What is a chiropractor?
A chiropractor near you is a medical practitioner who diagnoses, treats, and prevents musculoskeletal disorders. By definition, chiropractic is a form of medicine that deals with ailments and conditions in the body's musculoskeletal system.
These disorders generally restrict regular body movements that require muscles and bones to be used. These can include simple movements like walking, turning back, or even feeling back pain while standing up from a chair. Chiropractors can help diagnose and treat these restraints and help you live comfortably.
Chiropractors are most associated with treating spinal and lower back pain. A report cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that roughly 25% of Americans suffer lower back pain. According to Duke Health (associated with chiropractic practitioners), spinal manipulation can reduce lower back pain, the most acute form of back pain.
Are chiropractors technically doctors?
By definition, chiropractors are not medical doctors as they do not have an M.D. (medical doctor) degree. To practice in the field, chiropractors need a D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) from an institution recognized by the Higher Learning Commission.
While chiropractors are not medical doctors, they're required to study many subjects that M.D.s do. These include anatomy, radiology, orthopedics, physiology, etc. The time invested in getting a D.C. degree is similar to an M.D. degree (roughly 4500 hours of classes, labs, and patient experience time).
Chiropractors may not be medical doctors, but they're highly trained and capable of treating and managing musculoskeletal conditions.
How do chiropractors differ from physical therapists?
Both chiropractors and physical therapists are licensed healthcare professionals who help manage stiffness, chronic body pains, and discomforts through various treatment methods across different age groups. They create a personalized plan after evaluating patients' injuries, needs, and body conditions to enhance their flexibility and mobility. Although both can treat various symptoms and health issues, their techniques and approaches may differ in achieving the desired results.
A chiropractor primarily focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, including joints, muscles, tendons, and their functions. They significantly emphasize spine alignment and manipulation to alleviate pain and inflammation. After assessing the symptoms, they may recommend massages, lifestyle modifications, and dietary changes.
A physical therapist focuses on restoring strength, mobility, and body function while managing pain in ill or injured patients through a thorough evaluation and diagnosis. They design a treatment plan and suggest exercises, postures, therapies, and alternative ways to avoid injuries and pain.
Some common disorders that chiropractors treat
While chiropractors are mostly known to treat spinal pain disorders, they can also treat other ailments and conditions, such as:
- Arthritis: Arthritis is the most well-known disease associated with joint pain. It happens due to swelling in one or more joints. Chiropractors can help reduce pain and enhance mobility, thus helping patients function as normally as possible.
- Lower back pain: As explained earlier, chiropractic is an excellent medicine for lower back pain. The spinal manipulation that chiropractors perform allows patients to perform regular physical tasks without frequent bouts of pain.
- Muscle aches: Muscle aches or muscle stiffness generally occur when a particular body muscle is overworked. Chiropractic techniques, like adjustments, stretches, and more, can effectively treat muscle stiffness and enhance your body's mobility.
- Joint pain: Joint pain occurs in your hands, knees, hips, feet, and spine. It can cause discomfort in performing basic actions and limit your body's mobility. Chiropractors can alleviate these pains and disorders with efficient techniques that improve the relationship between your joints and muscles.
- Post-accident treatment: Injuries caused by accidents can cause long-term muscle and joint pain. Chiropractors can help recalibrate your body's musculoskeletal state after an accident or whiplash.
What to expect at your initial chiropractic consultation?
When you decide to avail yourself of services like chiropractic and massage near you, ensure that you have a comprehensive discussion about your condition and symptoms with a chiropractor near you. This can help you and your provider determine which treatment is appropriate for your specific condition or pain and how long you need it. An initial discussion can also help you understand your chiropractor's general approach and experience performing various adjustments.
An initial chiropractic consultation will include recording your medical history and symptoms, a physical evaluation, and a diagnosis. Your chiropractor may ask you about the nature of your pain, its frequency, and duration. Describe to your provider where you feel pain or discomfort, whether the pain is dull, sharp, throbbing, or radiating, which activities make your pain worse, and what caused the pain to start. The chiropractor may also ask you to provide details about previous medications or previous injuries.
After understanding your medical history, chiropractors begin a comprehensive physical examination to assess muscle strength, neurological integrity, muscle tone, and range of motion. Your chiropractor may also order diagnostic tests like CT scans, X-rays, and MRI scans if needed. They may also perform a posture analysis and record your blood pressure, pulse, reflexes, and respiration.
Once a diagnosis is made, your chiropractor will explain your condition and create a treatment plan. If your chiropractor diagnoses issues such as fractures, tumors, or infections, they will recommend you to a physician. Suppose a chiropractor decides that adjustments can reduce your pain. In that case, they will determine the length of your treatment plan and how often you will require adjustments, depending on the severity of your condition. They may also recommend exercises or stretches you can do at home, along with diet and nutrition advice.
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. You may hear clicking sounds when a chiropractic adjustment happens. However, you should feel little to no pain during or after an adjustment. Your pain might be similar to the slight pain one feels after a heavy workout, but severe pain is highly unlikely. You will likely experience mild soreness or discomfort, which disappears within 24 hours. Contact the nearest healthcare providers immediately if you feel unusual symptoms, such as weakness, numbness, or worsening pain after your adjustment.
Chiropractic adjustments, when performed by licensed professionals, are typically safe and cause no side effects. However, some severe complications can occur in rare instances. These include the following:
- Herniated disks
- Worsening of an existing herniated disk
- Cauda equina syndrome or nerve compression in the lower spinal column. When nerves in the lumbar spine are compressed, sensation and movement may be cut off. Nerve roots that command bladder and bowel function are especially vulnerable to damage.
- Stroke after neck manipulation
Is seeing a chiropractor near you safe and helpful during pregnancy?
