subject: 4 Types Of Chiropractic Treatment [print this page] Chiropractic is growing field of study and practice. In fact, it is the third largest field of medicine in the United States. Some argue about the overall health benefits that chiropractic care can offer, but many are avid believers in the use of chiropractic care to not only alleviate back and spinal problems, but to also improve their overall health and sense of well-being. My entire family is among this group. My parents and grandparents visit a chiropractor more often than their regular physician and swear that they receive better relief and experience more healing from their chiropractic treatments than from traditional medicine.
Chiropractic care functions under the belief that the spine and the rest of musculoskeletal system are integrally tied to the health of the nervous system. To give you an idea of how important this musculoskeletal system is, you should know what parts of the body it comprises. The musculoskeletal system comprises the body's muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints. This system is also called the locomotor system because it is responsible for the body's movement, not to mention its balance, support, form, and stability. It's easy to see how important the musculoskeletal system is and to understand that if damage is done to the system, it can hinder a person's ability to do simple, everyday functions such as walking.
Chiropractic care adheres to the belief that if the musculoskeletal system is in balance and functioning properly, than the nervous system will be too. On the other hand, a damaged or disordered musculoskeletal system puts undue pressure on different parts of the nervous system, causing pain, discomfort, hindered mobility, and other problems.
A variety of different people visit a chiropractor for a variety of different reasons. Those recovering from an accident where damage has been done to the spine or other parts of the musculoskeletal system may go to the chiropractor to receive rehabilitative care. Others who have symptoms of arthritis may go to the chiropractor to receive temporary relief from pain. And other people visit the chiropractor regularly as preventative measure to avoid future pain and discomfort. Chiropractors can also help patients with a variety of other ailments using many different types of treatments.
Spinal Manipulation
Since the spine is the main player in the musculoskeletal system, one of the most popular forms of chiropractic treatment is spinal manipulation. Through spinal manipulation, a chiropractor "retrains" the spine and the surrounding muscles to function properly. A chiropractor may do this by thrusting or putting pressure on specific parts of the spine to realign the vertebrae and to stretch joints in order to increase mobility and remedy any abnormalities. Usually a chiropractor can do this with just his or her hands, but sometimes a tool such as a lever may be used.
Extremity Manipulation
The poor health of a musculoskeletal system can cause more than just problems to the spine. Muscle atrophy, organ dysfunctions, and even mental problems can also occur. Just as chiropractors manipulate the spine to realign the vertebrae and restore balance the skeletal frame, they can also manipulate and adjust muscles and joints that are cause some of these other problems. The goal of extremity manipulation and adjustment is to improve mobility and the nerve supply to extremities to alleviate and resolve problems.
Acitvator Adjustment
This type of chiropractic treatment uses a small mechanical tool that is used to apply physical force and light to misalignments in the spine and other bones. Chiropractors use activators to push joints and bones back into their proper placement, and they are commonly used to correct vertebral and pelvic misalignments. There are several different types of activators that chiropractors can use, but in general they all are used to more gently massage and push joints and bones so that the process is relatively painless.
Applied Kinesiology
Another type of chiropractic treatment is applied kinesiology, which incorporates techniques to help balance and improve the placement of the muscles that support the skeleton. By balancing the muscles, the bones they support are realigned. Applied kinesiology often incorporates a light massage given to reflex or acupressure points to restore muscle function, and applied kinesiology is also used to test muscle strength and to detect diseases.
Of course these are only a few of the dozens of different types of chiropractic treatments available. All of the above types of chiropractic treatments have proven to be exceptionally beneficial in improving the body's balance, stature, and overall health. And chiropractic has the added benefit of not requiring the ingestion of medicines or drugs. Many people prefer this more natural approach to health care and the fact that they don't need to take potentially addictive medicines.
Some may worry that chiropractic care will be harmful to their bones or may be otherwise unsafe, but numerous studies have proven that when chiropractic treatments are administered correctly, they are safe and can provide numerous benefits to a variety of patients experiencing pain and discomfort.
And as chiropractic care is growing in popularity, finding a qualified chiropractor shouldn't be difficult. So if you're looking for American Fork chiropractic care or services elsewhere, chances are you will be able to find the right treatments for your needs. Chiropractic treatments offer many benefits, and there are several different types of treatments catered to specifically alleviate and remedy many different disorders. With the right chiropractic care, a person can naturally and safely improve the body's overall health.
