Introduction
Chiropractic care is often touted as an alternative to traditional medical care. It's important to understand that there isn't really any evidence that chiropractic adjustments can help treat or prevent any diseases or conditions. There are some chiropractors that deify adjustments and make bold claims about their effectiveness that lack any support. I’m going to give you the TL;DR version of chiropractic adjustments right now. Chiropractic adjustments can be safe and helpful for reducing pain and increasing range of motion, temporarily, for a lot of people. Anyone claiming they do more, or are necessary for your health is trying to sell you adjustments!
Myth vs. Fact
Chiropractic adjustments are associated with many myths. It is important to understand what they actually do and do not do. Adjustments are not putting joints back in place or aligning them. The spine, hips, and SI joints are just not that fragile. If adjustments could align joints then scoliosis would no longer exist, or if someone was adjusted on the wrong side of their scoliosis it would get worse and not better. Thankfully neither of those things happen.
What do adjustments actually do? Adjustments can be helpful for decreasing pain, decreasing the feeling of muscle tension/stiffness, and temporarily increasing range of motion. These results vary between individuals. If you get a benefit from adjustments, great. If you don’t get a benefit, it's ok, everyone is different.
But why does it feel like my hip/low back/rib is out of place? That is a very complicated question to answer and is beyond the scope of this article. Here is a great free resource that explains why you get that feeling of things being out of place. The free eBook Recovery Strategies https://www.greglehman.ca/
It's important to have a clear understanding of what you're getting from your chiropractor, and what you're not.
If a chiropractor is going to treat you, it's important to have a clear understanding of what you're getting from your chiropractor, and what you're not.
Chiropractic care is not a substitute for medical care. Chiropractors are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal problems, but they do not have the same education as medical doctors or osteopaths who are also licensed to diagnose disease and prescribe medication. If your doctor suspects that there may be something else going on with your health--such as cancer or heart disease--they will refer you to another type of practitioner who can provide more specialized treatment options.
The majority of musculoskeletal pain symptoms can be managed conservatively. Education and exercise should be the primary treatments. Adjustments and other forms of manual therapy can be helpful tools in the conservative treatment process. Chiropractic adjustments are also not intended as an alternative form of physical therapy or surgery; if these treatments are needed, they should still be pursued.
Its effectiveness for easing pain and discomfort is subjective because it's hard to measure.
It's difficult to measure the effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments because it's subjective. The effectiveness of chiropractic adjustments are difficult to define because it depends on how you feel, and what you consider effective may not be the same as someone else's definition.
For example, if your lower back hurts after sleeping on an uneven mattress or lifting something heavy at work, then getting adjusted might provide relief from pain and discomfort without any other intervention required (such as taking medication). However, if getting adjusted causes no noticeable change in your symptoms or condition--or even makes them worse--then seeing a chiropractor that only adjusts probably won't help much.
Luckily for you, I do much more than just adjust.
Chiropractic adjustments are relatively gentle compared to many other forms of manipulation, but they can still cause injury if done improperly or without proper training.
Chiropractic adjustments are relatively gentle compared to many other forms of manipulation, but they can still cause injury if done improperly or without proper training. Chiropractors should always be trained and licensed in the state where they practice.
You should never feel pressured into getting adjusted by anyone, especially a health care provider who provides these services.
If you're considering getting adjusted, it's important to do your research. You should know what types of adjustments are available and what they can help with. You also want to know the risks associated with having your spine manipulated, as well as any side effects that might occur from receiving an adjustment.
If you decide that chiropractic care is right for you, make sure that any health care providers who provide these services take the time to explain how they work and answer any questions that may arise during treatment sessions or visits with other staff members (like therapists). It's important not only for yourself but also anyone else involved in making decisions about your overall health care plan--including family members--that everyone understands exactly what kind of adjustments will be performed on them before they receive them!
Chiropractic adjustments are often presented as an alternative to traditional medical care and while there may be benefits they are not evidence based!
Chiropractic care is often presented as an alternative to traditional medical care and while there may be benefits they are not evidence based! Chiropractors are not trained to diagnose or treat disease, but instead focus on correcting structural issues that cause pain. While this can be effective for some people, there is no evidence that it's better than other forms of treatment. If you're interested in seeing a chiropractor we recommend finding one who specializes in education and exercise rather than just adjusting.
Conclusion
There are many different types of chiropractic care, and it's important to do your research before deciding whether or not this type of treatment is right for you. If you're considering getting adjusted by a licensed practitioner with experience in the field, make sure they explain exactly what they plan on doing during each visit so there are no surprises later down the road!
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