Chiropractic care can help relieve spinal nerve stress and promote overall health. Complications are usually rare in this type of therapy. However, doctors do not recommend chiropractic care for pregnant women experiencing ectopic pregnancy, vaginal bleeding, placenta previa or abruption, or moderate to severe toxemia. Therefore, seeking approval from a qualified doctor before receiving chiropractic care during pregnancy is essential, even if you do not suffer from the above conditions.
While all chiropractors are trained in treating pregnant women, some also specialize in providing prenatal care. You may ask the chiropractor if they have experience in this area or get a referral from your doctor. Chiropractors use adjusting tables and safe techniques to accommodate growing bellies without putting pressure on the abdomen. They can also teach you some effective stretches that can help relieve tension and discomfort.
During pregnancy, hormonal and physical changes can affect your posture and comfort. These changes can cause discomfort and pain due to misalignments in the spine or joints. As your baby grows heavier, the back curves, and changes occur in the pelvic region as the body prepares for labor. All these developments shift your center of gravity and posture.
Routine visits to a chiropractor near you who specializes in prenatal can address these issues. Chiropractic adjustments can also help you and the fetus by re-establishing balance and alignment in your pelvis and spine.
Other potential benefits of visiting a chiropractor during pregnancy include ensuring a healthy and comfortable pregnancy, managing nausea, and relieving back, neck, or joint pain.
Choosing between chiropractors and massage therapists
If you're experiencing pain from an injury or other causes, you might be considering whether to see a chiropractor or a massage therapist. While both aim to improve your well-being, their approaches are quite different. Chiropractors focus on aligning the spine to enhance nerve function and support the body's natural healing, whereas massage therapists work on the muscles and soft tissues to relieve tension as well as improve flexibility.
Chiropractors often address spinal misalignments, especially in the upper cervical area where the atlas and axis vertebrae connect the skull to the brainstem. These misalignments can interfere with communication between the brain and body, potentially leading to issues such as neck pain, back pain, or TMJ dysfunction. Chiropractors design personalized treatment plans to realign the spine and promote overall health.
On the other hand, massage therapy uses various techniques to address specific needs. For instance, myofascial release massage focuses on the connective tissue to alleviate muscle tightness. Unlike chiropractors, massage therapists exclusively target soft tissue and do not work on spinal alignment.
You may wonder if it's possible to benefit from both treatments. This depends on your unique situation and should be discussed with your chiropractor or massage therapist. In many cases, massage therapy can complement chiropractic care by easing muscle soreness after adjustments. However, your provider might advise against combining the two if it could interfere with previous adjustments. Lastly, the best approach will depend on your needs as well as the guidance of your healthcare professional.
Find a chiropractor near you in Plainfield, IL.
Are you looking for a chiropractor in Plainfield, Illinois? Finding the right practitioner for your condition can be tedious. Ideally, you want a steady and reliable chiropractor. You may first ask your friends and family for chiropractor references in Plainfield, but you can never be sure if your medical insurance covers it. Even if your insurance covers the chiropractor, the back-and-forth required to find the right appointment time can be a real hassle.
Enter Zocdoc – an online platform where you can book chiropractic appointments in Plainfield with a few simple clicks!
Here's how it works – sign up for an account, enter your symptoms (or type 'chiropractor'), and choose your location. You can select a time that suits you best and your medical insurance provider & plan. Zocdoc will generate a list of chiropractors near you who are covered by your insurance plan. When booking an appointment on Zocdoc, you’ll need to either provide your insurance details or confirm that you’ll be paying out-of-pocket. Some providers won’t let you book without sharing your insurance information. If you don’t have insurance or prefer not to use it, you can search for another provider on Zocdoc. If you need assistance uploading your card or have other insurance-related queries, contact Zocdoc's service team. You may also go through Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to more insurance FAQs.
You can filter the list by availability, specialty, gender, and language capability. Also, you can check the verified reviews and ratings left by our patients on the provider profiles to help you make an informed decision. On Zocdoc, you will find a dedicated page for every doctor on the platform with details like their educational background, reviews, and other essential information.
Besides chiropractors, you can book appointments with any medical professional and doctor. Whether looking for a chiropractic massage or a consultation with a neurosurgeon, Zocdoc's extensive database and user-friendly search options make your search and bookings easy!
All bookings on Zocdoc are simple, secure, and free!
Prevalence of arthritis in Illinois
As far as the state of Illinois is concerned, chiropractors are abundant. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics states that Illinois has the fourth highest level of employment in chiropractors as of May 2021. It is no coincidence. According to America's Health Rankings (a United Health Foundation), roughly 24.5% of Illinois had some form of arthritis in 2020. The need for chiropractic treatment in Plainfield and the rest of Illinois is thus apparent.
A deeper look brings the numbers into perspective. For example, let's continue with arthritis, as it's most associated with musculoskeletal disorders. Arthritis is prevalent in around 30.2% of adults who are obese, according to a 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, nearly 6% higher than the state average. The same 2020 report shows that the number rises to 36.2% for people with heart diseases. Conditions like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes thus make an arthritis diagnosis more likely. If you have any of these conditions and are facing muscle pain, booking a visit to a chiropractor may be a good idea.
The CDC report also highlights that 28.5% of doctor-diagnosed arthritis patients face severe joint pain. A chiropractor can help alleviate pain and make your normal daily activities painless.
Sources
Healthline
Renew Accident & Injury Chiropractic Clinic
Cleveland University
Better Health Channel
Chiropractic Resource Organization
Duke Health
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
America's Health Rankings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Spine-Health
Cleveland Clinic
WebMD
Mayo Clinic
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Begin Within Family Wellness
