Chiropractic care, like adjustments, allows for musculoskeletal treatment with no invasive, surgical intervention or long-term use of medications. The spine and musculoskeletal system provide the human body with the framework and structure needed to support our body weight. Not only that, many crucial body systems like the metabolic system and neurologic system rely heavily on the spine remaining in proper alignment so they can function without interruption or delay.
A chiropractor is a licensed health professional that specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various disorders and injuries involving the musculoskeletal system of the human body. Whether you are looking for a holistic, natural alternative to conventional medicine for an existing injury, preventative medicine, or education about the human body and how you can enhance your daily living, a chiropractor can help!
What is a chiropractic adjustment?
As you move throughout the day, gasses and toxins like carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen travel through the body becoming trapped in various joints like your knees, ankles, wrists, and knuckles. When these gasses cannot release on their own, you begin to experience pain in the affected joint, making it difficult to use the limb.
A chiropractic adjustment is a non-invasive treatment provided by a highly skilled professional who specializes in disorders and injuries involving the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system, a critical structure in the human body, is made up of bones, ligaments, connective tissues, cartilage, and tendons.
A chiropractic adjustment can be done on a:
neck
back
legs
hips
hands
ankles
A chiropractor uses their hands or specialized tools and equipment to provide various treatments, like a chiropractic adjustment, to relieve aches and pains, improve posture, and correct subluxation (the unusual or improper alignment of vertebrae).
What is a chiropractic adjustment used for?
Chiropractic adjustments are the most common alternative treatment in the United States for treating musculoskeletal-related aches, pains, and injuries, like those from a car accident or work injury.
Though common, no two reasons for visiting a chiropractor are the same and no two treatments are the same either. However, all treatment is performed with healing in mind.
Chiropractic adjustments are used for several reasons with a few goals in mind:
Alleviate symptoms
Help the body heal itself
Provide preventative care against future injury
Do you suffer from chronic conditions like arthritis, experience frequent headaches or migraines, have persistent aches, pains, or muscle stiffness, or have been involved in a recent car accident that resulted in an auto injury? A chiropractic adjustment can help to identify the underlying cause of pain through imaging like x-rays, CT scans, or an MRI.
Chiropractic adjustments are frequently used to treat patients of all ages, from infancy into late adulthood, through skilled and accurate movement designed to restore normal body movements, increase mobility, and allow you to live life again without pain.
What are the benefits of a chiropractic adjustment?
Chiropractic adjustments focus on treating injuries involving the musculoskeletal system and identifying the underlying cause of unknown symptoms.
Benefits of chiropractic adjustments include:
Less frequent migraines
Reduced pain throughout the body
Better posture
Improved range of motion in the joints and spine
Symptom improvement of chronic conditions like arthritis and osteoarthritis
Treatment for tension or stress disorders
Improve the body’s ability to heal itself
Healing from whiplash or other car accident-related injuries
Natural, drug-free treatment
What happens at an initial chiropractic adjustment consultation?
During the initial consultation at a chiropractor’s office, you may see similarities to an initial consultation by a physician that practices conventional medicine. The chiropractor assigned to your case will begin by asking you to detail your past medical history including past surgeries, over-the-counter and prescription medications being taken, and if there is a family history of certain disorders.
Your chiropractor will perform a physical examination to assess for the presence of deformities, misaligned vertebrae, or other abnormalities that may need further diagnostic testing. When indicated, your chiropractor will order an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI for closer examination to better formulate a treatment plan.
What is involved in a chiropractic adjustment?
After the initial consultation with your chiropractor at Accident Care Chiropractic, you will talk with the doctor about your treatment plan that is tailored to your needs based on your current symptoms, physical examination, and imagery findings.
If a chiropractic adjustment is indicated, your chiropractor will apply quick, controlled pressure to predetermined areas of your body with their hands or with the help of specialized tools.
You will begin by laying on a medical grade table that can slant or “drop” different areas of the body allowing your chiropractor to target certain areas. They will apply direct force through controlled motion or stretch affected joints just beyond the normal range of motion. In doing so, they can restore proper alignment of the vertebrae, release trapped toxins and gasses within joints, and alleviate symptoms affecting your daily life.
There is little to no pain accompanied by chiropractic adjustments. You may experience popping or cracking sensations during the appointment. As you move around throughout the day, oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide flow through the body. With various movements, however, these gasses become lodged within the joints. Similar to the sound you hear when popping your knuckles, the release of gasses during a chiropractic adjustment produces the same sensations.
With the first few chiropractic visits, you might experience soreness or discomfort within the first 24 hours. This will subside and become less noticeable the more you go and rarely affects a person’s ability to continue daily activities.
Common chiropractic adjustment techniques include:
Spinal mobilization
Myofascial release
Spinal manipulation
Activate release
Activator
Thompson drop
Flexion-distraction
Direct thrust
Extremity manipulation
How Accident Care Chiropractic Can Help
As the best-rated Portland chiropractor, it is no secret that Accident Care Chiropractic offers top-quality services at our 15 locations throughout Oregon and Washington. Our team understands the importance of loving your body and healing yourself from the inside out.
The staff at Accident Care Chiropractic offers more than just chiropractic services. We offer crucial healing services like physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and nutrition counseling - all with professionals that work alongside each other to formulate the best treatment plan for you.
Visit Accident Care Chiropractic for Chiropractic Adjustment
Being involved in a traumatic car accident can result in significant damage to the body, and many people do not realize that minor accidents can cause damage that is often missed due to a lack of symptoms.
If you have been involved in a car accident, no matter the severity, schedule your appointment today to see how our team at Accident Care Chiropractic can help you heal.
