Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic adjustment, also called spinal manipulation, involves moving a joint beyond its usual range of motion but not beyond the range of motion the joint is designed to move, anatomically speaking. You often will hear a popping or cracking noise during chiropractic adjustment as the joint is manipulated.

The goal of chiropractic adjustment is to relieve pain and improve your body's physical function. Chiropractic adjustment is performed by a chiropractic doctor; spinal manipulation may be provided by an osteopathic doctor or physical therapist.

Most often people seek chiropractic adjustment as a remedy for pain conditions, including:

• Low back pain
• Neck pain
• Headache

Each year in the United States, 1 in 4 adults experiences low back pain - a condition that can be frustrating and difficult to treat. Low back pain is the main reason why people seek chiropractic care. Research shows that chiropractic adjustment may offer mild to moderate relief from low back pain. In some studies, chiropractic adjustment proved to be as effective as other, more conventional treatments.

Chiropractic care is an outgrowth of belief in these concepts:

• Your body has a natural and powerful ability to heal itself.
• Your body's structure - bones, joints and muscles - and capacity for healthy function are closely intertwined.
• Chiropractic treatment helps balance your body's structure and function and promotes self-healing.

No special preparation is required before a chiropractic adjustment.

Chiropractic treatment may require a series of visits to your chiropractic care provider. Ask your care provider about the frequency of visits and be prepared to work them into your schedule. It might be a good idea to bring your calendar along or have an idea of when in your schedule you can fit in visits to the chiropractic office.

Depending on the reason for your visit, your chiropractor may make adjustments to joints in your back or, less frequently, to joints in your neck or some other part of your body, such as your shoulder.

At your initial visit, your chiropractor will:

• Ask questions about your health history
• Perform a physical exam, particularly of your spine

Your chiropractor may also recommend other examinations or tests, such as an X-ray.

Based on these initial exams, your chiropractor will put together a treatment plan to suit your needs and treatment goals.