Two Types of Chiropractors
There are basically two types of
chiropractors. The musculoskeletal chiropractors who work on symptom
relief and the traditional wellness chiropractors who work on subluxation
and structural correction.
The Traditional / Wellness
Chiropractor
This type of chiropractor practices the
traditional wellness philosophy of chiropractic which is subluxation and
structural correction of the spine. Simply put, a subluxation is a
misaligned vertebrae which interferes with the nerve impulses. Nerve
impulse is the electrical impulse from the brain that regulates all function
of the body and keeps us alive.
Although the traditional / wellness
chiropractor wants his patients to "feel better", his primary focus is
removing the nerve interference (subluxation) and restructuring the spine
and posture to its most stable biomechanical position. By maximizing
the integrity of the discs, joints, and nerves through spinal adjustments
and postural correction, the body's wellness (health potential) and ability
to function improves. This is done through a rehabilitation program of
adjustments and spinal exercises.
The length of correction and frequency of
adjustment is determined by the severity of the patient's subluxations and
structural alignment.
Symptoms may be gone long before the spine is
at its maximum corrected position, so adjustment schedules are kept intense
to allow structural correction in the shortest amount of time.
Advantage Chiropractic is a strong advocate
of this kind of chiropractic care - treating the cause of the problem and
not just relieving symptoms.
The Symptom Relief Chiropractors
This type of chiropractor primarily focuses
on relief of symptoms such as back pain and headaches. Manipulations
are done to the spine to decompress the joints, free fixations and reduce
pain. In addition, electrotherapies such as ultrasound, diathermy,
electrostimulation, tens units and laser acupuncture, might also be used.
Monitoring patient's progress by symptoms and
insurance coverage usually means shorter overall treatment time, but still
leaves the patient far short of correcting the cause of the symptom.
The patient may feel better temporarily, but since the spine remains
structurally misaligned, it degenerates silently and results in damage and
dysfunction to discs, joints, and whatever part of the body the nerve
supplies.
Currently many medical experts see little
value and even harm in simply treating symptoms. Length of treatment
and frequency of adjustments are usually dictated by the patient's symptoms,
or insurance coverage. Degrading treatment schedules like 3 to 2 to 1
per week are often used because that is all insurance will pay for.
Choose Carefully
Remember when choosing a chiropractor to
match your health care philosophy and goals with theirs. If, like most
people, your health philosophy is to help your body reach and maintain its
healthiest state, then choose the traditional / wellness chiropractor for
maximum correction and maintenance of your spine and health.
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