A chiropractor is a healthcare professional who focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders through the use of adjustments and manipulations of the spine.

 

What are a chiropractor’s treatment goals and beliefs?

 

Chiropractors seek to reduce pain and enhance the performance of patients as well as to instruct them on how they can account for their health via ergonomics, exercise and other therapies to deal with their pain. Chiropractic is usually categorized as alternative medicine or complementary medicine.

 

Fundamental Chiropractor Beliefs and Goals

 

Chiropractors focus on the intimate relationship between the nervous system and the spine, to provide overall health and wellness to the human body. They also hold accurate the following beliefs:

 

• Biomechanical and structural derangement of the spine can affect the nervous system
• For many conditions, chiropractic treatment may restore the structural integrity of the spine, reduce stress on the sensitive adrenal gland, and thus improve the wellness of the individual.

 

The treatment concept of chiropractic is to re-establish normal spinal mobility, which in turn alleviates the irritation to the spinal nerve or re-establishes altered folds, to reduce painful symptoms affecting the individual.

 

Conditions Treated by Chiropractic

 

Chiropractors use a number of non-surgical treatment modalities to treat patients with certain types of:

 

• Lower back pain and/or leg pain (sciatica)
• Neck pain
• Repetitive strains
• Headaches
• Sports injuries
• Car accident injuries
• Arthritic pain

 

While primarily focusing on fixing neuromusculoskeletal disorders, chiropractors aren’t exclusively confined to problems with the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. If appropriate, these healthcare professionals will refer patients to medical doctors or other healthcare practitioners for treatment of lower back pain, or other injuries and conditions. Chiropractors have a local referral network or function collectively with other spinal experts.

 

Chiropractic Examination

 

In most regards, a chiropractic evaluation is quite much like conventional assessment procedures administered by all health care providers. With that said chiropractors examine function and the arrangement of the spine and then determine chiropractic therapies separates attention.

 

Chiropractic Exam of Back Pain

 

A first chiropractic examination for back pain will generally have three parts: a consultation, case history, and physical examination. Laboratory investigation and X-ray examination may be done if needed.

 

Consultation. The chiropractor meets with the patient and provides a synopsis of their back pain, such as:

 

• Duration and frequency of symptoms
• Description of these symptoms (e.g. burning, throbbing)
• Areas of pain
• What makes the pain feel better (e.g. sitting, extending)
• What makes the pain feel worse (e.g. standing, lifting)

 

Case history. The chiropractor identifies the area(s) of complaint and the nature of the spine pain by asking questions and learning more about different regions of the patient’s background, including:

 

• Family background
• Dietary customs
• Past background of other therapies (chiropractic, osteopathic, medical and other)
• Occupational history
• Psychosocial history
• Other places to probe, frequently based on responses to preceding questions

 

Physical evaluation. A chiropractor may use a variety of methods to determine the spinal sections which require chiropractic treatments, including but not limited to, static and motion palpation techniques ascertaining spinal segments which are hypo cellular (restricted in their motion) or fixated. Depending on the results of the evaluation, extra diagnostic tests may be used by a chiropractor, for example:

 

• X-ray to locate subluxations (the altered position of the vertebra)
• A device that detects the temperature of their skin in the paraspinal area to identify spinal areas having a substantial temperature variance which needs manipulation.

 

Many chiropractors use a holistic, biomechanical concept of treating the bipedal structure completely, in an effort to balance the arrangement from the feet upwards.

 

Chiropractors are usually trained in multiple procedures of evaluating lower back pain, for example:

 

• Evaluation and management solutions. Chiropractors are trained in examining the joints, bones, muscles and tendons of the body with the objective of imagining tenderness any misalignment, asymmetry, defects or other issues.
• Neurologic and other common physical examination procedures. Chiropractors are trained to perform a variety of neurologic tests (nerve root compression/tension, engine strength, coordination, deep tendon and pathological reflexes, etc.) and are proficient in doing orthopedic, cardiovascular and several other frequent assessments.
• Specialized assessment. Chiropractors are trained to assess range of motion, stability, muscle strength, muscle tone along with other assessments.
• Common diagnostic studies. Chiropractors are trained in use of diagnostic tools and studies like radiography (X-rays), laboratory diagnostics and neurodiagnostics.

 

The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 . 

 

By Dr. Alex Jimenez

 

Additional Topics: Wellness

 

Overall health and wellness are essential towards maintaining the proper mental and physical balance in the body. From eating a balanced nutrition as well as exercising and participating in physical activities, to sleeping a healthy amount of time on a regular basis, following the best health and wellness tips can ultimately help maintain overall well-being. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can go a long way towards helping people become healthy.

 

 

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