Chiropractic is a Greek term meaning "Treatment by Hand". It is a branch of health care specializing in the correction of biomechanical disorders of the spinal column and peripheral joint system. They can diagnose and treat mechanical disorders of the spine and musculoskeletal system with the intention of affecting the nervous system and improving health. Chiropractic uses manual treatments including spinal adjustment and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.
Chiropractic care is not an alternative to traditional medical care but a complement to it. It is the aim of chiropractic care to work together with other health professionals in a multi-disciplinary fashion to the benefit of the patient. Chiropractic care is considered drugless and conservative. When the spine suffers imbalance, our quality of health is also affected. By choosing chiropractic care you are choosing to help your body heal itself without the use of medication, drugs or unnecessary chemicals. Chiropractic care is a more natural approach to health care and can offer you a healthier body, not just a healthier spine.
Doctors of Chiropractic can help to correct these problems faced by people of all ages and walks of life. Doctors of Chiropractic can help patients with headache, migraine, neck pain, stiffness of the body, shoulder Pain, stiffness of the joints, tension, wrist pain, arm pain, elbow pain, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, leg pain, improper posture, scoliosis, and insomnia.
Most people are disabled or have limited mobility caused by lower back pain. The British Medical Research Council Trial published in the British Medical Journal in June 1990 showed good results from chiropractic care. The study showed excellent short and long-term results for chiropractic patients, for patients with both acute and chronic pain, for patients with moderate or severe pain. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of chiropractic management of low-back pain is excellent. The economic efficiency of chiropractic care for low-back pain compared with medical care. The safety of chiropractic care is also excellent along with the higher satisfaction levels expressed by patients of chiropractors.
Neck pain is a common musculoskeletal complaint. The Quebec Task Force Report has the main issues regarding the management of neck pain. The Report supports the safety and effectiveness of cervical manipulation in treating neck pain. It is the Task Force consensus that the use of short term spinal manipulation and mobilization by trained persons are the most helpful in treating uncomplicated neck pain.
Many people suffer from severe headaches. There is a good body of research studying the cervical spine and headaches. Some studies include the Controlled Trial of Cervical Manipulation for Migraine, Australian, New Zealand journal of Medicine, Parker et al, 1978. One of the first clinical trials ever conducted on spinal manipulation and migraines. Comparing chiropractic manipulation, medical manipulation and mobilization by physical therapists studies showed that while all groups of patients benefited from treatment, chiropractic patients benefited most on all measures (complete cure, frequency of attack, mean duration, mean disability, mean intensity of pain) a follow-up study showed that the patients who improved maintained this benefit after 20 months.
