Chiropractic care - An overview
Manual therapies and physical manipulations have been used in medicine for over a thousand years. In the modern, developed world, the most common practitioners of such therapies encompass the field of chiropractic. Chiropractors devote their time to alleviating pain, enhancing patients' functionality, and educating them on taking control of their health through self-management techniques, exercise, nutrition advice, and ergonomics.
In other words, it is a licensed healthcare profession that focuses on the body's natural ability to heal. Manual therapy is commonly used in treatment. It has been classified as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), so it does not conform to traditional medical treatment. Compared to medical doctors and dentists, the field of chiropractic only comes third in the list of the largest primary healthcare professions.
Chiropractors are considered to be 'main contact practitioners,' which means they don't need a referral from a patient's primary care provider to see them. They typically treat the spine by examining and treating health concerns involving the neurological system, bones, muscles, joints, and other musculoskeletal issues, using their hands. Chiropractic doctors see over 35 million people in the United States each year.
To treat patients who suffer from muscular-skeletal pain, chiropractors frequently collaborate with primary care doctors, pain specialists, and surgeons for the best way forward. A chiropractor near you may recommend that patients alter their day-to-day functioning, posture, and other factors contributing to their discomfort. A chiropractor's ultimate purpose is to relieve pain and assist clients in managing their physical condition at home.
Chiropractors accentuate the close connection between the neurological system and the spine, and they adhere to the following principles:
- The neurological system is affected by biomechanical and structural changes within the spine
- Improving the individual's health by restoring spinal structure
- Reducing the pressure on sensitive neurological tissue
- Pain reduction through self-managed techniques, healthcare regimes, and other self-soothing procedures (exercise, dietary plans)
- Alleviate pain caused by acute and chronic conditions
How qualified are chiropractors?
To begin, prospective chiropractors must have a bachelor's degree in a related subject. It could encompass three to four years of undergraduate study while the student learns about the standards for admission to accredited chiropractic schools. These classes may cover the fundamentals of physics, chemistry, and biology.
The candidate must get a doctorate in chiropractic from an approved university. In collaboration with its Commission on Accreditation, the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) accredited chiropractic colleges. This board recognizes around 20 approved chiropractic colleges.
Chiropractic studies are typically a combination of introductory sciences coursework, including anatomy, physiology, and supervised clinical experience. It is designed to teach students skills like spinal assessment, adjustment procedures, and how to diagnose accurately. Chiropractors must hold a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree, a state license, and pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam. In several states, chiropractors must also pass a state-specific law exam. Specific chiropractors complete postgraduate education in specialist subjects such as orthopedics or pediatrics.
While providing services and treatments, chiropractors must follow the guidelines outlined by their state. These guidelines may differ from state to state. Chiropractors' employment is projected to expand by 11% between 2020 and 2030, more rapidly than the average of all other occupations. Over the next ten years, an average of 1,800 openings for chiropractors are expected.
Common conditions treated by chiropractors
Chiropractic treatment can help manage disorders, damage, and misalignment in the joints, particularly in the spine. It can treat various conditions, such as poor body posture and local joint issues, which could influence the overall well-being of the body and the nervous system.
The most common ailments treated with chiropractic treatment include the following:
- Headache: Chiropractic treatment can effectively address tension headaches and migraines. These headaches have trigger points in the neck muscles, including the sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, suboccipital, and splenius muscles. The chiropractor will identify the right trigger point and offer appropriate chiropractic treatment to heal the ailment.
- Back problems: Chiropractors can treat posture ailments, general discomfort, local joint pain, and more complex chronic musculoskeletal issues, such as fibromyalgia in the back area.
- Arthritis: Chiropractors can treat rheumatoid arthritis (an immune system disorder) and osteoarthritis (tissue degeneration problem due to hormone imbalance, aging, and vitamin deficiency) and effectively manage the symptoms. They work to manipulate the joints to improve their range of motion and restore the patient's physical mobility.
