Chiropractor

A chiropractor is someone who literally performs treatment with his own hands. Using special manual therapy techniques, massage, procedures, etc., a chiropractor successfully helps eliminate unpleasant symptoms and sometimes completely get rid of diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

Manual therapy is a specially developed system of techniques that are carried out with the help of hands. Manual impact on sore spots allows to effectively solve problems related to any pathologies of the spine, it is also possible to relieve painful sensations in joints, muscular system, with diseases of internal organs, cerebrovascular accidents, etc. The advantage of such treatment is that its use helps to get rid of such diseases that are often beyond the power of drug treatment. A manual therapist first conducts an examination in his work, and then treatment of the spine, joints, muscles, as well as nervous diseases.

Manual therapy combines the latest methods and techniques with massage and reflexology, which allows achieving the most effective results in the treatment of intervertebral hernias, vegetative-vascular dystonia, arthrosis of large joints, scoliosis, chronic headaches, muscle-tonic syndromes and many others.

Manual methods show good results in the complex treatment of many diseases of internal organs. The health of our body directly depends on the condition of the spine. With problems with the cervical vertebrae, a person may suffer from dizziness, headaches, etc. This happens due to the fact that the diseased organ sends a nerve impulse to a certain part of the spinal cord, which causes impaired blood circulation and muscle changes. As a result, a chronic form of the disease develops. During the impact on the muscles, ligaments, the manual therapist removes the pain syndrome, and often eliminates the immediate cause of osteochondrosis. Treatment with manual techniques can eliminate the cause of osteochondrosis only in one case, when the development of the disease is caused by a violation of the normal functioning of the organs adjacent to the damaged disc, without the formation of a hernia.

After a session of manual therapy, blood circulation in the muscles noticeably improves, as a result, the muscles become toned, tissue nutrition and metabolism become much better. On average, a full course of manual therapy takes 15-20 sessions. Before starting a course of manual therapy, a doctor's consultation is necessary, since sometimes, with some concomitant diseases, such treatment is not recommended.

A manual therapist uses special procedures, massage techniques, and physiotherapy in his work. In each specific case, depending on the problem and the patient's condition, the specialist selects an individual set of therapeutic actions: thermal procedures, vibration massage, physical education, etc.

When should you see a chiropractor?

As a rule, people turn to a chiropractor for osteochondrosis (a spinal disease). Before starting a course of manual therapy, it is necessary to undergo an examination and exclude contraindications.

The reason to go to a chiropractor is pain in muscles, joints, discomfort or stiffness when moving joints. Manual therapy methods will help in the complex treatment of cardiovascular, genitourinary, respiratory diseases, as well as problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

A chiropractor can provide assistance even in cases of decreased vision, cerebrovascular accident, chronic prostatitis, impotence, menstrual irregularities, gynecological problems (ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, etc.).

The help of a chiropractor may also be needed by women in the postpartum period. Pregnancy and childbirth have a strong impact on the female body, especially on the spine, which is subject to maximum load during this period. After childbirth, a woman often experiences pain in the back, pelvis, joints, headaches or dizziness. In such a situation, a chiropractor is one of the specialists who can provide invaluable help. Often, women turn to a chiropractor when the pain becomes pronounced, sometimes unbearable, in the case when the process is very advanced and requires long-term treatment.

What tests should you take when visiting a chiropractor?

When contacting a chiropractor, the doctor in each specific case may additionally prescribe one or more tests. Which ones exactly depends on the main and concomitant diseases, general condition, etc.

Additionally, you may need:

• clinical blood test. Also called a detailed analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, it is possible to assess the level of hemoglobin, leukocytes, erythrocytes, and platelets in the blood. With the help of a clinical analysis, anemia (low hemoglobin) is determined, as well as existing inflammatory processes in the body.
• biochemical blood test. This test determines the functions of internal organs (liver, kidneys), microelement imbalance, water-salt metabolism disorder, and inflammatory process.

If tests show that there is an inflammatory process in the body, it is necessary to find out the cause of the inflammation and exclude contraindications to manual therapy.

