subject: What To Expect At The Chiropractor? [print this page] You have ignored that gnawing pain long enough, your back is now screaming and you cant stand it anymore. You have decided to see a chiropractor - finally! So what is in store for you? Is it true what they say about how they will make you crackle and pop and snap like popcorn? See, the scare there is really the uncertainty; not knowing what to expect. But if you have enough info and you have an idea what you're in for, it is a piece of cake.
First - What's the Problem?
You can not just give a solution or teat a problem without first knowing what it is, right? Identifying the problem is getting one step closer to finding the answer. You have to trust the Chiropractor on this one and let them use their expertise and proficiency to analyze what is wrong with your back; so they can figure out the appropriate management and intervention they will use to ease your pain. They may have to ask you certain questions about your medical history and even run some tests such as X-rays to determine the root of the problem.
Stretch It Out to the Limit!
The very first thing they'd ask you to do is to S-T-R-E-T-C-H. That is right; if you have not done much stretching lately, brace yourself; stretching is what Chiropractors do best. They can make you stretch like you've never done before! Take heart, they do know what they are doing; Chiropractors are masters of the art of stretching, which is designed to explore the areas from your neck to your back where the clue to your ailment may be uncovered. There is an added bonus to this, by the way. What you learn about stretching, you can take home (without additional charges, fortunately), and you can use them anytime your bones feel like killing you - or simply stiff and sore.
Now for the Best Part
Whether you were scared or not before deciding to see the chiropractor, now that you're there, you were actually curious and waiting for this moment to come, werent you? This part of Chiropractic Therapy procedure called back crack is famous because of the seemingly terrible sounds your bones make and how ostensibly painful it looks. But don't let all those cracking and popping sounds intimidate you. You may have not realized this but you have probably done some unconscious back cracking by yourself.
Here's how it works. This process also called spine manipulation so-called because it involves the pressing of your spine by the chiropractor to 'crack' open your rigid joints to allow the accumulated - often, unwanted - air escape. That cracking sound you hear? Think of it as the sound of your pain going away. The relief from pain will leave you moving freely and with so much ease.
Different Strokes for Different Folks: More Chiropractic Techniques
The Chiropractic thought is not stuck on one school. There are various approaches that lead to the same goal - easing your pain. There are some tools that other chiropractic practitioners, which includes at times, electric shocks to relax your muscles. It is vital that you talk to your practitioner what tools will be used in the course of your therapy.
But one of the most essential tools is education. Involving you personally in the therapy through knowledge is more important than all the stretches and back cracking you will undergo. Your chiropractor will not only focus on treating your present pain they also show you ways to sustain the diminished pain and eventually prevent any more from occurring.
It's All Natural
Chiropractors DON NOT prescribe drugs and pain relievers. This is the essence of Chiropractic Therapy. It has always been practiced in a natural way and it will always be that way. And now that you have a better comprehension of what those popping, snapping and cracking is all about, you will most likely agree that it's not such a big deal after all.
