Chiropractic Care As a Form of Preventative Medicine

The skilled hands of a professional chiropractor can bring immense relief to anyone who suffers from back pain. However, this is not the sole function that chiropractic care serves. Many licensed Doctors of Chiropractic (or DCs) offer preventative care that not only keeps back pain at bay, but also helps to promote overall health.

Those who do not merely wish to treat the symptom of their physical problems - pain - often visit chiropractors to receive pain relief without drugs. Trained in techniques to help both the structural and neurological aspects of the body, DCs perform spinal adjustments that are comfortable for the patient, safe, and perhaps most importantly, effective. Many patients suffering from pain in the back, neck or hips as well as fibromyalgia and even tension headaches have reported great improvements due to the natural treatment and preventative care that DCs can provide.

The best chiropractors focus on diagnosing joint dysfunction early on. This can prevent more severe injury and pain from occurring down the road. A misaligned spine is known to cause everything from fatigue to extreme pain. Almost everyone experiences a misaligned spine at some point. Often, it is some time after the initial misalignment before people will begin to experience pain. For this reason, many DCs encourage patients to have regular preventative appointments for detection and treatment of spinal problems before they develop into more serious conditions.

In addition, many chiropractors offer lifestyle advice and coaching that helps many patients achieve better health and overall wellness in both the short and long term. To prevent old injuries from recurring or becoming aggravated, DCs will often recommend avoiding or changing certain activities. For instance, office workers may have pain related to sitting at the computer for extended periods of time. A chiropractor who is treating such problems may recommend specific exercises to be done periodically throughout the day, as well as showing the patient a different way to position themselves or adjust the chair for more support. Preventative recommendations such as exercise, diet and nutritional supplements to improve health are also frequently provided by DCs.

Anyone considering a first-time visit to a chiropractor will be glad to know that earning a DC requires a four-year doctoral degree. Most programs only accept students with a 4-year bachelor's degree. Chiropractic students receive extensive training in anatomy, physiology, rehabilitation, nutrition, pathology, and public health. To obtain a license, most chiropractic schools require 4200 hours of combined lab, classroom, and clinical experience. The result is a practitioner who is highly qualified to treat many musculoskeletal problems as well as provide preventative care for a wide range of conditions.

While the chiropractic field isn't exactly new (it was founded in 1895), today it continues to gain in popularity. In a world where natural healing is becoming more and more prevalent, it's not surprising that people who desire a drug-free approach to both treatment of pain and preventative care are turning to chiropractors for many of their health care needs.