Before starting a course of manual therapy, women should visit a gynecologist and take the necessary tests, since manual therapy is contraindicated for some diseases of the female reproductive system. These diseases include various tumors and vascular diseases in the small pelvis. Regarding various inflammations in women, an individual approach is required.

A consultation with a neurologist or orthopedist may also be necessary.

What diagnostic methods does a chiropractor use?

First of all, a chiropractor must conduct a diagnosis of the spine using additional methods, and only based on the information obtained, proceed directly to treatment.

First of all, it is necessary to undergo an X-ray examination of the spine. With the help of X-rays, it is possible to determine osteochondrosis, curvature (scoliosis, kyphosis, etc.), various changes in the intervertebral joints, and the consequences of injuries. Unfortunately, X-rays do not allow us to assess some pathological phenomena in the spine. For example, it will not be possible to assess the condition of the intervertebral discs, because X-rays are not retained by cartilage, but it is still possible to make an indirect judgment about their condition based on the height of the spaces between the vertebrae. For the same reason, it will not be possible to detect an intervertebral hernia.

• Duplex scanning of vessels. This is a modern method that allows diagnosing cerebrovascular accidents, with its help it is possible to evaluate functional indicators of blood flow, anatomical changes of vessels (bends, patency, malformation, condition of walls, etc.). Duplex scanning is also carried out for the purpose of studying peripheral circulation, vessels of the extremities.
• Electromyography (EMG). This diagnostic method evaluates the bioelectric potential in the muscles. The condition of the muscle fibers of the nerves that conduct impulses is associated with the correct functioning of the muscles. As a result of the disruption of the electrical activity of the muscles, a disease of muscle tissue develops. EMG is completely harmless, in some cases pain is noted in the place where the needle electrode is inserted.
• Computer tomography of the spine. A modern examination method that is highly effective in determining spinal diseases. As a result of the examination, a three-dimensional image of the spine, spinal cord, and spinal canal can be obtained. A three-dimensional image can also be obtained.

During computer tomography, ionized radiation in a certain dose is passed through the body. Changes in the parameters of the rays when passing any area are recorded by special sensors, and then registered on the computer. After the computer processes the received data, an image is displayed on the monitor. This digital information allows, if necessary, to re-analyze the condition of the spine based on the image, without having to re-examine the patient. The diagnostic method is absolutely painless and takes about five minutes, and special preparation (diet, medication, etc.) is not required for computer tomography.

• Magnetic resonance imaging of the cervical spine (MRI). This type of diagnostics is developing quite quickly and is highly effective in examining the spine. MRI can be used to best assess the condition of soft tissues in the spine. As a rule, a hernia in the cervical spine develops in parallel with osteophytes (bone growths along the edge of the vertebral bodies). Usually, hernias and osteophytes are asymptomatic and are detected only during examination.

What does a chiropractor do?

A manual therapist should have excellent knowledge of the functions and structure of the body. He should be able to find an approach to each patient, taking into account not only his illnesses, but also his physical and mental state. Only in this case can complications be avoided and the maximum therapeutic effect achieved. The goal of a manual therapist should be to relieve the patient from painful sensations in the spine, restore joint mobility.

In the chiropractor's office, the musculoskeletal system is examined, congenital skeletal anomalies are identified. After the examination, the chiropractor prescribes a course of treatment aimed at eliminating pain and restoring motor function. A full course of manual therapy will help restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, endocrine, respiratory and other systems, improve blood circulation in the brain, increase the body's defenses, and also improve the psycho-emotional state of a person.

First of all, a manual therapist must have a diploma in neurology or orthopedics, and only then master the secrets of “manual” treatment.

Before treatment, the doctor must necessarily find out the complaints, examine the diseased organ, if necessary, prescribe additional methods of examination, primarily X-ray. Only after receiving the image and the conclusions of the radiologist, the doctor should begin treatment.

For an effective result, it is necessary to conduct several sessions of manual therapy, solving the problem in one go is simply impossible. Manual therapy should not use effects that are dangerous to human health, and many specialists now prefer softer methods of treatment. During the work, the doctor must monitor the patient's well-being.

