What is chiropractic? Who are chiropractors?
Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine that deals with problems in the neuromusculoskeletal system of the human body. Instead of prescribing mainstream drugs, chiropractic facilitates the body's self-healing through procedures performed on the spine, neck, back, bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
A chiropractor or a Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) is a licensed healthcare professional practicing chiropractic. The treatments align with the chiropractic belief of the relationship between one's spine and health and how the nervous system is vital in mediating the relationship. Some techniques that chiropractors utilize are:
- Adjustments: They use force to gently realign joints to decrease pain and enhance the range of motion.
- Soft-tissue therapy: This process tries to loosen up tense muscles, reduce spasms, and ease stress in the fascia, the connective tissues surrounding each muscle.
- Exercises and stretches: These restore and maintain joint stability and mobility.
- Joint bracing/taping (Kinesio taping): Chiropractors use this to support sprained muscles or joints as they heal.
A chiropractor in the United States must have completed an undergraduate degree. After four years of training, they must acquire a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and clear the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners examination. They must then obtain a state-specific practicing license. This license requires annual renewal, and a chiropractor must undergo twelve hours of board-approved continuing education during their license renewal.
What conditions can a chiropractor help with?
Chiropractic treatment can help treat various musculoskeletal conditions, including joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, arm and leg pain, headaches and migraines, muscle spasms, and stress. These are some of the conditions they can help you with:
Posture problems
Seeing a chiropractor can help patients with scoliosis manage their spine's side-to-side deformities and people experiencing a stooped posture due to prolonged sitting. Scoliosis and poor posture can cause neck and back discomfort, and chiropractic treatment can help relieve and prevent the pain from worsening.
Migraines and headaches
Migraines and headaches can result from stress or rigidity in the neck muscles. It could also be related to subluxation or a vertebra that has slipped out of alignment, putting pressure on the nerves and resulting in headaches. A combined approach of soft tissue therapy (to relax stiff muscles) and joint manipulations (to realign joints) helps reduce the occurrence of migraines and headaches.
Sciatica
A herniated disc can irritate or injure the sciatic nerve, which runs deep in the buttock and down the leg to the sole, causing pain. Spinal adjustments, spinal decompression (deep tissue massage to relax nerves), and techniques such as heat and cold therapy and ultrasound are all helpful in alleviating sciatic pain symptoms.
Anxiety and depression
Chiropractic treatments aim to reduce tension and promote relaxation. People with a high level of stress and stiffness in their bodies have poor quality sleep, experience anxiety, and may develop depression. An article published by Wooster Community Hospital states that muscle activation can decrease by up to 25% in only one chiropractic therapy session.
What to expect during a chiropractic appointment?
Visiting a chiropractor near you is ideal if you experience neck strains, back pain, joint pain, etc. A consultation with the chiropractor usually begins with a standard evaluation. Typically, you will receive a list of health-related questions to answer. Your chiropractor might also inquire about your sleeping habits, eating habits, level of physical activity, and history of migraines.
Additionally, your practitioner will perform a physical examination to check your muscle strength, posture, arm and leg mobility, and any unusual conditions, such as misaligned shoulders or hips. Your chiropractor may also take an X-ray.
A chiropractor specializes in over 150 techniques, including gentle manipulation. They may place you in different positions to access various body parts. Generally, you will be lying face down on a unique padded table for chiropractic adjustments. Your chiropractor may make you lie down on a drop table. These have portions that collapse when the chiropractor applies pressure to the back.
You might hear popping and cracking when your chiropractor uses controlled force to manipulate your spine or joints. An activator is a device that your chiropractor could use as additional equipment for gentle manipulation.
Feelings of discomfort, slight headaches, or lethargy for a few days after your appointment are common. Rarely, some patients may have issues including pinched nerves, herniated discs, and stroke after a chiropractic procedure.
However, most people feel immediate relaxation and gradually observe an improvement in their health. If your pain does not improve after receiving chiropractic care or if it worsens, you should see your primary care doctor. Also, promptly call your doctor if you experience strange symptoms like numbness or weakness.
What happens after a chiropractic adjustment?
Many people experience almost instant relief from their symptoms following a chiropractic adjustment. You may feel sore for up to 24 hours after the treatment.
The objective of a visit to the chiropractor is to restore your health over time rather than treat your problems temporarily. Your chiropractor may encourage you to experiment with different postures at work, standing and moving, and sleeping. They may also suggest adding stretches to your usual routine. These long-term measures can help you avoid future problems.
It would help if you let your primary care physician (PCP) know of any discomfort you are experiencing, whether it is recent or chronic (lasting longer than three months). Your PCP can rule out potentially significant issues that require treatment beyond a chiropractic adjustment.
Which is safer, general primary care or chiropractic?
Being an alternative treatment makes people doubt the safety of a chiropractic procedure; however, statistics point to contrary facts. According to data from the National Chiropractic Mutual Insurance Company (NCMIC), which insures over 50% of U.S. chiropractors, deaths caused due to receiving chiropractic manipulation are one for every 4 million procedures. On the other hand, for every million neck surgeries performed, the complication rate is 3-4%, and the number of deaths is 4,000 to 10,000.
A 2018 research paper published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information studied the mortality rates in lumbar spine surgery in around 803,949 patients across the country and found that the estimated risk of death by spine surgery is nearly 1,800 per million people. Thus, the chances of dying from cervical spine surgery are higher than neck manipulation.
