Since the focus of Chiropractic care is the structure of the body as a whole (not just the injured part), chiropractors are able to identify (and correct) structural imbalances that may impede optimal athletic performance. The detection and correction of such structural imbalances can help to prevent sports injuries as well.

In the U. S., Chiropractic sports medicine specialists, who are licensed in all fifty states, typically earn a degree, Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Sports Physicians (DABCSP), upon completion of a three year, post-doctoral program. Sports chiropractors have been officially included on the medical staff of world class and Olympic sports teams since the 1970s (the first appointment of a Doctor of Chiropractic to a U.S. Olympic team was in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games held in Montreal).

While conventional medicine focuses on the treatment of the symptoms caused by individual sports injuries (damaged tendons and ligaments, bone fractures, dislocations, sprains etc), the chiropractic approach is to stimulate the body’s natural capacity to heal itself, which will not only overcome symptoms, but enhance performance. The distinctive value of chiropractic sports care can be summarized as follows:

* Almost all sports place abnormal strain on the back and structural systems. This often means that athletes are not able to perform at optimal efficiency because their structural systems are imbalanced. Chiropractic sports specialists are specialized in maintaining proper structural alignment of neuro-musculoskeletal systems to optimize performance.

* Athletes who have been ‘treated’ for old injuries by surgery or medication and no longer experience the symptoms of their injuries are very often mislead. Believing they are cured, they resume the practice of their sport, often putting their health at risk. This is because, even when its symptoms are ‘treated’ or covered up, a sports injury can still affect an athlete’s body – and his / her performance. Since the neuro-musculoskeletal misalignments caused by the injury have not been corrected, they often continue to suffer the same amount of spinal stress Chiropractic care, which focuses on correcting (adjusting) vertebral misalignments or ‘subluxations’, effectively enhances recovery from sports injuries and speeds up the process of recuperation.

* Many sports injuries that do not respond to conventional medical treatment can be helped by chiropractic sports medicine. If the athlete’s spine is properly aligned and in its optimal structural position, nerves are protected against irritation and damage, ensuring optimal communication between the central nervous system and other parts of the body. Minor spinal misalignments can affect nerves and impact legs, shoulders, head, feet etc. Restoring and optimizing the function of the spine and nerves (a unique chiropractic procedure) increases the body’s potential to heal itself.

* Sports training very often leads to spinal misalignments and, because the spine is the center of the body, this can weaken other parts of the athlete’s body, increasing the chances of injury – injuries that chiropractic care can help avoid. This is why the role of chiropractic sports medicine in preventive care is so important.

Coaches, athletes, and medical doctors have recently realized the importance of chiropractic care for athlete health. Doctors of Chiropractic know that the key to health and recovery is NOT simply the removal of injury symptoms, but the enhancement of the body’s structural function to stimulate its self-healing power so that athletes can withstand avoidable injuries, enjoy optimal performance, decrease the risk of injury and recuperate faster when they do get injured.

Many common pregnancy problems are primarily due to changes that affect the pelvic and spinal ligaments, muscles, joints and other supportive soft tissues. In some cases, they lead to misalignments of the pelvic and spinal structures, and may affect the normal spinal curvature of the expectant mother. The majority of such pregnancy-related pain conditions will quickly disappear with chiropractic care.

* Lower Back Pain: Pregnancy-related lower back pain is usually the result of a condition known as ‘sacroiliac joint dysfunction’, which chiropractors call ‘SI subluxation’ (subluxations are misalignments of body joints that lead to irritation of nerves and tissues in the surrounding area). As the body adjusts to weight gain and the change in weight distribution during pregnancy, spinal and pelvic muscles and ligaments sustain additional stress. To facilitate the delivery process, a pregnant woman’s body produces increased amounts of hormones like Relaxin that cause muscle and ligament relaxation. Together, all these factors can result in misalignments (subluxations) of the spine and pelvis, increasing the stress on the joints, nerves, and discs in the lower back and pelvis and creating pain.

* Sciatica (pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in one or sometimes both legs) is also often the result of subluxations in the low back or pelvis.

* Neck Pain and Headaches: Subluxations in the neck area can be the reason for the neck pain and headaches experienced by many mothers-to-be. As the pregnancy advances, the woman’s center of gravity changes – and so does her posture, creating extra stress in the neck and the middle back.

Chiropractic care is beneficial for treating other, non-pain related, pregnancy issues as well. A misaligned (subluxated) pelvis could mean that the ligaments connecting the uterus to the pelvis are affected, which in turn affects the position of the uterus and the growing baby. When a doctor of Chiropractic corrects subluxations of the pelvis, this helps to balance the uterus, often allowing a ‘breech baby’ to assume a more optimal position for delivery.

Chiropractic spinal adjustments during pregnancy are specific, gentle, and safe. The increased relaxation of muscles and ligaments due to hormones mean that less force is required during spinal adjustments. Light pressure is usually applied to the joints of the spine, restoring normal alignment and reducing stress on the nervous system.

