What does a chiropractor do, anyway?

It’s incredibly likely that you have a friend or family member who has been treated by a chiropractor. Whether it be for lower back pain, neck and shoulder pain, migraine headaches, or an assessment after an accident, chiropractors treat many different health conditions to help get their patients back on their feet.

So how can a chiropractor help me, and what conditions do chiropractors even treat?

What Chiropractors Do: The Basics

Traditionally, chiropractic care is focused on the spine – with treatments commonly involving manual adjustment and manipulation.

A chiropractor understands that there are fundamentally important connections between the spine and the nervous system. Malfunction in this connection results in pain in areas such as the lower back, neck, shoulders, head, or legs. When the spine is biomechanically out of place, pain and chronic inflammation can occur. Chiropractic treatment often focuses on releasing pressure and tension in the spine by realigning and manipulating the spinal vertebrae.

When starting with a new chiropractor, your first appointment will be a consultation. In this appointment, your chiropractor will conduct an extensive health history interview to learn about:

• Your problem areas (amount of pain, location, duration of pain, etc.)
• Any other medical conditions
• Medications you are taking

• Family health history
• Your dietary and lifestyle habits
• Occupational stress and hazards

During your consultation, your chiropractor may also order diagnostic imaging of the spine. X-rays are commonly taken to provide the chiropractor with more detailed information about what conditions may be going on in regard to the spinal column.

Using this information, your chiropractor will make a chiropractic diagnosis and create a personalized treatment plan to help tackle the source of your pain. Chiropractors do not cover up symptoms of pain – they treat the source. By removing the leading cause for dysfunction and pain, the symptoms disappear, and a person is able to live a happier and healthier life.

What Do Chiropractors Treat?

Chiropractic care is incredibly diverse. As so many health conditions can be traced back to the dysfunction of the nervous system and spine, a chiropractor can be beneficial in treating a wide variety of medical conditions. Focussing on patient-centered, holistic, non-invasive options, a chiropractor can treat:

• Lower back pain
• Sciatica
• Headaches and migraines
• Strain injuries

• Neck and shoulder pain
• Motor vehicle injuries
• Arthritis-related pain
• Sport injuries

Does Chiropractic Care Help?

If you are suffering from an acute injury or chronic pain, chiropractic care is a great option! Due to the patient-focused nature of the chiropractic profession, patients receive incredibly in-depth and personalized treatment.

The ultimate goal of chiropractic treatment is to determine the true source of dysfunction within the body – the real reason someone is feeling pain. Modern medicine has shifted to symptom management rather than disease resolution. A chiropractor takes the time to truly assess a person’s health conditions to revolve pain for a better quality of life.

If you have been struggling with pain or injuries, chiropractic care is a fantastic option to explore! For more information about our services, please visit siragusochiropractic.net or call Dr. Frank Siraguso at (816) 272-3580.