Defining Chiropractic Manipulation Adjustments (And What They Can Do For You)

Chiropractic care has become increasingly popular in the last decade. Still, many people continue to mistake chiropractic adjustments for kinesiotherapy, reflexology, osteopathy, and other treatments. 

The practice was originally developed in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer. He believed that misaligned vertebrae were causing nerve interference, leading to health problems throughout the body — including sickness and disease. 

Today there are many different types of chiropractors. Some provide a holistic approach, while others focus exclusively on physical manipulation techniques like spinal adjustments or massage therapy.

In this article, we're offering you a definition of what chiropractic adjustments are and what benefits they bring to patients.

Chiropractic Manipulation - A Definition

Chiropractic is a type of manual therapy that involves the physical manipulation of a person's spine and other joints. It is based on the belief that misalignments in these structures can affect general health, leading to anything from headaches or poor posture, to chronic pain syndromes.

The goal of chiropractic treatment is usually to improve joint mobility and reduce muscle tension. This, in turn, reduces discomfort for people who suffer from back problems as well as those who have been in accidents such as car crashes or injuries involving heavy lifting, where they may have injured their backs without even knowing it at first.

More About Chiropractic Therapy And Its Uses

Each vertebra has nerves and blood vessels passing through them, all accomplishing various bodily functions. When, for various reasons, like improper ergonomics, or trauma to the spine, the vertebrae become misaligned, the functionality of the nerves and blood vessels passing through them are affected too. 

Chiropractors can manipulate this subluxation back into place with their hands via manipulation techniques. These treatments are both effective and safe when performed within appropriate limits.

The same principle applies to joints too, which is why a chiropractic adjustment is beneficial for more than the spine. Chiropractic manipulations can be applied to hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, or wrists. As it improves the functionality of the nerves, blood vessels, and tendons that pass through them, it helps improve mobility.

Chiropractic Is a Holistic Therapy

Chiropractic therapy has a holistic approach to treatment. While most patients come into a chiropractic office with a specific problem, like back or neck pain, the adjustments performed by the chiropractor will usually affect the entire body. 

Aside from an in-office adjustment, a professional chiropractor will also provide their patients with valuable information around lifestyle changes they can incorporate into their daily routines.

For instance, proper work ergonomics — especially when working from home — has a notable effect on managing musculoskeletal pain. 

What Does a Chiropractic Adjustment Actually Do?

As mentioned above, a chiropractic adjustment involves the specialists using their hands to perform special procedures that can realign the spine in its physiological position. 

These procedures are non-invasive, and in most cases, painless. Patients shouldn’t be afraid to see a chiropractor when experiencing pain, as the intensity of the pressure applied is established according to the patient's individual needs.

Is It Good To Get Chiropractic Adjustments?

It absolutely is! In most cases, patients decide to start chiropractic treatment because they experience pain in the back, neck, arms, or legs. Once the most pressing issues are resolved or improved, many patients choose to continue with their chiropractic treatment thanks to the many health benefits it provides.

But although a chiropractic adjustment can be extremely efficient in treating lower back and neck pain, this type of treatment has many other benefits. 

By realigning the spine and bringing the nerves and blood vessels to their physiological position, chiropractic manipulations have immense benefits on the organs and limbs as well.

Another plus is that chiropractic care does not require the use of drugs and can be performed for extended periods without side effects. This is not the case with anti-inflammatory medicine, which comes with a long list of side effects and can become problematic if used for too long.

Moreover, patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or heart issues, who have medical restrictions to anti-inflammatory and pain medication, can turn to chiropractic adjustments without any worry.  

All In All

There are many benefits to seeing a chiropractor. Chiropractic manipulations are non-invasive, don’t use any drugs, and involve the application of quick, precise thrusts on joints and surrounding muscles. Chiropractic is usually used for pain relief, but it can also be applied to other conditions such as headaches or migraines. 

With no side effects to worry about, these adjustments can be performed consistently to a wide range of patients that suffer from other issues.  

We hope that you found this definition of chiropractic manipulations useful. If you suffer from back pain or other mobility issues, contact our Los Gatos (CA) office today!

For more information regarding chiropractic care, you might also enjoy:

• Is Severe Pain After Chiropractic Adjustment Normal?

• Feeling Weird After a Chiropractic Adjustment? Here’s Why

• Top 3 Chiropractic Quacks And Why They Are Totally Wrong