What Does A Chiropractor Do?

Chiropractic care is the best treatment option for increasing numbers of people. Whether you are suffering from neck or joint pain, or simply want to increase range of motion, here is what you need to know about your local chiropractor.

Chiropractor’s Education

Before you ask what does a chiropractor do, your first question might be what education does your chiropractor need to acquire?

Chiropractors undergo rigorous education and licensing. All chiropractic educational programs are accredited by a national governing federation. But before entering an accredited Doctor of Chiropractic program, students must take three years of university-level study. Chiropractic education requires both classroom and clinical study, focusing in on three areas: basic training in health sciences and biological sciences. Specialized training in chiropractics including theory, practice, diagnosis and application, and extensive work in clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and referral.

Upon graduation the student must then pass both written and practical exams to become licensed. However once licensed, chiropractors must register with the state by supplying letters of reference, undergoing a criminal background check, an interview, and passing a legislation and ethics exam. Only after said approval can your chiropractor begin treating patients.

What Does A Chiropractor Do?

Here is what a typical chiropractic consultation will look like.

Intake

Chiropractors follow intake procedures, like other healthcare professionals, designed to provide a clear picture of your health history. You will answer a questionnaire and discuss with your chiropractor the reason for your visit.

A Physical

Your chiropractor will give you a physical exam to investigate your areas of concern. Before treatment, they might take X-rays of your spine or use other tests like range of motion or strength, and orthopedic or neurological testing.

Treatment Plan

Once your chiropractor has determined the extent of your condition, they will recommend an approach for your care; this is known as a treatment plan.

At the centre of your treatment plan will be adjustments. An adjustment is a therapeutic manipulation of specific joints that cause healing. Your chiropractor will use manual techniques (controlled force, leverage, direction, amplitude and velocity) to make the adjustments.

The majority of the adjustments will be made to the spine, however, and depending upon your condition, other joints like your ankle, wrist or shoulder might be necessary to improve structural alignment or the joint’s function.

Your treatment plan will often include non-manual therapies too. Your chiropractor might use ice or heat, rehabilitative exercises or electrical stimulation along with other healthcare treatments like counselling for weight loss and nutritional supplements.

Chiropractic Clients

For more serious injuries from an accident, for example, your treatment plan might involve a number of appointments for adjustments every few days to reduce irritation and give you back normal functioning. This type of treatment could go on for a number of weeks, with visits decreasing in frequency towards the end of your treatment plan.

Other people, who are simply looking to improve body structure and alignment for a better range of motion in a specific area of the body for example, might require a treatment plan of less intensity and duration.

Any person, at any age, can see a chiropractor. You don’t need to have a serious injury or complaint before you set up your initial consultation.

The key to remember is that if you aren’t sleeping well, you have aches and pains, or a more serious condition, call Chiro-Med Rehab Centre at to request your free consultation.