Chiropractic is a healthcare specialty that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system (muscles, bones, and joints) and the nervous system and the effects of these disorders on the general health of the individual. Chiropractic services are often used for treating the neuromusculoskeletal disorders (it means the disorders of the nervous, muscular and skeletal system) that mainly include neck pain, back pain, pain in joints of arms and legs, headaches and others through different non-invasive treatment options. Chiropractic care mainly focuses on the relationship of the structure of the body (primarily, spine) with its functioning.
Chiropractic care originated in ancient times in Greece, Egypt, and China. Nowadays it is being used in modern form. The term “chiropractic” derives from two Greek words “cheir” meaning “hand” and “praxis” meaning “practice” and therefore it means “the treatment done by the hand”.
Our today’s article encompasses the goals of chiropractic care, responsibilities of a chiropractor, conditions treated by chiropractic care, different chiropractic treatments, cost of chiropractic care, and some guidelines for choosing a chiropractor:
What are the goals of chiropractic care?
The main goals of chiropractic care are:
- To improve the overall health of the patient with drug-free, hands-on spinal manipulation and different other types of therapies
- To ensure total wellness of the patient through non-invasive techniques
- To provide an effective combination of different treatments for a wide range of chronic conditions of muscles, joints, bones, and spine
Who is a doctor of chiropractic and what are their responsibilities?
Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) are often referred as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians who are trained medical professionals to provide diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Chiropractors treat patients of all age groups from infants, children to adults. Chiropractors believe in primarily achieving the hands-on, non-surgical approach for treating the disorders related to the muscles, joints, spine, pelvis, and nervous system.
The key responsibility of chiropractors is to reduce the pain, improve the function, and increase the mobility of the affected area by using a wide range of techniques mainly hands-on spinal manipulation.
Along with the manual treatment, chiropractors are trained in recommending a complete treatment plan that includes rehabilitation and therapeutic exercises, dietary, and lifestyle counseling.
While customizing the treatment plan, chiropractors also consider the emotional, physical, and social well being of the individual patient.
In order to determine the right time of chiropractic treatment, chiropractors perform the assessment of the patient through physical examination, laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging, and various other exams.
Chiropractors refer the patient to another appropriate health care provider when chiropractic treatment is not suitable for treating the patient’s condition or when the condition demands the co-management of a chiropractor and another medical professional. If any other medical condition exists that doesn’t only require chiropractic care then the chiropractic services support the medical treatment by relieving the neuromusculoskeletal aspect linked with that condition.
What medical conditions do chiropractors treat?
Chiropractic care not only treats the disorders of the nervous, muscular, and skeletal systems but it also provides benefits to your entire body. For example, some patients can find relief to the symptoms of the circulatory, digestive, and respiratory problems through spinal manipulation.
Below are some common medical conditions that chiropractors treat:
- Headaches
- Arthritis
- Musculoskeletal conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and complex regional pain syndrome and others
- Back and/or leg
- Neck pain
- Injuries associated with the trauma especially those happened in auto accidents
- Sports injuries
- Problems associated with the posture
- Problems associated with the nutrition
- Stress and strain
The chiropractor will conduct a consultation session with you to discuss your medical history, your specific health issues, and the treatment goals. After that, he/she will customize a complete treatment plan to achieve the treatment goals and to address the individual needs.
What are the different treatments that chiropractors provide?
The most common chiropractic treatment is “spinal manipulation”, also referred to as “spinal manipulative therapy (SMT)” and “chiropractic adjustment”. Spinal manipulative therapy is the procedure in which highly trained and skilled chiropractor uses his/her hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to the targeted spinal joint. The goal of SMT is to correct structural alignment and joint motion to restore joint mobility, improve the proper functioning, and relieve the discomfort and pain.
Along with spinal manipulation, chiropractors provide a wide range of chiropractic treatments that include:
- Soft tissue therapy
- Heat therapy
- Cold therapy
- Ultrasound therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- TENS therapy (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)
- Electrical muscle stimulation
- Traction therapy
- Nutrition therapy
- Exercise therapy
- Lifestyle modification counseling
- Wellness care
Some of you may get pain relief with spinal manipulation while some may receive a combination of these treatment options to address their needs. The most important thing to remember is that your individual conditions determine the nature of your chiropractic treatment plan.
What is the cost of chiropractic care?
The cost of chiropractic care varies depending on different factors that affect the overall price of the chiropractic treatment. On average, the chiropractic care cost can range from the lowest $30 to the highest $200 or even more. These factors include:
- The geographical location of the patient and the clinic
- Experience, skills, and reputation of the chiropractor
- The technology used by the chiropractor
- Whether some part or all of your treatment covered by your health insurance policy
Some guidelines to follow while choosing a chiropractor:
Like any other medical specialty, make sure that you choose your chiropractic physician with great care. Some of the things that you should check while selecting the chiropractor include:
- He/she should belong to a reputable organization such as the American Chiropractic Association or the International Chiropractors Association.
- He/she should have a chiropractic doctorate degree from an accredited university.
- He/she should have no record of any complaint or disciplinary action taken against him/her according to the state’s Chiropractic Regulation and Licensing Board.
- He/she is willing to fully cooperate and work with your primary care physician or other healthcare providers.
Taking an ample amount of time for choosing the chiropractor ensures the success of the overall chiropractic treatment.
You can consult Dr. Ashley N. Cruz who practices chiropractic care at Cruz Chiropractic & Wellness in NYC. Dr. Cruz provides a safe, natural, effective, and best chiropractic treatment in NYC for various neuromusculoskeletal disorders to patients of all ages. She tailors a customized treatment plan according to the conditions and needs of the individual patient. For booking an online appointment, visit our website or chiropractic center or call 212-967-1448