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For many people living with long-term pain conditions, and even those dealing with an acute injury, finding the right solution for managing pain and regaining function can be difficult. Surgical options can be invasive and risky, and pain killing medication can have side effects and doesn’t treat the root cause of the pain. For this reason, chiropractic care has become a popular option for the treatment of a wide variety of conditions. It is non-invasive and virtually risk-free, but it can provide pain relief and improve your quality of life.
What does a chiropractor do?
If you haven’t yet researched chiropractic care, you may not realize just how varied a role a chiropractor has. Chiropractors are trained medical professionals who hold a doctoral degree after years of postgraduate study. They can diagnose and design and implement treatment plans for a large number of conditions. They often also collaborate with medical professionals from other fields of study to provide patients with the best possible care
When you first visit a chiropractor, they will spend a long time with you going through your medical history, running tests that can include X-rays, blood tests, and urine tests, and assessing your functioning and mobility depending on what type of condition you are dealing with. They will then work with you to develop a treatment plan that can best improve your quality of life by reducing your pain, increasing your ability to function, and improving your mobility.
Chiropractic care is a holistic treatment approach that is very much patient-focused. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, chiropractic care prioritizes patient wellbeing and their needs, tailoring the treatment around what is best for them.
What sorts of treatments can a chiropractor provide?
You would be forgiven for imagining that all a chiropractor does is make people’s spines pop, but they actually do much more than that. It is true that the center of the chiropractic approach is based around the idea that misalignments of the spine can be the root cause of a huge variety of painful conditions, so spinal adjustments are a very important chiropractic treatment option. When the spine is brought back into alignment, the body functions better as a whole, and pressure is relieved throughout the body.
But spinal adjustments are not the only tool in the chiropractors’ arsenal. In fact, chiropractors are trained to provide an extensive number of treatments that can help to improve patients’ quality of life and reduce their pain.
These can include:
- spinal adjustments and manipulations
- soft tissue massage
- stretches
- exercises
- heat and cold therapy
- myofascial release
- electronic modalities, including TENS, laser therapy, and ultrasound
- exercise and nutrition advice
- sleep advice, including the use of chiropractic pillows
- postural advice
- traction
Your treatment plan will often be a combination of these different treatments, aimed at helping you to be able to go back to completing the daily tasks that you may at present not be able to do, improving your mobility and reducing your disability, reducing your pain levels, and improving your overall wellbeing.
What are the benefits of seeing a chiropractor?
Seeing a chiropractor isn’t just about reducing your pain. There are actually many benefits that you can expect to experience from receiving chiropractic care, and these benefits can help improve your quality of life.
1) Pain relief
Of course, the primary reason why people go to visit a chiropractor is that they are looking for pain relief, and seeing a chiropractor can absolutely help you with this. Chiropractic care is recommended treatment by the American College of Physicians for the treatment of lower back pain and neck pain. But it can also help with other forms of pain, including:
- migraines and tension headaches
- pelvic pain
- shoulder, knee, and ankle pain
- sciatica
- carpal tunnel syndrome
- fibromyalgia
- temporomandibular joint dysfunction
- strains and sprains
- whiplash
- scoliosis pain
- pregnancy pain
2) Blood pressure
Receiving a chiropractor can reduce your blood pressure as much as taking some blood pressure medications, and the effects can last for months. The other benefit of this is that chiropractic care doesn’t carry with it the same side effects as taking blood pressure medications, so you may also see a reduction in nausea, weight loss, dizziness, and fatigue.
3) Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is at the heart of many long-term illnesses and conditions, including heart disease, some forms of cancer, and chronic pain conditions. Chiropractic care can help reduce the level of inflammation in your body, reducing your risk of developing some of these serious diseases.
4) Improved athletic performance
Many elite sports teams now employ chiropractors to help their athletes achieve peak performance. Chiropractic care can help to boost athletic performance in a variety of ways, including:
- reduced stiffness and improved range of motion
- better flexibility, balance, and coordination
- reducing recovery time after training
- a reduction in the risk of sustaining an injury
- faster healing time after an injury
- reduced risk of getting ill
- improved overall wellbeing
5) Improved sleep
Chiropractors are trained in dealing with sleep problems, and seeing a chiropractor can help free you of insomnia and get a good rest. Receiving chiropractic care can reduce your stress and tension and boost your relaxation, which will help you to get off to sleep. If you are dealing with pain, this could be stopping you from sleeping and a chiropractor can also help with this. A chiropractor can also give you advice about sleep positions and your overall sleep environment.
6) Healthier pregnancy
Chiropractic care is almost always safe during pregnancy (although it is always worth speaking to your primary care physician before seeking treatment), and it can help your pregnancy to be healthy and stress-free. It can reduce the pain associated with pregnancy, including lower back pain and pelvic pain, but it can also help you to have a less complicated labor and delivery. If your pelvis is misaligned, this can reduce the chance of your baby being able to get into the correct position for birth. Chiropractic treatment during pregnancy can realign the pelvis and reduce the chance of you needing interventions such as forceps or cesarean section.
Located in Westminster Colorado?
If you live in the city Westminster, CO, or its surrounding areas, you are in luck! Performance Chiropractic is located there and is known to help people with a wide range of conditions. Knowing a good Westminster chiropractor can really make the difference to getting some real pain relief.
Final thoughts
Chiropractic care is non-invasive, virtually risk-free, and has little-to-no side effects. It can help you to manage your pain and improve your well-being in a wide variety of ways. Chiropractic care is accessible to everybody and your chiropractor will help to support you in the goals that you are searching for from your treatment.
