|  | Manual procedures: spinal adjustment; other joint manipulation; joint mobilization; soft tissue techniques. | | | | Exercise and rehabilitative programs. | | | | Patient education on spinal health, posture, nutrition, and other lifestyle modifications. | | | | Other supportive methods; e.g. use of back supports and orthotics, interferrential, ultrasound, etc. | |
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Chiropractors make no use of drugs or surgery, and refer patients for medical care when those treatments may be necessary. According to surveys in Australia, Europe and North America, approximately 95% of patients first consult a chiropractor because of musculoskeletal pain conditions such a back pain, neck pain, headache or pain in the shoulders, arms of legs. Research has now demonstrated that chiropractic manipulation and exercises are a safe and effective as any other treatment approach for most patients with these problems – both acute (i.e. recent pain experienced for only a few days or weeks) and chronic (pain experienced for 12 weeks or more, often for sever months or years, and not responding to other treatments).
However, about 25% of chiropractic patient with musculoskeletal pain experience other specific health benefits after chiropractic treatment – more commonly improvements in the respiratory system (e.g. easier breathing, improved asthma/allergies), the digestive system (improved function, less gastrtis/pain/nausea), in circulation (improved circulation, fewer irregularities in heartbeat) and in vision (e.g. removal of pain and specific visual disturbances). As a result, about 5% of patients now seek chiropractic treatment first for these and other no musculoskeletal disorders. Many patients choose to have periodic check-ups and treatment both to prevent pain and disability and to promote general well-being and health.
In fact, while a specific health problem is the usual reason a patient seeks treatment, chiropractors have a wider view: First, they are concerned with the function of all of the spine and musculoskeletal system – neck pain may be secondary to problems in the lower back or pelvis, elbow or wrist pain may be caused by restricted movements of joints in the neck – as illustrated. (In this role a chiropractor may be compared to a car mechanic correcting the body alignment and function.
Second, chiropractors are concerned with the effect of these musculoskeletal problems on the nervous system. Correcting problems in the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, creates physical and reflex changes in the nervous system. Since the nervous system is your overall communications network, regulates all body functions and is central to the body’s natural healing powers, chiropractic treatment can cause a wide variety of improvements in health. (In this role a chiropractor can be compared to an electrical engineer or a telecommunications specialist, ensuring that messages are delivered throughout a network.) To illustrate this, take the example of infantile colic. Some infants are generally well but cry uncontrollably, have signs of digestive problems (e.g. burping, abnormal stools) and are medically diagnosed and treated as having infantile colic. If this were truly a digestive disorder, it would be unusual to consider chiropractic examination and treatment. In fact, many of these infants show signs of spinal arching and discomfort which appear to be the primary source of pain and the subsequent digestive symptoms. There is now strong research evidence that chiropractic treatment (precise, low-force spinal manipulation/adjustment to remove restricted spinal joint movement/subluxation) is effective for infants with colic, and more effective than usual medical care.
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