Because it enhances the functioning of the nervous system and restores balance to the pelvis and the muscles and ligaments that attach to it, specific chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can lead to better deliveries and provide improved health potential for the mother and her baby, both.

If you consult a doctor of Chiropractic during your pregnancy, make sure that he / she is well-informed of the progress of your pregnancy, any medication you may be taking and your medical history in general.

Children undergo a number of physical stresses, starting with possible birth trauma (difficult labors, forceps and vacuum extraction births, C-sections etc), to early infancy falls, tumbles and accidents, to sports juries in older children.

Parents should realize that symptoms such as pain or malfunction following spinal trauma might not appear for years. Chiropractic medicine, based on the principle that good health relies, in part, upon a normally functioning nervous system, focuses on causes rather than symptoms. That’s why it’s important to have your child’s spine checked if he or she experiences some kind of physical trauma. A chiropractor will detect any “subluxation” and correct it, relieving nerve interference and returning the spine and nervous system to a healthy state.

Studies show that many children who suffer from colic, ear infections and asthma have spinal “subluxations” impairing their nervous system function. Recent research has shown that chiropractic care can help treat many such children’s ailments:

* Colic: Several studies involving infants diagnosed with colic by pediatricians show that infants who receive chiropractic care cease to suffer from colic symptoms faster than infants were taking dimethicone. In most of these studies, follow up surveys performed a month later revealed that the infants who had received chiropractic care had not suffered a reoccurrence of colic. Chiropractors attribute this improvement to a removal of a subluxation that was interfering in the infants’ nervous system.

* Ear infections: Children with middle ear infections respond to treatment by chiropractors, even when they suffer from chronic infections previously treated with several courses antibiotics. Chiropractors try to determine whether the reason for their body’s inability to combat the infection is an irritation of small nerves in the spine that causes an abnormal tension in the small muscles of the neck. This can put pressure on the lymphatic drainage ducts. The inadequate drainage from inside the ear prevents the child’s body from naturally correcting the problem. The chiropractor will also look for spinal vertebrae that are slightly out of alignment or are not moving within their normal range. Chiropractic treatment of earache involves a detailed evaluation, commonly followed by a number of spinal adjustments and manipulation of neck muscles to help restore normal lymph drainage.

The condition of your children’s central nervous system and spine is important to their overall health. When you check your child’s hearts, lungs, eyes and teeth, remember to also check his / her spine. Since a child’s spine grows almost 50% in length during his first year, regular early chiropractic examinations are critically important to provide essential corrective and preventive care.

On your first visit, expect to spend at least 30 minutes to discuss any health issues. If you have a copy of x-rays or radiology reports, you will need to give them to your chiropractor to review. He or she may want to give you a general physical and take your blood pressure, reflexes, breathing and an analysis of your posture.

Be prepared to discuss your current level of activity, your stress levels, medications you are on and your general health condition. They will also want to know your family medical history. Your back problems could be hereditary. Tell your chiropractor if you have had any major illnesses or surgery in the last 5 years.

Having thorough knowledge of your medical history and your current health status, along with your activity levels, will give your chiropractor a better picture of how they can best help you. They will be able to tell if your condition is temporary or will require long term treatment.

Once the initial consultation is complete, you can expect each visit to last only 15 or 20 minutes, depending on the condition that you are being treated for. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.

A chiropractor may recommend that in between visits you take the necessary steps to improve your overall health like quitting smoking, reducing your alcohol intake and eating healthier. He or she may even request that you lose weight. Extra weight places a tremendous strain on your body.

Whether you are suffering from neck pain, back pain or sciatic pain, your chiropractor can relieve the systems and help them from re-occurring; but it is important to take responsibility for your own health and make sure you are taking care of yourself. For instance, lower back pain may be caused by nothing more than being overweight.

Of course, chiropractors are not miracle workers and cannot solve every problem; nor can a medical doctor, but there are instances when drugs or surgery is the only option. An examination by a chiropractor for things like faulty metabolism, excess spinal fluid, or defective nerve fibers, for which they will not be able to provide effective treatment and you may need to see a medical doctor.

Chiropractics was founded in 1895 by Dr. Daniel Palmer, a Canadian who settled in Iowa. He believed that all illness and disease could be cured by simply adjusting your vertebrae and that all illness was caused by your central nervous system. The term chiropractics comes from the Greek language and means ‘done by hand.’ It is said that Dr. Palmer was able to heal a deaf patient by just adjusting his vertebrae!

Chiropractics takes a holistic approach to healing. This differs from a medical doctor, as an MD will only treat the part of your body that needs relief. Chiropractors believe that when your spine is properly aligned, your nerves, organs, tissues, and appendages like your hands, feet, arms, and legs will feel less pain, pressure and spasms. Once your spine is in balance your body can naturally heal itself of illness.

