What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on
disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects
of these disorders on general health.
Chiropractic care is used most
often to treat neuromusculoskeletal
complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, arm and
leg pain and headaches.
Dr. Meyers is a chiropractic physician. This means that he practices a drug-free,
hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis
and treatment. Chiropractic physicians have broad diagnostic skills and are
also trained to perform therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises as well as to
provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling. Dr. Meyers is an evidence based chiropractic
physician, meaning that he practices and treats according to the latest
research and literature studies in order to achieve the best results for the
patient.
A common therapeutic procedure performed by a chiropractic
physician is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called “chiropractic
adjustment.” The purpose of
manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled
force into joints that have become hypomobile – or restricted in their movement
– as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single
traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through
repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal
posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo
physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished
function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint
and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness,
and allowing tissues to heal.
Chiropractic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However,
patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment
(as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.
In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care
may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist,
chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the
musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.
Chiropractic physicians may assess patients
through clinical examination,
laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to
determine when chiropractic treatment
is appropriate or when it is not appropriate. Chiropractic physicians will readily
refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care
is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants
co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team.