I would be willing to wager that, if asked this question, you would probably answer, "bones." Actually, they treat "neuro-musculoskeletal" pain involving muscles, nerves and joints.
Sure, the first thing that might come to mind is the "bone cracking" experience you might have had on your last visit - or that you anticipate would happen, if you've never been attended by a Chiropractor. I go to mine to be stretched out, and certainly realigned, before and after a marathon or half marathon to help with my recovery after the event. Distance runners literally pound our bodies into the ground. Yikes!
Today, my mother saw a Chiropractor for the first time in several years, probably a couple of decades. He told her she is "lopsided," and I didn't even have to wait for the explanation. I knew it's from a number of her habits, including carrying a shoulder bag, and weakening core muscles affecting her posture. She is, after all, 80 years old.
Now, some medical doctors do not agree that chiropractic treatment is really all that effective. However, judging by the growing number of chiropractors opening their practices around the town where I live, there must be a growing demand for their services.
How do you feel about chiropractic care?
EmpowHer reference: Chiropractic
Chiropractic Treatment: What You Should Know, by Robin Brett Parnes, MS, MPH
Video: Dr. Wang - Chiropractic Care, Is It Effective?
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Add a Comment3 Comments
Alysia
Thanks for this - I have always wondered about chiropractic care. A lot of people I talk to say that they are not worth it, almost like the are 'quacks' yet, I saw a back specialist at the University of Michigan who has 8 years of college behind her and she told me she worked "kind of like a chiropractor" and she realigned my back. So if a bone fide hospital believe they have merit, they may well have.
I've had chronic back pain since the birth of my third child, almost exactly three years ago. No-one knows why. I wake up every morning in pain and it's on and off all day. It's not my bed, no matter where I sleep I have the pain. I don't know if something happened during the c-section or what's going on but not even exercise seems to help. The only thing that has helped so far is power-walking but that's only possible in my area 6 months of the year, as the bad weather (and my location with back roads and no street lights or side walks) makes it impossible. And I don't know why the walking helped.
I'm very tempted to see a chiropractor. But it isn't covered by our health insurance, I believe. It might just be worth paying the cash.
August 15, 2009 - 6:53amThis Comment
I am certain that chiropractors can help deal with the pain associated with spine alignment problems. I have a bulge on one of my disks and every 2-3 years I do something that moves the nearby vertebrae off center. I am almost completely immobilized by the resulting pain. One or two visits with a chiropractor will take care of it and the pain relief is a blessed thing!
I have never had ongoing treatment from a chiropractor so I can't speak to that.
August 15, 2009 - 7:24amInteresting comments. I had chiropractic care following a car accident and found it very helpful. The accident affected my neck, back and arms, as well as my chest which was pushed into the steering wheel. The injuries didn't require acute medical care, but I had muscle and joint pain from the force of the accident. The chiropractic care seemed a lot like physical therapy to me, and helped reduce the pain and restored normal function over time.
October 1, 2009 - 5:28pm