If you are tired of dealing with continual back or neck problems, you may be missing out on an effective treatment. Instead of relying solely on stretching or using pain medication, visit a chiropractor. These doctors focus on musculoskeletal issues, including discomfort in the back, neck, shoulder, arms, legs, and feet. During an appointment, the chiropractor will perform an adjustment. It’s helpful to understand this process and how it’s different from other techniques.
What it Is
When you go to the chiropractor’s office, you won’t simply lie down on a table and have the doctor crack your back. There’s much more to the process and the positive effects it can have on your body. The chiropractor will adjust the spine and other joints by applying firm, direct pressure and realigning the spine into its proper place. The doctor will either use his or her hands, or an instrument.
How it Helps
Chiropractic adjustments help improve a person’s range of motion and flexibility. By aligning the spine, there is less tension and pressure on joints, thus improving the body’s function. Chiropractic work helps promote healing throughout the body. Patients visit the chiropractor to relieve headaches and migraines, treat herniated discs, and the effects of pain in the back and neck.
Why Not Just Work Out?
Regular exercise is essential for good health. Aerobic exercise can help build endurance, promote weight loss, and strengthen the heart. Strength-building exercises can develop muscles. A key difference between a workout and a chiropractic adjustment is that the latter will move your spine and other joints into their proper places. You cannot do this on your own through stretching, running, lifting weights, or any other means.
How Many Do You Need?
For most people, getting an adjustment isn’t a one-time event that takes care of all the pain in your body. The chiropractor will usually see patients three or four times a week for several months. After this intense treatment, less frequent visits will occur. Many patients prefer to continue going to the chiropractor for years. These visits can help maintain good posture and keep the pain and irritation away.
Does Insurance Cover Visits to the Chiropractor?
Many health insurance plans will cover a certain number of chiropractic visits per year. If you are seeing the chiropractor because of injuries you suffered in a car accident, your auto insurance should pay for the treatment as part of your personal injury protection coverage.
The more you understand about chiropractic adjustments, the more comfortable you can feel. Make an appointment with a chiropractor today if you suffer from joint pain and other discomforts.