What Does A Chiropractor Do and How Can One Help Me?

A chiropractor makes a diagnosis of someone suffering from back or neck pain and proposes a form of treatment needed to relieve that problem. The treatment can be in the form of message therapy, exercise or spinal decompression therapy to name a few.

The spine is made up of thirty three bones that are set in a column. Between those bones is a gel like structure known as the spinal disc that causes the back to be flexible. As we age this flexibility diminishes and becomes more rigid. It is the job of the chiropractor to keep these bones, known as the vertebrae aligned and in good health.

The chiropractor, also referred to as a doctor of chiropractic, is one that can alleviate pain from things like herniated discs and other back, neck, nerve and muscle problems stemming from or associated with the back. The chiropractor will diagnose, treat and help relieve back problems by using treatments such as massage, exercise, water treatment or spinal decompression to name a few. If however, the chiropractor feels the patient needs someone that may specialize in their particular problem, a recommendation will be made for the use of that specialist.

The doctor of chiropractic has to go through an extensive program of study in order to become licensed and allowed to practice. To start with; thy must have at least a two year undergraduate degree with in the physical sciences such as biology, chemistry, etc. In some state a four year undergraduate degree is necessary. When the undergraduate degree is awarded then the student must go through a four year program through an accredit school of chiropractic medicine. When the degree is awarded then in order to practice the new doctor must pass an examination by the National Board of Chiropractics. Now a license to practice is awarded. It is obvious from this roster that the chiropractor is a doctor of medicine that focuses on the health and alignment of the spine.

We might add here that the chiropractor is an advocate of insuring treatment without invasive surgery and the use of non invasive treatment and techniques such as we mentioned above. The chiropractor works without the use of injections, drugs or medication to bring temporary or long term relief to a patient suffering with back or neck pain.

There is no age restriction for the treatment of back problems by a chiropractor. From infancy to the elderly senior citizen, anyone with a back or neck problem can be treated by a chiropractor. Surprisingly, colic can be averted with treatment by a chiropractor and back alignment can help and infant with proper growth. As for the senior citizen, the flexibility of the spine cannot be reverted but alignment can make the back pain free and make the person feel fit.

There are many health benefits that are offered by the use of a chiropractor that will also recommend more nutritious diets and exercise in conjunction with the treatment recommended.