Chiropractic is a type of health care that focuses on the relationship between the body’s structure, primarily of the backbone, and its effect on function. The basic concepts of chiropractic can be described by the following:
- The body has a powerful, natural ability to heal itself.
- The body’s structure, primarily that of the backbone, and its function are closely related, and this relationship affects health
- Chiropractic therapy is given with the goals of normalizing this relationship between structure and function and helping the body as it heals
Jacksonville chiropractors often treat musculoskeletal conditions. These include problems with the muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissues – cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.
Doctors of chiropractic, also called chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, use a kind of hands-on therapy called manipulation or alteration as their main clinical procedure. Manipulation is passive joint movement beyond the normal range of motion. The term alteration is preferred in chiropractic.
The word “chiropractic” comes from the Greek words cheir – meaning hand and praxis – meaning action and when put together means “done by hand”. Chiropractic is a type of health care under alternative medicine and takes a different approach from conventional medicine in diagnosing, classifying, and treating medical conditions.
In 1997, it was estimated that Americans made 192 million visits a year to chiropractors. Over 88 million of those visits were to treat back or neck pain. In a recent survey conducted, over 40% of patients receiving chiropractic care were being treated for back or low-back issues. Over half of those said that their signs were chronic. Conditions often treated by chiropractors include:
- back pain
- neck pain
- headaches
- sports injuries
- repetitive strain
- Patients also seek treatment of pain associated with other conditions, such as arthritis.
On your first visit to a Jacksonville chiropractor, your medical history will be carefully investigated. A physical examination will be performed, with special emphasis on the backbone, and possibly other examinations or tests such as x-rays. If they determine that you are an appropriate candidate for chiropractic therapy, a treatment plan will be created for you.
During treatment, one or more adjustments may be performed. Manipulation, also called a modification treatment, is a manual therapy, or therapy delivered by the hands. Given chiefly to the backbone, chiropractic adjustments involve applying a controlled, sudden force to a joint. They are completed to increase the range and quality of motion in the area being treated.
In addition to adjustment, chiropractors use other treatments such as:
- mobilization (a technique in which a joint is passively moved within its normal range of motion)
- massage therapy
- heat and ice
- ultrasound
- electrical stimulation
- rehabilitative exercise
- magnetic therapy
- counseling about diet, weight loss, and other lifestyle factors
- dietary supplements
- homeopathy
- acupuncture
