Who is a chiropractor?
A chiropractor is a medical professional who employs hands-on therapy to treat conditions of the musculoskeletal system, including the bones, muscles, and joints. They see patients of all ages, from infants to senior citizens. Their treatment approach combines manipulation, mobilization, exercises, stretches, and other non-invasive therapies. Besides this, chiropractors also provide lifestyle and diet counseling to their patients. However, they do not use medications or surgeries for treatment.
Education and training of chiropractors
These specialists undergo extensive education and training before they start their practice. To enter chiropractic school, aspirants first acquire an undergraduate degree in a science subject. After graduation, they complete a four-year chiropractic program to gain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree (D.C.). During this training, they also complete a one-year internship to gain practical experience. Doctors then pass the required exams to get a license to practice. Additionally, many doctors further specialize in radiology, pediatrics, or other fields by attending a fellowship program for another 2-3 years.
What are the common reasons to visit a chiropractor?
A chiropractor can treat pain and restore physical function in various body parts. You can opt to consult a chiropractor near you if you happen to experience the following types of discomfort:
- Back pain—it can occur from overuse, such as excessive working out, long hours of sitting, standing, or lying down, poor sleeping position, bad posture, lack of exercise, smoking, or injuries like whiplash and medical conditions such as a fracture, ruptured disc or arthritis.
- Neck pain—common causes include prolonged strain from looking up or down, uncomfortable sleeping or sitting positions, stress, aging, nerve compression, injuries, and diseases like spondylitis, cancer, or meningitis.
- Headache—can occur due to stress, lack of sleep, and poor posture. Migraine attacks are another cause of throbbing one-sided headaches.
- Sacroiliac pain—occurs because of traumatic injuries, arthritis, pregnancy, and infections that affect sacroiliac joints(ones that link the pelvis and lower spine).
- Shoulder pain—is accompanied by overuse of the muscles, lack of movement, sprains, strains, sleeping on one side of the body, and medical conditions such as rotator cuff injury, bursitis, tendinitis, and frozen shoulder.
- Knee pain—common causes include excessive physical activity, lack of exercise, sprains, strains, or other injuries, prolonged sitting in uncomfortable positions, obesity, and arthritis.
What are the benefits of chiropractic adjustments?
Besides pain relief and better posture, chiropractic care has several other benefits, such as:
Reduces the symptoms of scoliosis - Scoliosis is a medical condition affecting the spine. Typically, the spinal shape includes two curves - one at the top of the shoulder and one at the lower back. People with scoliosis have C or S-shaped spines or spines that are curved from side to side.
The Cobb angle measures the spine's abnormal curvature. According to a study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science in 2016, the Cobb angle of children with scoliosis improved within four weeks of receiving chiropractic treatment. The study concluded that this therapy helps improve spinal curvature, which benefits people with scoliosis.
Decreases the dependence on opioid pain relievers - Doctors often prescribe opioid pain relievers to patients with chronic pain. However, opioids can be addictive. As a result, people can develop a psychological dependence on these medications. Moreover, high doses of opioids can slow down breathing and heart rate.
Chiropractic care is a non-addictive alternative to opioids for people with chronic pain. A 2020 study published in the Pain Med journal found that adults seeking chiropractic care are less likely to refill their opioid prescriptions than those relying solely on medications for pain relief.
Can help improve athletic performance - Spinal adjustments enhance joint mobility and reduce pain and tissue restriction, which allows athletes to improve their performance. Further, chiropractic adjustment helps strengthen balance and coordination, making it vital to many athletes' recovery plans.
What to expect at your first chiropractic consultation?
The first chiropractic appointment will typically focus on correctly diagnosing your condition. You can expect to complete a questionnaire about your medical history, past injuries, family history, and current symptoms. Other information that can help the chiropractor understand your condition includes your medications, lifestyle, and diet habits, such as exercise, drug and alcohol use, stress, and sleep. If you have already been diagnosed in the past by another doctor, carry your reports.