Medical students and chiropractic students start out with similar studies; many chiropractic students even visit hospitals and do rounds with the medical students. It is in the third and fourth years that the studies vary widely. Medical students will study such things as pharmaceuticals and surgery procedures; chiropractors will study things like physiology and biochemistry. The length of study for both medical doctors and chiropractors are similar, including internship. A medical doctor has an “MD” beside his or name; a chiropractor has a “DC” beside his or her name.

Chiropractors offer an excellent alternative to those who want a more natural, holistic approach to easing pain and illness.

For instance, if you have foot pain, a chiropractor that specializes in orthotics will be able to assess your situation. You may need to have a custom made orthotic. A typical assessment will include a discussion of your medical history, a gait analysis, a weight bearing and non-weight bearing examination, foam casting, and a recommendation on the best suited orthotic for your situation.

If you are experiencing any of the following foot ailments, a chiropractor may be able to help:

• pain while standing or walking
• pain in your foot or ankle while running
• bunions, calluses or corns
• tingling or a numbness in your arches
• pain in your foot arches
• Achilles tendonitis
• arthritis

Our feet take a lot of punishment throughout the day. The average person walks over 6000 steps every day. They are our foundation and bear the weight of our entire body. It is no wonder over 75% of us have foot pain at some point in our lives. Joggers, runners and athletes frequently suffer from foot pain and seek the help of a chiropractor for relief.

Even if your chiropractor decides that you do not need special orthotics for your feet, they can help relieve the pressure and pain through normal treatments like massage and manipulation. They can even use an ultrasound treatment to control and relieve spasms.

You may even find that when they do adjustments on your spine to properly align it, you will feel less pain and pressure in your feet. When your spine is in balance, the rest of your body’s appendages, like your hands, feet, arms and legs will also be in balance. This allows your body to heal itself naturally.

When you are looking for the help of a chiropractor, make sure you interview more than one and choose someone whom with you feel most comfortable. Check with your insurance provider to confirm whether the cost is going to be covered.

The main theory behind the practice of chiropractics is that all illness, pain and disease originate within your central nervous system. Nerves send signals to the rest of your body via your spinal cord. If your spinal cord or joints are out of alignment, it puts pressure on your joints and muscles causing pain. A chiropractor’s job, then, is to re-align your spine and get everything back into its proper place. This allows your nerves to function properly with your brain, and your body can heal itself naturally.

If you suffer from any of the following, a chiropractor may be able to help:

• auto accident
• fatigue
• stress
• neck pain
• back pain
• foot pain
• bad posture
• whiplash

Chiropractors use a variety of treatment methods, depending on the type of illness or ailment.

• Gentle touch – this is a non-force method that uses light pressure on a misaligned bone. This helps to relax the muscle
• Diversified technique – this method is used to induce gaps of the joints in the spine. This restores the normal spine alignment. This technique is used commonly for sports injuries, auto accidents and falls.
• Ultrasound – the vibration of the ultrasound machine can reduce and relieve muscle spasms and reduce inflammation.
• Activator – This is a rubber-tipped instrument that manipulates tender areas, like knee and elbow joints.

Chiropractors also treat children and babies. Many parents have taken their colicky baby to a chiropractor and have seen significant improvements. The root cause of colic is still unknown, but is thought to have something to do with the digestive system. After gentle manipulation of the baby’s spine, the nervous system is able to properly talk to the brain, thus easing baby’s discomfort.

Many athletes seek regular chiropractic treatment for easing sore muscles and joints. Office workers seek relief from neck pain if they spend a lot of time on the telephone without a hands free device. Even migraine sufferers feel relief after being treated by a chiropractor.

There are many ailments that you seek treatment for: neck pain, back pain, sciatica, fatigue, stress, sore joints, whiplash and an auto accident are only a few things you may be seeking relief from.

The technique that your chiropractor uses will depend on his or her specialties, as well as the type of ailment or illness you are suffering from. Here are five different techniques that may be used.

1. Diversified technique. This is the most common method of treatment and is extremely effective for sports injuries, a fall or an auto accident. The technique involves a gapping of the joints in the spine, to put it back into normal alignment.
2. Gentle Touch. This is a non-force method that applies light pressure to a misaligned bone. This relaxes the muscles and eases pain.
3. Activator. This is a rubber-tipped instrument that manipulates delicate or tender areas, such as elbow and knee joints.
4. Ultrasound. This technique uses the vibrations of the ultrasound to reduce spasms and inflammation.
5. Supports, rolls and wedges. These are different equipment that are used to hold your body in place while your chiropractor is manipulating your spine, joints and muscles.

There are many more techniques that may be used by your chiropractor, but these are the most common. Your chiropractor may not use all of these methods. Make sure your chiropractor explains which technique he or she will use and how it is going to help you.