What is a Chiropractor?

A chiropractor is also a doctor, but his focus is mainly on the correction, relief, and prevention of problems affecting the musculo-skeletal parts of the body, including the peripheral joints and the spine. Common complaints of patients who consult a chiropractor are neck pain, sciatica, and back pain. Sometimes, the complaints have something to do with sprains, strains, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, and shinsplints. A chiropractor is quite skilled in treating irritation of ligaments, spinal joints, muscles and nerves. This irritation may manifest itself as migraines, tension headaches, shoulder pain, and intercostals neuralgia. But that's not all. Patients who suffer from hiatus hernia, menstrual cramps, and sinusitis also consult a chiropractor.

There may be a slight difference between a doctor of general medicine and a chiropractor. A chiropractor's specialization is towards the proper function of the nervous system, which includes the spinal cord, brain, and the spinal nerves.

Causes of e nervous system impairment vary. It may be due to injury, lack of rest, excessive stress, lack of exercise, and diet. The role of the chiropractor is to correct the impairment and give proper advice. Chiropractors are the only ones in the profession who can detect, treat, and prevent vertebral subluxation complex, which is a form of nerve interference.

Common conditions treated by a chiropractor include: auto accident injuries, such as whiplash, headaches, joint injuries, sprains, and strains, work or job related injuries such as sitting or standing conditions, problems with extremity, ergonomic issues, and lifting sprains, home based injury such as sprains and strains of daily living and falls, and also school related injuries such as impacts on the shoulders, knees, and ankles, and athletic sprains.

Before someone becomes a chiropractor, he needs to complete an undergraduate degree before he studies postgraduate medical school for four years. After graduation, the future chiropractor must pass all levels of the National Board Examination. After which, he must continuously update himself with current research and join continuing education seminars, symposiums, and must study professional journals yearly.

You might wonder why there is a need to consult with a chiropractor. If your health concern is mainly about physical stress, misalignment of the nerves, lack of adequate physical exercise, it would be better to consult someone who specializes in these areas. For some people, modern medicine may not offer them a solution to their medical problems. There are also those who shy away from the use of too many medicines to cure an illness. A chiropractor uses his hands to heal and employs therapies to manage pain. The therapy involves the use of spine and acupressure therapy which targets optimal pain relief. This can save the patient money, since there is no need to purchase medications to relieve pain. Think of chiropractor as another form of acupuncture, only there is no needle involved. The patient must keep an open mind about the treatment. It is wise to know and experience the treatment first before casting a vote whether or not the practice works.