A Look at Decompression Manipulation Therapy

Have you ever heard of decompression manipulation therapy? If you have ever visited a chiropractor than you may have and if you have not then it might be an alternative therapy that is unfamiliar to you.

What is it all about and can it help what ails you?

Decompression manipulation therapy is a kind of spinal manipulation that is gentle as well as safe. It does not necessitate drugs of any kind or any form of surgery. It is a therapy used by chiropractors that takes place on a decompression adjustment table. It has been shown to be a safe alternative to having surgery performed on the back for 95 percent of people who suffer from back pain, leg pain or both.

Also known as spinal decompression treatment, this natural therapy method is useful for those who suffer from a pinched nerve or nerves and/or pain in the lower back. This chiropractic treatment is capable of restoring normal motions to the spinal joints. It is also able to improve posture and bodily movements which can help to minimize pain and discomfort. It helps to relieve tension on the spinal nerves and discs by increasing the height of the discs. It also improves the circulation of blood to the discs and joints of the back, thereby improving the flow to the nerves.

Conditions it Helps:

There are certain health conditions that can benefit tremendously from this therapy. If you suffer from any of these conditions you may wish to seek out the decompression method of treatment. These conditions include but are not limited to:

• Herniated discs
• Stenosis
• Sciatica
• Leg pain
• Failed back surgical syndromes
• Inflammation of a nerve

A person interested in being treated as a patient with decompression therapy must first be examined by the chiropractor and a medical history must be taken. A diagnosis must be made and then a course of treatment can be embarked upon. It is important to note however that this therapy will not help every back related condition.

How it Works:

If a person is accepted as a patient for this alternative treatment method they will be instructed to lie face down on the decompression adjustment table. A short wave diathermy unit will then supply heat to the patient’s back. This is used instead of a hot pack because it penetrates much deeper.

The table is able to move in any number of directions. This aids the chiropractor in doing his or her work. The physician will carefully control all of the compression movements and will ensure that movements are administered to the patient in a manner that is slow, mild and as comfortable as possible.

The next stage of the treatment is for inferential electrical current therapy to be applied to the lower back region. This is used for many types of sports injuries and rehabilitative efforts. It is very beneficial for the healing of tissues, nerve repair and circulation.

A decompression manipulation treatment generally takes between 35 to 40 minutes to complete. Following the treatment, the chiropractor will recommend an exercise and strength program for the patient to do at home.

Clinical research has shown that it takes an estimated 12 decompression treatments for the maximum results of the therapy to be seen and felt. It may take up to 30 days before the patient begins to feel better. For those suffering from a torn disc it can take as many as three months for it to completely heal. The chiropractor will be able to let you know how long he or she thinks it will take to show success.

Samantha

Read Full Post »

Chiropractic Fallacies – Opening Up the Curtain on the Truth

Chiropractic fallacies and misconceptions are all around and can be found without little problem at all.

Many of these fallacies arise from the fact that many people are not aware of what this alternative practice is about and do not really understand what chiropractors do. It is also true that just like in every profession some chiropractors are simply better at their jobs than are others. Even in the medical and alternative field this is the case. Let us look behind the curtain to reveal many of the wrong assumptions that keep people from seeking a non-invasive treatment that could help them to feel better.

Chiropractors are not doctors in any real sense. True or false?

While it is the case that chiropractors are not medical doctors per se and cannot replace the work that is done for you by your general practitioner or family doctor, they are real doctors in that they spend almost as many years studying and training as do their medical doctor counterparts.

The chiropractic practice is one that encourages the body to heal itself and puts a great deal of emphasis on preventative healthcare as well. This branch of alternative medicine is concerned with the spine and the extremities.

Chiropractic treatments are only useful for back problems – yes or no?

While the health of the spine is the main thrust of this form of natural therapy, it is about so much more than the back.  Bear in mind that the spine is well connected in the body. It is attached to many other working parts that can suddenly not be working as they are supposed to work. This is where chiropractors can be of help.

Doctors of chiropractic are prevention specialists.

What this means is that they work to alleviate a number of problems that affect the spine, as well as the extremities, the joints, muscles and nerves before they have the opportunity to get started in the first place. The focus of this alternative practice is to keep infections, injuries and diseases at bay by viewing a patient as a whole and not by looking at only the symptoms that the person is suffering from. It is important for every potential patient to understand this.

A spinal adjustment will hurt and will be uncomfortable for the patient as it is taking place.

Many people are concerned about suffering during the treatment and following it. Chiropractic treatments are applied in a hands-on manner. The chiropractor applies manual pressure to the patient’s body. For that reason you may experience some sensations as the adjustment is taking place. Following the treatment you may experience some minor complaints such as soreness, a headache and a bit of weakness. These effects will not last long. They are the result of your back being put back into the proper alignment after being out of alignment.

Chiropractors spend many years in school and have a great deal of clinical experience. Rest assured that you do not have an amateur working on your precious body. These professionals know what they are doing. Most patients feel a great deal better following their treatments as opposed to feeling worse.

Samantha

Read Full Post »

Chiropractic Services- Selecting the Right Chiropractor

Chiropractic services can be beneficial to you but first you must find the right chiropractor for your needs.

Contrary to what many people believe, chiropractors are primary healthcare professionals who are regulated and they are doctors in the truest sense of the word. Chiropractors are Doctors of Chiropractors (DC) who spend almost as much time studying in their specialized field as do medical doctors. These doctors are required to take four years of undergraduate study before they go onto four to five years of more advanced study.

