When you're in need of all-natural relief, the answer is clear -- visit a chiropractic professional that can help you out.
Close to 5 million people in Canada visit the chiropractor on an annual basis. This is a virtually all-encompassing form of therapeutic care that you'll appreciate for so many reasons.
So what kind of chiropractic care are you looking for? How can these pros change your world for the better?
We're happy to give you the information that you need.
History of Chiropractic's
Chiropractic care was born in the late 1800s, thanks to Daniel David Palmer. He opened up the first chiropractic academy in modern memory in the United States in 1897.
Licensing standards for chiropractors in various states came into place starting in 1913.
Chiropractors Today
Several chiropractic schools have opened up all over the world, and this form of treatment is one of the most common and prevalent forms of natural therapy that people take advantage of.
More than 9,000 chiropractic professionals currently hold an active license to practice in Canada today. The field has advanced exponentially thanks to technology and a greater understanding of the human body.
What Does a Chiropractor Do?
Chiropractic professionals are trained to treat the other parts of their musculoskeletal system. They generally deal with people that are experiencing discomfort or pain of some sort.
Today, 80% of Canadians will have some sort of back pain episode throughout their lifetime. Chiropractors first offer patients full evaluations of their spine, neck, and back muscles. From there, you'll get spinal adjustments and other treatments.
Chiropractic treatment helps people with the following:
Relieves Pain in Bones
Your spine makes up the most critical collection of bones in the human body. It connects to other bone systems, including your arms, shoulders, neck, and tailbone.
Chiropractors help to treat pain in your bones by healing nerve issues and bone conditions like osteoarthritis. They will realign your bones so that they stop rubbing together, which is one of the main sources of pain and discomfort.
Relieves Pain in Joints
Joint pain and swelling can make your waking life miserable. Chiropractors will help you to improve your total-body range of motion so that your joints are lubricated and less swollen.
This way, you'll heal restricted movement and decrease the pain that you feel in your joints.
Relieves Pain in Muscles
Chiropractic massage and treatments can relieve the muscle pain that you feel, particularly in your lower back and neck. They will stimulate both your muscles and nerves while increasing blood flow to problem areas.
These professionals will ease the tension that you hold in your muscles due to stress and injury.
Relieves Pain in Cartilage
When your cartilage begins to degenerate, the pain can become excruciating. Cartilage is critical since it cushions your joints and prevents bone-on-bone pain.
Improvements in blood flow and re-alignment of bones can help to decrease the pain that you feel in your cartilage.
Relieves Pain in Connective Tissue
Arthritis and injury can take a toll on your body's connective tissue. Chiropractic treatments will decrease discomfort and pain while improving your body's overall range of motion.
This allows your tissue to heal from damage so that can age healthily.
Who Can a Chiropractor Benefit?
Chiropractic care is a form of treatment that can help people from all walks of life. Whether you have chronic pain and inflammation or simply want to keep your back and spine at their best, chiropractors can assist you.
So, who specifically does chiropractic care benefit? Everyone, but especially people suffering from the following:
People with Scoliosis, Back Pain, or Sciatica
Scoliosis is a condition that deals with an abnormal spine curvature. This condition can make it difficult to walk comfortably and can create pain and numbness in the extremities.
Chiropractors can help with scoliosis by relieving pressure and helping to straighten the spine.
Lower back pain prevalence has reached epidemic levels both in Canada and the entire world. These professionals can assist you by offering adjustments, massage therapy, and other treatments.
Sciatica is a condition that creates numbness and pain in the legs due to compression of the sciatic nerve. This nerve starts near the tailbone and runs down both legs.
Chiropractic treatments can relieve the pressure, along with the pain that comes with sciatica.
Athletes or Active People
People that play sports will definitely need to have the contact information of a chiropractor at the ready.
Building your back and core will help you perform better on the field or in the gym. Chiropractic treatments will prevent pain and swelling in your body both to avoid and treat injuries.
People with Osteoarthritis
Today, 4 million people in Canada are living with osteoarthritis. It causes cartilage and bone to degenerate over time.
When chiropractors provide alignments, it helps to ease the symptoms and condition of osteoarthritis.
People Who Suffer from Tension Headaches or Migraines
Today, 1 billion people around the world are affected by headaches. This neurological issue can make everyday life downright painful.
People also get migraine headaches, which are more severe, and also come with nausea, light sensitivity, and other symptoms.
Thankfully, chiropractors can help you out with any sort of headache issues you're dealing with.
Many headaches come about due to stress and tension.
Chiropractors use adjustments, massage, and other techniques to ease tension and pain in your neck and shoulders. You can use these appointments to find relief from even your most severe headaches.
Getting this neurological issue under control can help to limit your headaches and migraines, or get rid of them altogether.
Can Chiropractors Benefit Children?
Another benefit of chiropractic care is that people of all ages can take advantage of it in different ways.
