Chiropractic Therapy

Disclaimer: This information is in no way intended to be a substitute for modern medical care. Do not self-treat any medical complaint without the guidance of a licensed health care provider.
August 8, 2000

Now widely practiced in North America, the system of therapy called chiropractic is only 100 years old and stems from a single healing event: A grocer and mystic healer in Iowa, Daniel David Palmer, apparently helped a janitor regain his hearing by a push on the spine. Palmer later founded the first chiropractic school. Today's chiropractors don't necessarily believe, as Palmer did, that a disease is actually caused by a spinal misalignment.

Many primarily treat skeletal and muscular problems instead - neck and back pain, spasms, sprains and strains - by manipulating vertebrae, joints and muscles back into proper alignment. Chiropractors actually have a remarkable success rate with alleviating lower back pain, one of the most often heard health complaints.

One study showed that two-thirds of the chiropractic patients sought help for this condition alone. To strengthen and enhance their realigning bodywork, chiropractors frequently offer advice on lifestyle, nutrition and therapeutic exercise, too.

Supportive Exercise
Gentle exercise that stretches muscles without strain or active movement can help to realign the spine and major joints. With regular stretching, you can relieve spasms, add to joint mobility and improve overall posture and flexibility, thus reinforcing the work of the chiropractor. Yoga is ideal; it stretches the muscles in a balanced way, lengthens the spine and lessens stress.

The Treatment
The chiropractor will first take a complete medical history. The physical exam involves and analysis of posture, including the degree of right-left symmetry; joint and spine mobility (range of motion); muscle tension and reactivity; gait; agility; and discrepancies in leg length. The chiropractor also feels for painful or tender areas. X-rays are often taken, and sometimes tests such as nerve-conduction tests are done as well. Treatment, which draws on 100 or more specific manual maneuvers, includes thrusts to the spine and tissues and movements of the joints. Usually, 5-10 treatments are advised; if there's no improvement after 10 sessions, other options should be explored.

CAUTION: Chiropractic is not advised for those with whiplash, fractures, bone or spinal-cord disease or osteoporosis. For chronic back pain, it's best to see a physician first.

The Effects
Chiropractors treat patients for lower back pain, shoulder and neck pain or tension, carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, strains, sprains and other sports injuries, as well as discomfort due to mild spinal curvature and headaches. Those chiropractors who hold to the traditional belief that adjustments can affect internal organs also work on patients with such problems as ulcers and asthma.

Some contend there is a direct relation between organs and misaligned muscle and bone. Proponents claim that misalignments-especially of the spine, connected by nerves to all body systems-may alter the flow of nerve transmissions, which then alter organ function. Others simply believe that adjustments allow the body to return to its natural state of balance.

The viewpoint of mainstream medicine
Chiropractic has gained acceptance in the medical establishment for its research-confirmed ability to treat acute lower back pain. Many physicians are open to its use for muscular and skeletal problems in general. However, they fiercely deny claims that chiropractic can address other health problems.

Chiropractic Techniques
Chiropractors use an array of techniques. These are the basic categories:

Adjustments include a large number of specific thrusts ranging from slow and sinking to rapid and forceful.
Mobilization involves slowly and repeatedly moving a joint within its current range of motion. The patient's muscles are stretched; eventually, they become too tired to hold the bones in the improper, misaligned position.
Manipulation involves pushing a joint rapidly and with mild force back into its proper position. This takes the joint beyond its current range of motion and often produces a pop or click as carbon dioxide from cells is released.

Tips for Back Pain
Back pain afflicts most of us at one time or another. Keep the following in mind to avoid back injuries and keep you away from the chiropractor's office:

To lift heavy objects, keep your feet slightly apart, and bend your knees instead of bending from the waist. Straighten your legs slowly. Keep your back straight, and don't twist your torso. Hold the object close to you, no higher than your chest.
Sitting on a ball seat helps you learn to adopt a proper sitting posture.
Do your best to avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time.
Try not to sleep on your stomach; This position forces the back to sway.
Swimming and walking are excellent vigorous exercises for overall good health and for strengthening the back.

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Sources:
All information provided in this article is the result of research using (but not limited to) the following books and guides: Herbs for Health and Healing, Rodale; Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, Scott Cunningham; Magical Herbalism, Scott Cunningham; The Complete Guide to Natural Healing, International Masters Publishers; Earthway, Mary Summer Rain; Teach Yourself Herbs, Susie White; Natural Beauty from the Garden, Janice Cox; Nature's Prescriptions, Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing, and The People's Pharmacy Guide to Home and Herbal Remedies, Joe Graedon and Theresa Graedon, Ph.D