What Do Chiropractors Do?

Chiropractors are well educated and well trained professionals who are able to assess, diagnose and treat a variety of disorders of the spine, muscles, joints, as well as those that affect the nervous system. In the same way, regular adjustments by a chiropractor can help to prevent problems from getting started.

Some of the disorders that chiropractors regularly see patients for include neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain (lower back pain accounts for 40 percent of chiropractor visits), headaches, as well as problems related to joints and nerves in the arms and legs.

The advent of computers, cell phones and other electronic handheld devices has sparked a renewed interest in the services that chiropractors provide because consistent use of any of these tools of technology can lead to a host of problems of the spine and related areas.

Comfort and Trust are Essential

The important thing when it comes to looking for a chiropractor is to find one who is well trained and also one you feel comfortable communicating with. It is your body after all and it deserves the very best. If you find a chiropractor who comes with glowing credentials and plenty of recommendations but you don’t feel comfortable in his or her presence then this professional relationship between patient and doctor is not going to work out. Keep looking and make no excuses for doing so. You must find the best fit possible when it comes to a chiropractor. Trust between the two of you is implicit and non-negotiable!

Accreditation Matters

Presently there are 15 Colleges of Chiropractic throughout the country that are accredited by the Council on Chiropractic Education. This council is a national organized that has been recognized by the Department of Education.

Bear in mind that accreditation is very important! The professional background of a chiropractor should play an integral role in your choice of one. Do not go to any chiropractor who did not attend an accredited school. Accreditation is a stamp of approval given to a school that meets certain standards. Standards matter!

Licensing of a Chiropractor

Chiropractors need to be licensed in order to offer their services to patients. In fact all 50 states require that chiropractors be licensed. This is because the work that chiropractors engage in is regulated by state licensing boards. These boards only grant licenses to chiropractors who meet the educational requirements that the board deems necessary for them to practice. They also have to pass certain examination requirements.

A chiropractor who wishes to be given a license to practice must complete a college course in chiropractic studies at an accredited school (as previously mentioned). Following that he or she must then graduate with a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. After that comes a special examination known as the clinical competency exam that is given to the chiropractor by the National Board of Chiropractor Examiners (NBCE).

But Still There is More …

Whee! As you can see there is a lot of time, effort and commitment that must go into becoming a chiropractor. It is not as simple as 1-2-3 by any means! But it does not end there. Chiropractors are required to pass state board examinations. In order to be licensed by their state they must agree to take continuing education courses, programs and/or workshops on a yearly basis in order to keep up with advancements in their field.

The decision of which chiropractor to choose if you decide to seek out chiropractic services is a big one that should never be taken lightly. Now that you know what to look for the rest should be easy. Keep trust and your comfort level front and center in your mind. Your back is yours for life so treat it right by selecting a chiropractor wisely.

Samantha

Read Full Post »

Back Pain Problems?- Visit a Chiropractor for Relief

If back pain is causing you a problem then take the alternative route and visit a chiropractor.

Chiropractors offer treatment for back pain that is safe, non-surgical, non-invasive and drug free. It is also a very mild form of treatment that can prove to be very effective, depending on the problem.

Spinal Manipulation

Spinal manipulation is the name of the chiropractic game. Spinal manipulation refers to a spinal adjustment that improves the balance of the body, the posture (which is more important than most people realize) and puts the body back into the proper alignment. The belief that underlies chiropractic treatment is that when the spine is healthy and moves as it is supposed to, this contributes to improving a person’s overall level of health. A healthy spine including all the nerves, joints and muscles can contribute to a happier human being!

A chiropractor will adjust your spine because it is possible that the source of your back problem is that one of the bones of the spine is misaligned. You might experience little or no pain because of it.

What is an Adjustment Anyway?

In case you are wondering exactly what an adjustment by a chiropractor is, it is a precise and highly skilled movement that is applied to a joint using the hands. Having an adjustment serves to loosen the joint and from there renders it more functional as complete movement is restored.

Sometimes when a joint is adjusted a popping noise will be heard. This is often the case when the chiropractor works on the joints in the neck. This popping sound is not a cause for concern and is actually a good thing. The lack of the popping sound would not be a good thing! The popping phenomenon is due to the escaping of a gas bubble. It is most readily noticed when the neck is worked on because it is so close to the ears.

Why Seek Out Chiropractic Treatment?

As many as eight out of 10 Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. For some people back pain can become a chronic problem. Remember that your spine supports your entire body. A problem in the back can cause pain in other areas of the body such as the arms or legs and can often be the cause of headaches.

Wellness care is a common reason that many individuals choose to undergo chiropractic services. It is also common for groups such as senior citizens to look to chiropractic treatment to help them to remain as mobile as possible and to have the range of motion that can guarantee them a good quality of life.

There are a variety of reasons to seek out this type of alternative treatment. For example the wear and tear of everyday life can cause strain on the back, as can work, accidents, sports injuries and household chores. It is important to note that chiropractic services are not just for those who suffer from painful joint and spinal problems but for everyone who is looking for the maintenance they need to enjoy proper joint function and a healthy spine. Back pain problems need be a problem no longer thanks to the work of a trained chiropractor!

More information on relief from back pain here.

Samantha

Read Full Post »