Tag Archives: Chiropractic

Is Chiropractic Care Appropriate For Seniors?

As people grow older, they tend to cope with muscle and joint pain. Sometimes, the pain is present for years, but barely noticeable; it becomes more pronounced as the years pass. Other times, it seems to materialize abruptly. The root cause of the pain is difficult to identify, but can usually be traced to a life spent putting excess stress upon the spine. Still other times, a physically jarring event (e.g. a fall, auto accident, etc.) can cause spinal misalignments that trigger lasting discomfort.

Seniors who cope with these and similar circumstances can gain relief through professional chiropractic care. In this article, we’ll begin with a quick review of the benefits posed by realigning the vertebrae. We’ll then explain how the maturing individual, in particular, stands to gain from such an approach.

A Brief Overview Of Chiropractic Care

The main purpose of chiropractic care is to correct subluxations of the spine. A subluxation is a misalignment, which interrupts the nerve messages originating from the brain. These messages are transmitted through nerves located between the vertebrae. As a result of the interruption, patients might experience discomfort in any area of their body (i.e. not just their back and neck).

A chiropractor can realign vertebrae that have moved – or been forced – outside their normal positions. This can occur from an abrupt event that jars the body. Just as common, however, are circumstances that persist for weeks, months, and in some cases, years. For example, the patient may sit with a poor posture; she might sleep in an odd position; or he may deal with stress and lack of exercise for extended periods. Each of these can lead to a vertebral subluxation. Each can affect seniors, sometimes more dramatically than younger individuals.

Spinal Changes As The Body Ages

The tissues, joints, and ligaments in our bodies slowly deteriorate as we grow older. This deterioration also affects the vertebrae and spinal discs throughout the spine. The older an individual becomes, the less capable their spines are of withstanding stress – whether it is abrupt or persistent. A poor posture, bad sleeping position, or a fall will have a more significant effect upon them. Pain often surfaces from minor incidences, and persists until its root cause (i.e spinal misalignment) is addressed through chiropractic care.

How Chiropractors Help Seniors Enjoy Their Lives

By correcting spinal misalignments, a chiropractor can reduce the degree of chronic discomfort seniors feel throughout their bodies. Proper alignment of their vertebrae will reintroduce a broader range of motion in their joints; it will improve their balance, and thus make falling less likely; and regular adjustments will make moving around easier. These benefits are made possible by eliminating the stress placed upon the nerves between the vertebrae.

A professional chiropractor may use several approaches when helping seniors. The techniques used to adjust the spine are gentle on the body, and may include exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles, joints, and ligaments. This treatment produces results that are almost immediately noticeable, and allows seniors to more fully enjoy their lives.

The Effects Of Proper Spinal Alignment

One of the problems with a vertebral subluxation is that it can affect a person’s sense of balance and coordination. Maturing individuals who suffer from either problem stand a much higher likelihood of falling. This will place additional stress upon the spine, and may worsen the existing misalignment, or cause another. Realigning the vertebrae addresses the loss in balance and coordination.

Another important effect of chiropractic care is that joint deterioration in the spine is slowed. This reduces stress on the nerves, which in turn reduces the severity of headaches, joint pain, and range of motion limitations in the limbs.

Medical doctors often address their patients’ symptoms with medications and surgery. For many senior patients, however, neither are warranted. Chiropractic care hones in on the root cause of the pain in order to resolve the underlying problem.

Professional Chiropractic Care For Babies And Children

Professional Chiropractic Care For Babies And Children

The idea of treating spinal misalignments in kids and infants continues to strike many parents as odd, and unnecessary. Conventional wisdom holds that a child’s spine is flexible enough to tolerate the strain placed upon it during the course of a typical day. In reality, this is often untrue.

Just as adults suffer vertebral subluxations as the result of poor posture, falling, sports injuries, and similar factors, so, too, can kids suffer misalignments. If they are left unaddressed, they can worsen as their bodies develop. This article will explore chiropractic care from the perspective of adjusting infants and kids. We’ll explain how their spines can suffer misalignments, how you can identify the signs, and the value a trained chiropractor can offer.

How Strain Is Placed Upon A Child’s Spine

By the time an unborn baby reaches her due date, her vertebral column is fully developed. Through the third trimester, it has not undergone strain (aside from unusual circumstances). During childbirth, however, a newborn’s spine can experience stress as she moves through the birth canal. One or more vertebrae may be moved out of alignment, often without the realization of the delivery team.

The months and years following childbirth can also result in spinal strain. For example, while trying to walk, infants fall; while playing, toddlers routinely put their bodies through mild trauma. Years of such physical stress often lead to vertebral subluxations, which in turn can cause an assortment of disorders. Parents seldom recognize the signs since kids are usually unaware they suffer misalignments (even adults have difficulty recognizing the signs in their own bodies). Unfortunately, these problems intensify as the years pass.

