Chiropractors work with medical doctors and other healthcare professionals to care for patients. They specialize in the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Chiropractic is a holistic approach to treating pain, as well as a variety of other health conditions. Here are some ways chiropractors can help alleviate your pain and improve your quality of life.
Muscle Stimulation
Using muscle stimulation, also known as e-stim, is a treatment our chiropractors use to treat various pain issues. It involves applying small electrical pulses transmitted through electrode pads placed on a patient’s skin.
This therapy helps reduce inflammation, eliminate spasms, and relieve chronic pain. It can be used alone or in conjunction with manual adjustment to improve the effectiveness of your treatment. Another benefit of e-stim is that it can help strengthen and retrain muscles weakened due to injury or illness. This can include a torn Achilles tendon, soft tissue injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other conditions that prevent you from moving the way you want to. When your chiropractor uses e-stim, he will secure the electrode pads to your skin and then turn a dial or press a button on an electrical device. The electric impulses will stimulate the targeted muscle to contract. This may be barely noticeable or feel like involuntary muscle twitches.
Exercises
The best way to relieve pain is often through exercise and stretches. It may sound simple, but these daily exercises can help reduce pain and strengthen the muscles causing it. Chiropractic offices are becoming increasingly popular as a back and neck pain treatment option. They offer spinal manipulation, exercise advice, and self-care recommendations as part of their whole-person approach to helping people feel better faster. New research suggests that seeing a chiropractor like Denver chiropractors may help relieve neck pain more effectively than taking pain medication. This is especially true for middle back or thoracic spine pain, which can be caused by sitting at a desk all day, lifting heavy objects, and sleeping incorrectly.
Nutritional Counseling
As part of a multidisciplinary team, the chiropractor can play an important role in pain management by providing a holistic approach to the patient’s condition. This may include recommendations regarding herbal remedies and nutritional supplements that help reduce pain symptoms, ease muscular tension, or promote relaxation.
Chiropractic treatment is effective in treating back and joint pain, as well as headaches. A 2017 review published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that spinal manipulation reduced lower back pain intensity and disability. A 2013 study published in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage found that combining 12 chiropractic treatments plus patient education improved hip OA pain. Nutritional counseling is an essential and often neglected component of chiropractic practice. A counselor works with clients to develop healthy eating plans based on the individual’s needs, including any dietary restrictions and allergies and provides advice on the types of foods that can be consumed safely.
Massage
A massage is a form of physical manipulation that involves pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It can range from light stroking to deep pressure. It’s often used to improve overall health and reduce stress. It has been shown to decrease your body’s sympathetic nervous system, which drives your “fight or flight” response and increase your parasympathetic nervous system, which regulates the rest of your physiology. The goal of a massage is to relax and release tension in your muscles, ligaments and tendons. This release can help your body move, feel stronger and be more comfortable. Massage can also aid in the healing process of a sports injury and can help prevent further muscle damage. It can also help to improve your posture and boost your immune system.