- Neck pain: The neck is one of the most delicate and critical body parts. It consists of seven small vertebrae called the cervical spine. Neck pain is one of the most common complaints among people of all ages. It may arise due to the misalignment of the vertebrae. A chiropractor will conduct various diagnostic tests to diagnose the problematic vertebrae and then perform appropriate chiropractic treatment to alleviate the discomfort and improve the range of motion in the neck.
- Musculoskeletal conditions: Chiropractic treatment can help correct various musculoskeletal disorders, such as:
- Fractures, sprains, strains
- Ligament injuries, tendinitis, epicondylitis
- Plantar fasciitis, whiplash, myelopathy
- Herniated discs, osteoarthritis, shin splints, stroke
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)
- Chronic discomfort, scurvy, scoliosis
- Muscle, ligament, or joint pulls and tears
- Ruptured tendons or discs
- Frozen joints, dislocation
Apart from treating posture issues, chiropractors can also teach suitable exercises and provide nutrition counseling to enhance the benefits of musculoskeletal manipulation treatment. If you wish to maintain proper spinal alignment and improve your overall well-being, consulting a chiropractor can be helpful.
But finding a qualified and experienced chiropractor that is right for you from endless online profiles, websites, and directories could feel overwhelming. But do not worry, as the answer is simple: just log on to Zocdoc.
What are spinal manipulations?
A spinal manipulation (also known as joint manipulation or chiropractic adjustment) is a treatment procedure in which your chiropractor applies sudden, restrained pressure to a spinal joint. These adjustments aim to improve your spinal motion and overall physical function, reduce pain, and fix your body’s alignment.
During spinal manipulation, you must lie face down on a chiropractic table that elevates certain parts of your body, allowing your chiropractor to apply pressure to specific areas. Next, they will use their hands or a small instrument to apply force to a joint or gently stretch the joints beyond their usual range of motion.
When you move or stretch, gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and oxygen get trapped within the tiny cavities of your joints. Chiropractic adjustments help release these gases, resulting in popping or cracking sounds similar to the sound you make while cracking your knuckles.
Spinal mobilization is a related procedure involving more stretching and less forceful thrusts. During a mobilization, your chiropractor might sometimes use a small metal tool known as the activator to apply force to your vertebrae directly.
What are the risks associated with spinal manipulations?
After getting spinal adjustments, you might feel tired, sore in the areas your chiropractor worked on, and have a headache. These side effects are temporary and should subside in 1-2 days. However, in some instances, chiropractic care can lead to severe side effects, such as:
- Herniated disks or aggravating an existing disk herniation
- Pinched (or compressed) nerves in the lower spinal column
- A specific type of stroke resulting from a neck manipulation
Who should not get chiropractic adjustments?
Chiropractic adjustments may not be suitable for those with the following conditions:
- Spinal cancer
- Spine deformities
- Severe osteoporosis
- A high risk of strokes
- Bone abnormalities in the upper neck
- Tingling sensation, weakness, and numbness in the arms or legs
Chiropractic care during and after pregnancy
During pregnancy, you experience various hormonal and physical changes, some of which affect your posture and comfort. Some of these changes are listed below:
- Your center of gravity changes as your baby becomes heavier
- A protruding belly that leads to an increased curvature of your back
- Changes to your pelvis as your body starts getting ready for labor
Such changes can result in a misaligned spine or joints. Regularly seeing a chiropractor during your pregnancy can help address these issues. Chiropractic care can help alleviate the pain in the neck, back, hips, and joints, align your spine and pelvis, control nausea-related symptoms, reduce labor and delivery time, prevent a potential cesarean delivery, and maintain a more comfortable pregnancy.
Further, seeing a chiropractor during pregnancy can also help your baby. If your pelvis is not aligned, the space available to your developing fetus can be restricted, which can cause congenital defects. A misaligned pelvis might make it hard for your baby to shift to the best birthing position, causing a longer, more complicated delivery and impacting your ability to have a non-invasive birth.
