More than 10 percent of American adults have used one or more prescription pain medications in the past 30 days; 5.7 percent of adults are currently using one or more prescription opioids. Whether victims of a car accident, a sports injury, a bicycle accident, a nasty fall or some other incident, people suffering pain are often given strong painkillers to help them cope with their discomfort.
What would happen if many of those suffering injuries found an effective alternate pain remedy that did NOT include addictive painkillers?
An increasing number of Americans of all ages, as many as 35 million, are turning to chiropractic care to address their pain. Chiropractors do not prescribe medication. Instead, they rely on a variety of therapies, including spinal manipulation and mobilization, to improve function and provide pain relief.
What do chiropractors do?
Chiropractic care focuses primarily on disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Chiropractors treat a myriad of disorders, the most common of which are back pain, neck pain, joint pain in the arms and legs, and headaches. Much of their work centers around reducing inflammation, aligning the spine, adjusting vertebrae, increasing range of motion and reducing pain.
What is spinal manipulation?
It is a therapeutic movement of the spine most often used by chiropractors, who apply quick but strong pressure on a joint between two vertebrae of the spine. This realigns the spine and, often after a few treatments, provides pain relief to the patient.
What qualifications do chiropractors have? Are they medical doctors?
Chiropractors are educated in nationally accredited, four-year doctoral graduate programs. Their curriculum includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical internships, which is roughly the equivalent of hours required at osteopathic medical schools. Chiropractors are considered on a par with medical doctors in most states, and Medicare and Medicaid recognize their services.
Does the medical profession recognize chiropractic care?
Increasingly, the answer is “Yes.” In 2017, the American College of Physicians updated its guidelines pertaining to treatment of lower back pain, recommending the use of non-drug treatments, such as spinal manipulation.
How do most chiropractic patients view the care they receive?
More than 75 percent of these patients describe their care as “very effective.” When it comes to back pain, chiropractors regularly receive higher marks than physical therapists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and primary care physicians.
The next time you need help in addressing pain, will you consider chiropractic care? There are many options to explore when it comes to pain management, as an experienced professional, like the chiropractic treatment team in Riverdale, MD, at a treatment center like AmeriWell Clinics, can explain.