What is Chiropractic?
The word chiropractic comes from the Greek, meaning "treatment by hand".
Chiropractic is a highly skilled treatment by trained professionals. It focuses
treatment on the source of your back pain, not the symptoms. It's hands-on
treatment that works.
How Are Chiropractors Trained?
In Canada, chiropractors are required to complete a minimum of three years
of university, followed by four years at an accredited chiropractic college.
A chiropractic student receives over 4500 hours of education, much of it in
supervised clinical practice. Once students have completed their education,
they must pass both a provincial and national set of exams to earn the right
to practice as a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.).
How Does Chiropractic Work?
The bones in your back, called the vertebrae, are connected by cartilage and
work together in a very specific way. When everything is working well your
spine is in-line, strong and flexible. The stress of daily living, injuries,
or accidents can cause the bones in the spine to shift out of their proper
alignment or affect your range of motion. Small changes in the alignment of
your spine can cause pain by putting pressure on the different joints, muscles,
and nerves along your spinal column.
Chiropractors understand how to relieve this pain. They are specially trained
to find the source of your back pain, assess the problem, and make the proper
adjustments that allow your spine to work properly again.
Chiropractic joint manipulation, or adjustment, is a treatment in which the
chiropractor uses his or her hands to apply very quick, precise, and safe
amount of pressure directly on the problem area of you spine. This pressure
momentarily separates the joints, allowing a gas bubble to escape (this is
the popping sound or cracking noise you might have heard about). This relieves
the pressure on the joint and surrounding nerves, and most importantly, allows
your spine to return to its proper position. This adjustment is not painful,
and often provides immediate relief of your back pain.
Is Chiropractic Safe?
The safety and effectiveness of chiropractic treatment has been studied very
carefully. Both the medical profession, and more importantly, chiropractors
themselves need to be completely certain that the care they provide is safe.
Few medical treatments have been scrutinized in as much detail as chiropractic.
To date, no significant findings have shown that the risks are any greater
than those for other back pain treatments. In fact, studies have found chiropractic
to be extremely safe and effective in alleviating back pain. If a chiropractor
diagnoses a problem that would be better treated by another health care professional,
he or she will make an appropriate referral.
Complications from chiropractic treatments are rare. Your chiropractor will
discuss all potential side effects and risks along with the benefits of any
care you receive.
Back Pain? You're Not Alone?
Eight out of ten Canadian will experience back pain at one point in their
lives. It's a serious health problem that often goes untreated. One of the
reasons back pain is so common is that it can be caused by so many different
things.
- Work-related injuries
- Sports injuries
- Poor posture
- Stress
- Car accidents
- Improper lifting
Any of these can cause your spine to shift from its normal position or affect
your range of motion. This puts pressure on the joints, muscles, and nerves
in that area, and is what causes most back pain.
A healthy back is essential for a healthy body. For some people, chiropractic
treatment is like a regular tune-up for their back, to help deal with the
daily wear and tear of life. For others, it's an effective treatment when
back pain strikes. Take the time to discuss with your chiropractor the level
of care that is best for you.
Back Problem Warning Signs
Even though a chiropractor has treated your back pain, there is a possibility
it might recur. Here are some symptoms which might indicate that you suffer
from a back problem:
- Leg pain with numbness, tingling, and/or weakness
- Back or leg pain with coughing or sneezing
- Difficulty standing up after sitting for any period of time
- Stiffness in the morning that decreases when you move around
- Pain in your hip, buttock, thigh, knee, or foot
- Inability to turn or bend to each side equally
- Unbalanced posture, when your head, neck, or shoulder may be higher on one side than the other
- Pain which prevents you from sleeping well
- Pain that persists or worsens after 48 hours
Chiropractic treats your back pain by addressing the cause of the pain. A
chiropractic adjustment allows you spine to return to its proper position
and improve your range of motion, letting you feel like yourself again. It's
simple, and it works.
How Often Should I See A Chiropractor?
A common question is how long chiropractic treatment should continue. Your
chiropractor will discuss the need for any ongoing care with you, and it will
depend on your specific back problem.
10 Tips For Keeping Your Back Healthy
- Exercises regularly
- Follow a healthy diet
- Maintain good posture
- Stretch you spine before and after sports
- Don't overload your backpack or shoulder bag
- Stretch your legs and back after each hour of sitting
- Never cradle the phone between your neck and shoulder
- Sleep on your back or side, not on your stomach
- Invest in a good chair, pillow, and mattress. It's worth it!
- Have regular spinal check-ups