Before seeking treatment, get your OB-GYN's approval and inform your chiropractor about your pregnancy. While chiropractic care during pregnancy is typically safe, it is not recommended if you are experiencing:
Consult your doctors before resuming chiropractic care after giving birth. Typically, if you had an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, you might be able to visit a chiropractor once you are fit enough to leave the house. If you had an uncomplicated C-section, you might have to wait 4-6 weeks (or longer in some instances) before seeing a chiropractor.
Physical therapy vs chiropractic care: Which one should you choose?
Both chiropractic care and physical therapy strive to relieve pain using noninvasive techniques but differ in their approaches and areas of practice. Physical therapy concentrates on how the body moves and functions. Specialists in this field help patients perform stretches and exercises and may also conduct hands-on manipulations for certain conditions to improve mobility. They usually work in various healthcare environments, including patients' homes.
On the other hand, chiropractic care primarily targets the nervous and musculoskeletal systems and aims to relieve pain and align the spine. They mainly focus on issues like back pain, joint pain in the arms or legs, neck pain, and headaches. Chiropractors perform adjustments and manipulations to help the body heal itself. They generally require specialized spaces and equipment to perform these.
Determining which therapy is right for you depends on your specific condition and individual needs. Depending on your condition, you may need to utilize both to help overcome the discomfort and enhance your quality of life.
It's important to consult your doctor when deciding. They can offer guidance and explain how a particular therapy may help improve your symptoms.
How to find the best chiropractor near you in Baltimore, MD?
Muscles, bones, and joints are among the components of your neurological and musculoskeletal systems. These systems, which comprise the structural underpinning of a living being, are delicate to the human anatomy. As a result, they are crucial for our day-to-day functioning and serve a critical role in maintaining postures, controlling vital functions, and providing physical stability. Lower back and joint problems should be addressed as soon as possible, as they can create more discomfort if left untreated.
Zocdoc can assist you in searching for chiropractors who provide skilled and sympathetic care. Zocdoc is a one-of-a-kind online platform that allows you to make educated decisions while selecting a chiropractor near you. Patients can look up the practitioner's specialty, education, training, and board certifications. It also gives the customer a summary of the physician's current practice location, hospital connections, and specialization.
For your convenience, Zocdoc discovers the top, highest-rated chiropractors in and around your area based on your location. You can also choose your insurance network as an extra benefit, ensuring no payment-related issues! If your insurance plan isn't on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card (this feature is not available for vision or dental insurance cards). We will scan the image of your card and display your likely plan. If you're having trouble uploading a photo of your card, please contact our service team. You can check Zocdoc's insurance page if you have more insurance-related queries.
Once you have decided on a provider, you can check their availability and appointment times. You can book both in-person and online appointments via Zocdoc. While browsing the list of doctors matching your criteria, look for a purple video icon beside their name. The presence of this icon indicates that the doctor offers virtual consultations.
Zocdoc's mission is to match patients and providers on a user-friendly and easily accessible portal. Booking appointments with the best chiropractor near you comes at no cost with Zocdoc - it is simple, secure, and free!
Chiropractor statistics in Baltimore, Maryland
As per the Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Board, as of 2024, Maryland had approximately 965 actively licensed chiropractors and around 698 chiropractic assistants.
According to 2023 data by America’s Health Rankings, arthritis, a significant contributor to disability, affected nearly 24.7% of adults in Maryland. This number was slightly lower than the national average (approximately 26.3%). Arthritis was more prevalent among women (about 28.7%) than men (about 20.2%). The condition was most common (around 52.5%) among adults aged 65 or more, followed by adults aged between 45-64 (around 29.8%) and 18-44 (around 7.2%).
Sources
American Chiropractic Association
Harvard Health Publishing
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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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American Pregnancy Association
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