Signs And Symptoms Of Spinal Stress In Children

Rarely are a child’s symptoms specific to vertebral misalignments, which makes identifying their triggers challenging. The symptoms may be caused by many other disorders. That said, there are indications that suggest a correctable problem may have originated in the spine. Though it takes a trained, experienced chiropractor to accurately assess their cause, recognizing these symptoms is a critical first step.

You might notice your son or daughter’s head tips slightly to one side; this may indicate compensation for persistent discomfort in the neck area. You may also notice your child is unable to fully move his or her head. In some cases, the limited range of motion may imply nothing more than a night spent sleeping in a poor position. Or, it might suggest a chronic spinal problem. If you are nursing a baby, note whether he or she is having trouble breastfeeding on one side. These and other signs might indicate the need for a chiropractic evaluation.

How A Trained Chiropractor Treats Spinal Subluxations In Kids

When vertebral misalignments cause discomfort and other ailments in kids, most parents look to their child’s doctor for guidance and treatment. The problem is, few pediatricians have the experience or training required to address – and resolve – such issues. In extreme cases, they may refer parents to a doctor who specializes in the musculoskeletal system (i.e. orthopedist), but such cases are rare. Spinal misalignments are unlikely to warrant treatment by an orthopedic surgeon. This is an area in which a trained chiropractic doctor can offer relief.

Following a physical examination to pinpoint the area of misalignment, a chiropractor will apply light, focused pressure to correct the subluxation. The pressure is noninvasive; it is delivered solely with the fingertips. Though it rarely causes discomfort, a baby may be startled by the strange movement, and thus cry for a short period.

Much attention has been given to the potential risks of chiropractic care for babies and children. In reality, the risks are minimal. Meanwhile, there are well-researched and documented benefits to treating kids’ spinal misalignments before they cause severe discomfort years down the road.

5 Important Tips For Choosing A Qualified Chiropractor

5 Important Tips For Choosing A Qualified Chiropractor In Richmond Virginia

The chiropractic industry is mostly comprised of trustworthy practitioners. These are providers who are dependable, honest, and seek to improve the health and lives of their patients. Like every profession, however, this branch of medical care has its share of providers who place their interests in front of their patients. The challenge is separating the former from the latter. This article will offer several tips to help you find a reliable, responsible chiropractor you can trust to look after your health.

#1 – Look For Specialties That Meet Your Needs

Many chiropractic physicians are general practitioners, similar to medical doctors who treat a variety of illnesses. Hence, they address problems related to joint pain, headaches, repetitive motion injuries, and even allergies. Other professionals focus on specific needs. For example, they might specialize in helping pregnant women who are suffering from intense lower back and leg pain. Others focus on herniated discs, whiplash, and rotator cuff injuries.

If you’re looking for chiropractic treatment that can resolve a variety of issues, a general practitioner is a good choice. On the other hand, specific types of pain may call for a more specialized approach.

#2 – Recommendations From Friends And Family

There’s a good chance someone you know and trust already receives professional chiropractic care. Ask for recommendations. Also, ask for referrals from your coworkers, medical doctor, and acquaintances. While doing your own due diligence is important, recommendations from those you trust serve as an ideal starting point.

#3 – Due Diligence Regarding Education And Licensing

In the United States, a chiropractic doctor is required to complete at least four years of training from an accredited institution. Moreover, prior to being accepted into a formal program, candidates are required to have completed at least three years of undergraduate study. In total, a professional chiropractor needs a minimum of seven years of training.

Also, keep in mind practitioners are licensed by the state in which they practice. In order to receive their license, they must pass an exam overseen by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE). Renewing their license requires ongoing education.

This is noteworthy because the chiropractic industry is highly-regulated in order to protect patients. For this reason, make sure the chiropractor you’re considering has completed the necessary schooling and has the required license.

#4 – Ask About The Treatment Strategies Used

There are many treatment methods used by professional chiropractors when adjusting their patients. Some of these methods are more appropriate than others based on a patient’s age, health, and goals for the treatment. For example, many practitioners use instruments to adjust their patients’ spinal column while others use only their hands. Some use advanced techniques, such as Cox flexion-distraction, electrical stimulation, and cranial manipulation.

Ask the chiropractor to describe the methods he or she uses to perform adjustments. If you’re unclear about a given technique, ask for clarification. Most chiropractic doctors welcome questions from the patients and will explain their approach openly. They realize the more their patients understand about their approach, the more receptive they’ll be to treatment.

#5 – Note The Often-Neglected Details

As with any professional with whom you work, it’s important the chiropractor is willing to make the experience a positive one. He or she must be able to reliably meet appointments. If your schedule prevents your receiving an adjustment during the day, his or her office should be open during the evening. If your health insurance fails to cover certain treatments, will your chiropractor be willing to offer a discount? These details are often overlooked, but are important.

The process of selecting a qualified chiropractic physician is similar to the approach you would use in choosing a medical doctor. The benefit is that you’ll eventually find a professional who offers the level of care, expertise, and service you deserve.