Having a child that always gets sick in the winter can be frustrating and heartbreaking. When you get your child chiropractic adjustments, they may be able to experience the immune system benefits that come with the territory.
Here are other ways that chiropractors can benefit children:
Colic
Chiropractic care is particularly healthy when a baby is colicky and adjusting to their new world. Colic often comes about due to gas or discomfort in their abdominal area.
Many chiropractors are even beginning to espouse the benefits of chiropractic care for babies and offer adjustments to treat these conditions.
Acid Reflux and Ear Infections
Children and babies often deal with acid reflux and ear infections early in life. It's believed that the gut and ear nerves are especially sensitive to conditions.
When chiropractors offer adjustments, it can enhance both the immune system and the gut-brain connection, which can prevent or reduce the prevalence of acid reflux and ear infections.
What Can a Chiropractor Help With?
The necessity of chiropractic care becomes clear when you look into the sheer benefits that it provides. During a diagnostic appointment, your chiropractor will assess what needs you have so that you can get specialized treatment.
Here are a few of the most common reasons that people turn to chiropractors:
- Lower back / leg pain - sciatica
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Repetitive strains
- Car accident injuries
- Sports injuries
- Arthritic pain
What to Expect in Chiropractic Treatment
When you need to get chiropractic treatment, it's important to understand what to expect from the treatment. Your professional will advise you to wear something comfortable and loose-fitting -- similar to clothing that you might wear to the gym.
From there, they will provide a health assessment and issue a treatment plan.
Health Assessment
Your chiropractor will go over all pertinent health history, in addition to having you fill out forms. They'll ask about your symptoms, their severity, and how long you've been experiencing them.
You'll also need to provide information about your family's medical history, and whether or not you've received treatment from other professionals.
They will then provide you with a chiropractic exam that includes checking your blood pressure, testing your range of motion, and finding out the exact area of pain.
Treatment Plan
Once your chiropractor understands what you're dealing with, they will create a customized treatment plan to heal you.
This can include a combination of massage techniques, adjustments, spinal manipulation, hot and cold treatments, flexion-distraction, spinal decompression, and other methods. These professionals will lay out a schedule of appointments typically once per week and will chart your progress every step of the way.
Always ask them to explain the therapy to you so that you know what to expect when you go in for each appointment.
What Does It Feel Like? Does It Hurt?
Rest assured that you won't have to worry about much pain and discomfort when you go to the chiropractor. Your chiropractor will have to massage through some tension to work out the kinks, but overall it should be a pleasurable experience.
Expect your appointments to last between a half-hour to an hour in most cases.
Can You See a Chiropractor When Pregnant?
In most situations, visiting the chiropractor while pregnant is both safe and beneficial. These professionals can help you get rid of the pain and discomfort that you experience while carrying, keep swelling under control, and help you to get to sleep at night.
Here are a few reasons that pregnant women might avoid visiting the chiropractor:
- You're dealing with an ectopic pregnancy
- You've experienced vaginal bleeding
- Your pregnancy is experiencing placenta previa or placenta abruption
- Toxemia is an issue with your pregnancy
Always consult with your physician if you're dealing with these risk factors and ask whether chiropractic care is suitable or not.
Risks of Chiropractic's
Chiropractic care, like other forms of treatment, comes with its own set of inherent risks. Understanding these risks will arm you with the right information as you decide to move forward.
As long as your treatment is performed by a licensed and insured chiropractor, the risks are generally rare.
Here are a few issues that you should be aware of:
- Nerve compression in the lower part of your spinal cord
- You might experience or worsen a herniated disk condition
- Certain neck adjustments can cause stroke
Who Is the Chiropractor NOT For?
As you can see, chiropractic treatments provide a wealth of benefits to several people. However, it's important to recognize that it's simply not for everyone.
Health conditions and other matters make chiropractic care a bad idea for the following people:
- People with severe osteoporosis
- People with cancer in the spine
- People with an increased risk of stroke
- People with numbness, tingling, or loss of strength in an arm or leg
- People with a known bone abnormality in their neck
Are Chiropractors Covered by Provincial Health Care Plans?
Certain provinces cover chiropractic care as part of their healthcare plans.
For example, Manitoba covers its citizens for up to seven chiropractic visits annually. British Columbia also allows some chiropractic procedures to be covered under its healthcare plans.
Research the plans in your province to know for sure.
Final Thoughts on Chiropractors
As you can see, a visit to the chiropractor can reap huge rewards for your physical and mental health. Whether you need pain relief or assistance improving your daily life, you'll be glad to add a chiropractor's service to your regimen.
Insurdinary has earned a solid reputation for helping people with all of their insurance, mortgage, and banking needs. We'd be happy to pair you up with the perfect policy.
We have a number of basic and premium health insurance plans that can assist you with all of your chiropractic needs.
If you're looking for an insurance plan that can help you get quality chiropractic care, get the quote that you need by using our online form, shooting us an e-mail (info@insurdinary.com), or by calling 1-877-574-RISK (7475).
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