Chiropractic adjustment is a treatment that involves the manipulation of the spine by a licensed provider known as a chiropractor. They use their hands and various instruments to manipulate joints on the body and provide pain relief and correct alignment. Chiropractors can treat a variety of ailments, from spinal injuries to knee pain. If you are experiencing chronic pain in certain parts of the body and need relief, a chiropractic service may be just what you're looking for.

What Do Chiropractors Do?

Chiropractors treat aches and pains people experience from acute injuries or chronic conditions. If it involves your musculoskeletal system, chiropractic care can treat it. Chiropractors use a variety of methods to achieve relief:

• Joint Adjustments - Chiropractors can help treat stiffness and pain from old injuries or arthritis through joint adjustments. They gently realign the joints to decrease the patient's pain and increase their range of motion.
• Soft Tissue Treatment - Connective tissues around your muscles and bones are crucial for proper function. Stretched or torn muscles, tendonitis, and spasms can inhibit someone's day-to-day life. Chiropractors can massage affected areas to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
• Exercises - Chiropractors can also prescribe exercises and stretches for a patient to do regularly. By regularly moving and stretching your joints to an acceptable degree, patients can maintain the relief provided by chiropractic adjustment.
• Joint Bracing - Some people need constant support to alleviate their symptoms. Braces and Kinesio tape can be applied to prevent damage from day-to-day activities. It's important to use braces and tapes under a medical professional's supervision. Incorrect application can be ineffective or worsen symptoms.

Chiropractic services won't necessarily cure chronic and acute afflictions, but regular visits to a chiropractor's office can alleviate the worst of the symptoms and allow individuals to live their life to the fullest. Here are a few of the most common reasons to visit a chiropractor.

Back Pain

Back pain is a chiropractor's bread and butter. Spinal manipulation is their specialty, and they use their skills to great effect. Long-term chiropractic treatment may help patients feel relief without pain medication or surgery. However, it's a good idea to take a holistic approach to any condition and see a specialist, like an orthopedic surgeon, in tandem with the chiropractor, if needed.

Neck Pain

Many day jobs require individuals to sit at a desk and look at a computer for the majority of the day. The lower back is not the only body part affected by slouching for long periods. Your neck will also suffer if you are looking down at a screen for most of the day. Whiplash from car accidents can also injure your neck and requires specialized treatment.

A chiropractor can help adjust the neck to provide relief. They will also prescribe exercises to do to maintain mobility in your neck. Remember to always take regular breaks if your work requires sitting for most of the day.

Headaches

A chiropractor can also treat tension and migraine headaches. Tension headaches are often caused by neck issues, and chiropractic adjustment can be a huge help. Studies show that migraines can also be treated with chiropractic care. Studies suggest that soft tissue massages and spinal manipulations can help decrease stress and increase blood flow to reduce migraine frequency, pain, and the need for medication. As stated above, make sure to consult with a specialized physician in addition to the chiropractor to treat the problem from all angles.

Knee Pain

Some chiropractors can even treat knee pain. The knee is one of the most susceptible joints to arthritis, especially if it was previously injured. Along with knee exercises, chiropractic adjustment can provide pain relief and help your musculoskeletal system distribute weight more evenly among your back, hips, knees, and feet.

Chiropractic care can treat a host of disorders and injuries. It's becoming a popular treatment modality for many people. According to Chiro Effect, more than 20 million Americans will receive chiropractic services this year. If you are considering chiropractic treatment, contact Mills Chiropractic. With over 14 years of experience in successfully treating multiple types of problems, you can count on Dr. Mills and his team to provide you with high-quality care. Call today to schedule a consultation!