What is a Chiropractor?

As spine, muscle, and nervous system experts, chiropractors provide qualified, effective treatment to promote health, alleviate pain, and improve your quality of life. Chiropractors treat many issues including neck pain, back pain, arthritis related pain, certain types of headaches, injuries etc. Chiropractors focus on issues related to joints, muscles, peripheral nerves, tendons, ligaments, and discs.  Chiropractors work with these tissues directly, while collaborating with patients on ways to prevent issues from returning through active rehab, addressing workplace ergonomics, and activity modification. Chiropractors learn skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and creating care plans over the course of 8 years of post secondary schooling, completing a 4 year science based bachelor’s degree followed by a 4 year Doctorate of Chiropractic. Chiropractors must then pass rigorous board exams to start their practice and continue learning throughout their careers through mandatory continuing education.

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Chiropractic Manipulation

Commonly called adjustments, joint manipulations involve moving joints by hand or with the use of instruments, in an effort to improve their function and position. During the exam portion of the visit, your chiropractor assesses joint motion and position of joints. If warranted, manipulation is implemented to improve the position and/or function of joints by applying a quick, controlled force to the joints at the point of restriction. This helps by stretching pathologically tight ligaments, muscles, and joint capsules, allowing for proper movement, positions, and healing of affected joints, muscles, and ligaments. Cavitation, or the “pop” sound that is often associated with manipulation, is a result of gaseous bubbles forming and collapsing in the synovial fluid within the joints as the joints are decompressed when moving into newly acquired ranges of motion. Most people report an immediate reduction of pain and improved mobility post manipulation. Studies suggest this may be due to a local release of endorphins and enkephalins, as well as a mechanical reduction of joint capsular, ligamentous, and muscular tightness, fascial adhesions, and local nerve impingements. 

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Soft-tissue manipulation

Soft tissue manipulation focuses on muscles, fascia, and other soft tissues, using techniques such as myofascial release, trigger point therapy, passive and active stretching, and IASTM. These techniques help improve the tone and texture of muscles and fascia, addressing pathologically tight soft tissues and muscle tension imbalances. These techniques are often used in conjunction with adjustments to help provide longer lasting effects from treatment.

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Rehabilitative exercises

To ensure that we are not only addressing dysfunctions in the neuromusculoskeletal systems, but also focusing on promoting continued and lasting improvement, exercises and stretches are instructed and integrated into treatment plans. These help to address muscle imbalances, joint stiffness, postural issues, and to ensure that patients are involved in their continued improvement. This is implemented in an effort to reduce treatment frequency over time and to empower patients in allowing them to play a role in fixing and preventing issues.

 

Longevity and well being

You are much more than your symptoms. We recognize that and take things like nutrition, movement/exercise, and stress management into account. You can talk to your chiropractor about setting up a sustainable healthy eating plan, finding enjoyable ways to work movement or exercise into your daily life, finding ways to reduce stress and improve your mental health, or even for support in reducing or overcoming unhealthy habits.