The chiropractic research organization reports the chances of passing away from a stroke after a neck adjustment session is approximately a hundred times greater than dying from an ulcer due to a prescription like Motrin.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information reports chiropractic techniques to be 40% more effective than general medical care for treating lower back pain. It also states that chiropractic care has a significantly lower injury rate than available primary care for patients over 66. The injury ratio during chiropractic care is about 40 injuries per 100,000 patients, while that of primary care is roughly 153 incidents per 100,000 patients.
Although chiropractic is a proven safe healthcare practice and is viable if you are looking for drug-free remedial alternatives for neuromusculoskeletal issues, it would be best if you avoided chiropractic therapy in case of the following conditions:
- Severe osteoporosis
- Tingling, numbness, or loss of strength in limbs
- Spine cancer
- Risk of stroke
- Any known bone abnormality in the upper neck
What techniques do chiropractors use?
Although chiropractors worldwide leverage over a hundred adjustment techniques, your chiropractor might focus on and utilize 8 to 10 best-suited approaches for your unique case. Mentioned below are some common chiropractic approaches:
- Spinal manipulation: This action is the most common chiropractic technique in almost all treatment plans. It aims to improve mobility and reduce pain. It is also known as 'high-velocity, low-amplitude thrust.' In this method, the chiropractor uses their hands alone to make a sudden high-velocity and low-amplitude adjustment of the patient's spinal joint. The adjustment involves the vital force to release the joint from its restricted motion and mobilize it within its anatomical limits.
- Spinal mobilization: Spinal mobilization is one of the gentler chiropractic techniques. It is also known as a 'low-force' technique, as it involves slow and steady movement of the spinal joints in their range of motion. The chiropractor may perform it entirely hands-on, using an instrument or device. Although it aims to fulfill the same function as spinal manipulation, i.e., to improve mobility and reduce joint pain, patients prefer it due to its gentler nature.
Tips for choosing the best chiropractor near you
With over 70,000 chiropractors nationwide, chiropractic care has become one of the most popular treatments in the U.S., helping 35 million Americans annually. If you're searching for a chiropractor, here's how to find the best fit.
Verify credentials
Choosing a licensed, experienced chiropractor is essential. Credentials reveal important details like education, certifications, and any malpractice history. Certain websites provide such information, helping you shortlist chiropractors in Boulder based on verified backgrounds.
Consider experience
Experience is crucial in managing musculoskeletal health issues, especially complex spine conditions. Seek a chiropractor who has treated patients with your condition. Inquire about specific cases they've handled, particularly if you need treatment for an injury. This experience can provide you with peace of mind.
Ask for referrals
Ask family, friends, or colleagues for recommendations to get firsthand insights into a chiropractor's quality of care. Once you have a few recommendations, run a background check on each chiropractor near you to find the best match for your needs.
Evaluate services offered
A top chiropractic clinic should have modern equipment and offer various services. Check the chiropractor's website or visit the clinic to learn about treatment techniques. If you're seeking care for a specific issue like a sports injury, inquire about services such as muscle re-education, therapeutic exercises, or spinal decompression.
Check telehealth options
Telehealth can save time by offering remote consultations. Ask if your chiropractor has telehealth options like video calls or email support. Telehealth is convenient for follow-ups, but hands-on sessions are crucial for chiropractic care.
Read reviews
Reviews provide insight into the chiropractor's services and professionalism. Look for comments on the office environment, staff courtesy, and appointment scheduling. Verify the chiropractor's credentials for the best results.
Best chiropractors near you in Boulder, Colorado
Finding the right chiropractor can be difficult; however, being uninformed while choosing the correct healthcare provider for your unique case could be a dangerous gamble. Zocdoc helps you find and connect with chiropractors in your area.
On the Zocdoc website, type 'Chiropractors' in the search bar and 'Boulder, Colorado' as your location on our comprehensive chiropractic directory to find top-rated and experienced chiropractors in your vicinity. You can then filter thousands of doctor profiles based on patient ratings, patient reviews, the doctor's education, clinical interests and specializations, practice history, and certifications to select those best suited to your unique condition. Each doctor's profile is updated and verified to assist you in making a sound decision from the comfort of your home and choosing the best chiropractor for your needs.
You can select multiple doctors for second opinions on your diagnosis or treatment. You can also utilize Zocdoc's insurance card capture feature to submit your medical insurance information before making an appointment. Once you have decided, Zocdoc shall instantly assist you in booking an appointment for your first session with a chiropractor near you.
However, If you can’t locate your medical insurance plan on Zocdoc, upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will scan the image automatically and suggest the plan that most closely matches yours. Please note that this feature is not available for dental or vision insurance cards. If you encounter any problems while uploading, contact Zocdoc’s support team for help. You can also visit Zocdoc’s patient help center for answers to any additional questions about insurance.
All bookings with Zocdoc are 100 % free, fast, and secure.
Arthritis statistics from Colorado
According to a report by America’s Health Rankings, as of 2022, 23.8% of adults in Colorado had been diagnosed with some form of arthritis. The report also stated that the chronic condition in the state was more common among women (26.3%) than men (21.3%). The inflammatory condition was mostly seen among people over 65 (52.1%), and the fewest cases were seen among adults between 18 and 44 (8.7%).
Sources
WebMD
Cleveland Clinic
Healthline
Spine Health
The Chiropractic Resource Organization
National Center for Biotechnology Information[1]
National Center for BiotechnologyInformation[2]
National Center for Biotechnology Information[3]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Steamboat Pilot & Today
Wooster Community Hospital
Elite Spine and Health Center
American Chiropractic Association
America’s Health Rankings
