Chiropractors are health care professionals that specialise in the non-surgical treatment of a range of different disorders that impact the nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors generally focus on spinal manipulations and treating lower back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraine headaches, shoulder pain and more. In this blog, we've put together a list of four conditions that can be treated by a chiropractor.
1. Lower back pain
When chiropractors perform a spinal adjustment, they manipulate the spinal vertebrae by exerting pressure on the parts of the patient's spine that are in pain. This includes gently thrusting their arm at the spine using a controlled force, angle and velocity in order to reduce subluxation (misalignment of the spine), relieving the pressure that causes pain, numbness, stiffness or tingling.
2. Neck pain
Neck pain is a common issue with several possible causes that include injury from accidents, growing older, degenerative disc disease, daily life (poor posture, obesity, weak abdominal muscles, hunching over a computer, whiplash, arthritis, muscle strain from reading in bed and more). A neck adjustment (also called cervical manipulation) is a precise procedure that chiropractors use to loosen the joints of the cervical vertebrae in the neck. Chiropractic treatment can relieve the pain caused by pinched nerves, spasms, strains, muscle and other contributing factors. Besides manipulation, some treatment plans may include massage, mobilisation, rehabilitative exercises, etc.
3. Whiplash
Whiplash refers to a neck injury that occurs after your head snaps forward and backward during car accidents, sports or at the workplace. Since all cases of whiplash are different, chiropractic whiplash treatments vary. Depending on your chiropractic exam, your chiropractor may start by applying an ice pack and heat to decrease inflammation in the neck, gentle stretching or manual therapy techniques to improve the alignment of your neck and spine. If the whiplash is severe, they can use therapeutic ultrasound to increase blood circulation and decrease muscle spasms and neck stiffness.
4. Migraine headaches
If you are suffering from migraine headaches, your chiropractor may treat you using combinations of spinal manipulative therapy or soft tissue therapies, which include massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapies, etc. Other treatments include exercise, lifestyle management, ergonomic advice and nutritional counselling.
If you suffer from any of these conditions, feel free to contact our Perth Chiropractor at Melville Wellness for treatment!
