Chiropractic Therapies For Pain Relief

The list of chiropractic therapies is a long one.  A chiropractor’s main tool in treating a patient is the chiropractic adjustment.  There are many methods that blend well with an adjustment to treat the patient as a whole.  Each therapy has its own specific function in helping a patient become pain free and correct any biomechanical faults one has.

Rehabilitation Exercise: This is used to correct biomechanical faults or faulty movement patterns of the patient.  A rehabilitation program is a set of prescribed exercises that focuses on weak or inhibited muscles and provides strength and stability back to the spine and surrounding weak musculature.  Exercise can also prevent injuries and further deterioration of the spine.  Rehabilitation should start right away in the treatment plan.  This is the key in a speedy recovery.

Therapeutic Stretching: After an injury or faulty movement pattern occurs some muscles can become overly tight.  Stretching of these muscles becomes highly therapeutic and much needed.  This also tends to increase flexibility and range of motion of the joint the tight muscle crosses.  Stretching can also prevent scar tissue and further injury.

Traction: This therapy involves distracting areas of the spine and separates the vertebra hence decompressing the disc.  This is used to help relieve nerve root irritation.

Muscle and Soft Tissue Techniques: Techniques such as Active Release Technique or Graston technique are used to break up adhesions and scar tissue within the muscle itself after an injury has occurred.  Both are very good in relieving muscular type pain and restoring proper function to the soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joint capsules).

Physiotherapy Modalities: Most are used to treat acute pain syndromes.

Electrical (muscle) Stimulation: This therapy uses light electrical impulses to the muscle transmitted through electrodes placed a various areas on the body.  This is very good in treating acute pain and reducing inflammation and muscle spasm.

Ultrasound Therapy:

This is a deep heating therapy created by sound waves.  When used to treat the muscles and joints this therapy decreases swelling, increases blood flow, and decreases stiffness and spasm.

Ice/Heat:

When ice is used properly it can significantly speed up recovery time by decreasing pain and inflammation.  Proper ice instruction should start when the injury is acute and 20 minutes on the injury 30 minutes off the injury and repeat the cycle.

One must take caution when using heat therapy because if the temperature is to great or the heat is on the bare skin, burns can take place.  Heat should be used after the injury has become a chronic issue (so at least more than 2 weeks).  The heat should not be left on for longer than 10 minutes.

Nutrition Counseling:

Studies have shown that poor dietary habits can lead to diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.  Your chiropractor can help you get on track and start a healthy diet and meal plan.  The chiropractor can help suggest food choices and recommend certain supplements you might be lacking in your diet.

Lifestyle Modification:

A chiropractor can suggest ways to start or continue leaving a healthy pain free life.  For example, things that effect your health in a negative way.

Lack of an exercise program

Poor eating habits

Smoking or drinking too much alcohol

Relying on over the counter or prescription medication

Poor posture

Poor work station ergonomics

Poor lifting habits

Stress overload

As you can see the chiropractic healing method is more than just the chiropractic adjustment.

This is a list of chiropractic therapies.  However, this list is not all inclusive.  For the sake of this webpage only the most common chiropractic therapies were mentioned.  Please consult your chiropractor if you feel you would benefit from a therapy not listed above.

Return From Chiropractic Therapies to Chiropractic Adjustment

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