Next, your chiropractor will conduct a physical exam to check your muscle strength, range of motion, and reflexes. They may ask you to walk, sit, or move in a specific manner to check your posture and movement in the affected area. The chiropractor may also perform other general tests to measure your blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate. Sometimes, they may order imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs for a more accurate diagnosis.
After this is done, your doctor will have a clear idea of your condition and whether chiropractic care can help. They may start your treatment on the same day or call you for a follow-up visit. Although the treatment goals will vary for every patient, some common ones include reducing pain, restoring normal joint and physical function, muscle balance, and regaining independence. The number of chiropractic visits required will depend on your condition and the treatment's effectiveness.
What happens during a chiropractic adjustment?
Chiropractors use a combination of different treatment modalities to alleviate pain, including chiropractic adjustments. During this treatment, your chiropractor will use their hands or a small device to exert controlled pressure on spinal joints. These adjustments, also called spinal manipulations, aim to enhance spinal motion. It significantly benefits people with headaches and back or neck pain.
If you visit a doctor for a chiropractic adjustment, you can expect the following:
- First, you will have to lie down on a padded chiropractic table and relax.
- The chiropractor will use their hands to apply pressure or force on different joints, such as the back and neck, to make the adjustments.
- During the procedure, you can expect to hear popping and cracking sounds due to gasses released in the joints.
- Usually, you will not feel any pain during the session; however, if you do, tell your chiropractor.
A chiropractor may use other techniques in addition to manipulation and mobilization. After the adjustments, they will guide you through at-home exercises, stretches, and diet and lifestyle changes. They will also schedule follow-up appointments for you if needed.
Are chiropractic adjustments painful?
Chiropractors are skilled professionals who apply only a controlled amount of pressure to your joint or affected area while performing an adjustment. As mentioned earlier, you may hear clicking sounds when they perform a chiropractic adjustment. These sounds indicate gases, like nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, released from your joints. Gas gets trapped in small cavities of the joints when you move and stretch. This gas release may be more obvious during a chiropractic adjustment, but the sounds are similar to those experienced when you crack your knuckles.
If you have recently received chiropractic adjustments, you may feel slight pain like you do after a workout, but severe pain is highly unlikely.
Patients who receive chiropractic care are likely to experience mild soreness or discomfort, but this generally goes away within 24 hours. Ensure you contact a healthcare professional immediately if you feel unusual symptoms after your adjustment, such as weakness, numbness, or worsening pain.
What other treatments can chiropractors offer beyond adjustments?
Other than chiropractic adjustments, chiropractors can also recommend other non-drug and non-surgical treatments that can help improve a patient's quality of life. The type and length of your rehabilitation program depend on your condition, severity, goals, and progress.
Your chiropractor may use a combination of two or more treatment methods like the following:
- Exercises + chiropractic adjustments: It can help manage lower back pain and strengthen the lower back. Exercises like hamstring stretching can decrease tightness in the back and legs. That aside, household work or chores can also be an exercise program. One can get engaged in those as well.
- Massage therapy- A CAM or complementary and alternative medicine, massage therapy generally involves using particular hands-on movements to apply pressure on a body part. Combined with chiropractic adjustments, it can help release tension or stress in the affected body part, increase physical activity, improve range of motion, and enhance overall well-being. Some standard massage techniques include hot stone massage and yoga massage.
- Heat and ice therapy- Heat therapy may increase blood circulation and flow to the affected body part. Increasing temperature also improves flexibility and soothes discomfort. In contrast, cryotherapy or cold therapy reduces blood flow to the affected body part. It also helps to decrease swelling or inflammation in the affected body part. Ice packs and ice massages to an injured body part also help to relieve pain.
Risks associated with chiropractic treatment
After getting chiropractic adjustments, you might feel sore, tired, or have a headache. These are temporary side effects and should ideally subside in a few days. However, in some instances, chiropractic care can lead to severe injuries and illnesses, like herniated discs, a pinched nerve in the lower back, or even a stroke.
Certain factors make you more susceptible to these side effects. Therefore, you should avoid chiropractic treatment if you have:
- Severe osteoporosis - Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens your bones by making them thinner than usual and reducing bone density.