Manual therapy assistance may be needed throughout a person's life, starting from birth. For example, during childbirth, a baby's cervical vertebrae may shift, which in the future may threaten problems with the head vessels, but timely assistance will help to avoid this. Throughout life, a person faces many problems with the musculoskeletal system, most of which are associated with the spine (pain, stiffness, etc.). Among the patients of a manual therapist, you can see both young and elderly people. Children and the elderly require special care in treatment; with such patients, you should try to use the most gentle techniques.

The main goal of any manual therapist is to restore biomechanical processes that are observed in the spine, muscles or ligaments and arise for various reasons (injuries, bruises). As a result of this violation, various diseases of internal organs and the brain develop. It turns out that manual therapy techniques have a beneficial effect on the entire human body.

The need for manual therapy arises when there is a curvature of the spine, pinched nerves, herniated discs between the vertebrae, etc. Of course, manual therapy does not always completely cure the disease (for example, a herniated disc), but it is quite possible to relieve severe symptoms and alleviate the patient's condition. Also, a manual therapist helps to get rid of diseases that at first glance are completely unrelated to orthopedics or the spine, for example, thyroid and lung diseases. This is due to the passage of lymph flows, as well as the peculiarity of the blood supply to the organs.

The human body is a very complex and perfect single mechanism, in which a malfunction of one organ leads to a malfunction of other organs. For example, as a result of a toe injury, gait is impaired, which threatens arthrosis of the hip joint, problems with internal organs can begin due to displaced vertebrae as a result of poor posture, etc. A chiropractor will help to find out the cause and advise on disease prevention.

What diseases does a chiropractor treat?

Manual therapy will help to get rid of many diseases. First of all, from pain in the back, in the cervical region, in the limbs, from the consequences of injuries or surgeries. The normal functioning of all organs depends on proper blood circulation. Even with the most minor disorders in the spine, blood circulation can be disrupted, as a result of which various diseases can develop - migraine, visual impairment, diseases of the reproductive system, etc. A manual therapist will find the source of the disease and eliminate them.

There are quite a lot of diseases that can be treated with manual therapy. Among them are osteochondrosis of all sections, posture disorders, intervertebral hernias, joint pain, numbness or pain in the limbs, lung diseases due to impaired blood circulation when the vertebrae are displaced, vegetative-vascular dystonia, headaches, hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, insomnia, fatigue due to problems with the spine or joints. The organs that a manual therapist works with are the spine, muscles, ligaments.

Like all treatment methods, manual therapy has its contraindications: systemic diseases, oncology, osteoporosis (brittle bones), diseases that require immediate drug treatment.

Advice from a chiropractor

Prevention of spinal diseases should begin before the onset of the disease itself in order to prevent its development.

To avoid back problems, you need to lead an active lifestyle, do therapeutic exercises, play sports if possible, do not lift heavy objects, do not slouch and maintain correct posture. Various applicators and massagers have a good relaxing effect.

If you have a sedentary job in the office, you need to get up more often to walk a little, it would be ideal to do some exercises (for example, during a telephone conversation or sitting at a desk). You need to use the elevator as little as possible, try to walk more. The workplace should be made as comfortable as possible, you can buy special pads for the chair to relieve the back. The location of the monitor is very important, as well as the direction of the light. Such, at first glance, trifles can lead to significant back problems.

You should be extremely careful when doing sports such as skydiving, running, aerobics, tennis, volleyball, fast dancing, etc. Sharp movements and turns can provoke an exacerbation of back diseases.

Often, intervertebral hernias give complications in the form of pinching. In this case, therapeutic exercise can help, if you plan to do it on your own, you must consult a doctor. In addition to therapeutic exercise, you can do therapeutic exercises in water or swimming, but only under the supervision of an instructor.

In case of acute back pain, it is necessary to follow the most gentle regimen, both motor and physical. It is necessary to unload the spine as much as possible (for example, with the help of a corset). Complete rest of the affected area is also recommended to relax the muscles, improve blood circulation, and lymph flow.

A manual therapist, using special techniques to influence the body, helps to get rid of osteochondrosis, scoliosis, arthrosis, headaches of various origins. The knowledge gained during training, the skills acquired during work - help a manual therapist to provide invaluable assistance to people, often even in cases where traditional medicine is powerless.

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