health Organization (WHO) state that chiropractic manipulation may be unsafe for people with certain health conditions. These conditions include:
- bone disease and infections
- broken bones
- inflamed joints e.g. rheumatoid arthritis
- some circulation problems
- infections of the nervous system
If you believe you may be unsuitable for chiropractic treatment, please let us know during your Initial Consultation. This way you can be assessed thoroughly in line with your pre-existing health conditions to determine if you are a candidate for safe chiropractic treatment.
In summary…
Chiropractic treatment is a drug-free and non-invasive form of pain management. It can be an effective treatment for musculoskeletal problems and it is generally considered safe for most people.
Have you been suffering with back or neck pain that just doesn’t seem to be going away on its own? Don’t suffer in silence. New patients can now book in through our online booking system. If you’d like to book your Initial Assessment with us, please book online.
If you have any questions that we haven’t covered here, please feel free to give us a call on 02921 159 435 or email us at andy@thecardiffchiroprator.com to speak to a licensed chiropractor about your concerns.
We can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Stay up-to-date with important clinic announcements and be the first to know about our monthly discounts and rewards schemes. We also provide free postural and lifestyle advice which are specifically designed to help you protect your spine and general health.