- Multiple myeloma - Also known as Kahler's disease, this is an incurable form of blood cancer that weakens your bones and can cause your bone marrow to spill out.
- Bone tumor - A tumor occurs when cells divide uncontrollably. Bone tumors are of two types - benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous).
- Osteomyelitis - Osteomyelitis, a bone infection caused by fungi and bacteria, causes the bone marrow to swell and can cut off the blood supply to your bones if left untreated.
- Paget's disease - It slows down the natural recycling process of your body, through which new bone tissue replaces older bones. Over time, this leads to brittle, fragile bones prone to fracture and injuries.
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 around 35 million Americans annually. If you are searching for a chiropractor, here's how to find the best fit.
Choosing a licensed, experienced chiropractor is essential. Credentials reveal important details like education, certifications, and any malpractice history. Refer to authentic websites to check such information, which will help you shortlist chiropractors based on verified backgrounds.
Experience matters for 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 step ensures that the practitioner knows how to address your problem.
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.
Telehealth can save time by offering remote consultations. Ask if your chiropractor provides telehealth services like video calls or email support. Telehealth is convenient for follow-ups, but hands-on sessions are crucial for chiropractic care.
Reviews provide insight into the chiropractor's services and professionalism. Look for comments on the office environment, staff courtesy, and appointment scheduling. While reviews help, verify the chiropractor's credentials for the best results.
Find the best chiropractor near you in Melrose Park, IL
You should consider chiropractic care if you experience constant neck, back, shoulder, and knee pain. It can help improve your mobility, flexibility, range of motion, and physical function, thus helping you enhance your quality of life and regain independence. Zocdoc is a platform that can help you connect with the best healthcare providers offering chiropractic massage.
The Zocdoc website allows you to search doctors based on specialty, location, consultation date, and insurance. So, if you are looking for chiropractors in Melrose Park, IL, enter those details in the search box along with your insurance carrier. Once you click 'Find,' you will receive an extensive list of in-network providers.
If your insurance plan isn't listed on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card. Zocdoc will scan the image to identify your likely plan. However, this feature is not available for vision or dental insurance. If you encounter any issues uploading your card or have insurance-related concerns, visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
The number of chiropractors may seem overwhelming. However, you can narrow down your search by applying filters like gender, language, hospital affiliations, and whether they treat children. Furthermore, you can get a deeper understanding by viewing each expert's profile, which contains details about their education, qualifications, experience, expertise, awards, and much more. Generally, chiropractic appointments happen in person, but some experts offer video consultations.
Zocdoc promotes patient-expert transparency; hence, you can even go through patient reviews to learn about the bedside manner, wait time, and professional approach of chiropractors near you. Once you choose a doctor, quickly book an appointment by following the screen prompts. It is easy, secure, and 100% free!
Statistics on pain disorders and chiropractors in Illinois
According to America's Health Rankings, around 26.8% of adults in Illinois had some form of arthritis in 2022. More females (about 32.4%) were diagnosed with the disease compared to males (about 20.9%). When looking at the prevalence of arthritis among different age groups, adults 65+ were the most affected, with nearly 55.1% of cases being from that age group. A significant 33.5% of patients were between the ages of 45-64 years, while about 8.0% of affected ones were aged 18-44. Arthritic patients suffer from persistent pain, and many turn to chiropractic care.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released data on the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses. In 2020, nearly 11,380 people in Illinois had some musculoskeletal disorder. About 7,300 affected persons were men, while the rest, 4,050, were women. When comparing the body parts impacted, nearly 3,720 people had back pain, about 1,900 had shoulder pain, and approximately 850 had knee pain. People from the transportation and material moving sector were the most affected, with around 3,340 cases, followed by 3,100 patients from the service sector.
Another report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated the number of chiropractors in U.S. states. Based on the 2023 report, there were nearly 2,590 chiropractors in Illinois. The numbers were high compared to other states, thus ranking the state fifth in that year.
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