Many people know that a chiropractor is recommended if you experience back pain, or may be vaguely familiar with the practice, but not understand what a chiropractor actually does. If it has been recommended you seek out chiropractic in Atlanta, you may want to understand why chiropractors are beneficial and what you can expect before making an appointment. The truth is that chiropractors can treat a wide range of issues, from pinched nerves to car accident injuries and a lot more, and each practitioner may be slightly different, but this primer will help you understand if a chiropractor is right for you.
What Is a Chiropractor?
The simplest definition of a chiropractor is a health care professional who specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders. A chiropractor undergoes specialized training in manual adjustment techniques, which they apply by adjusting your spine to eliminate misalignments that may be leading to a range of health problems.
Chiropractic care is done through a series of these manual adjustments to the spine, with the goal of reducing pain and improving the overall function of the body. One of the hallmarks of chiropractors’ care is a belief in educating the patient for ongoing health. Rather than addressing symptoms individually like a traditional health care provider, chiropractors aim to partner with you on your health. This means they educate you about maintaining your health to prevent future issues from ever occurring. Atlanta chiropractors can help you to understand nutrition, exercise, ergonomics, and general wellness techniques that serve as preventative healthcare measures.
A chiropractor will typically complete an undergraduate in the sciences before going on to a chiropractic program to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic. This coursework includes clinical training, licensure exams, and a four-year accredited academic program.
The Spine and Nervous System
The main belief that drives chiropractic is that there is a deep connection between the spine and the nervous system, which helps your body to communicate properly with your brain. Any misalignment in the spine, or condition that may affect its health, can impact the nervous system and break down the communication throughout your body.
When a chiropractor adjusts your spine, they are seeking to eliminate these misalignments not just to address them on their own, but to restore proper function to the body and improve overall health.
Because this connection is lifelong, people of any age can benefit from chiropractic in Atlanta—from newborns to elderly adults, there is some benefit to be had from an adjustment. Even if you do not suffer from back pain or a specific condition, visiting a chiropractor can lead to feeling better overall. More importantly, chiropractic in Atlanta can be used to prevent future injury from occurring by keeping the spine aligned.
What Can Chiropractor Treat?
Most people associate chiropractors with back and neck pain – and this is certainly something they are well equipped to address! But there are a large number of conditions that can be helped or solved through chiropractic care.
Any injury, whether sustained during sports or a car accident, or chronic pain can be helped by chiropractic adjustments. Pain caused by sciatica, nerve damage, arthritis, or a number of other conditions can be helped by chiropractic care in Atlanta. Because of the impact your spine has on your health, addressing misalignments may even have an impact on other systems, like the digestive system.
Chiropractors primarily use manual adjustments to treat neuromuscular issues, but they are also able to employ other methods in their pursuit of wellness. They may use cold or hot therapy, exercises and physical therapy, massage, and nutrition counseling in addition to spinal manipulation. Chiropractors believe that the body should be treated as a whole, rather than individual parts, and the more ways they are able to heal, the more effective that treatment can be.
Chiropractic Specialties
Chiropractors do not have to choose a specific field like medical doctors, however many do choose a particular area of interest. Those that choose to do so can receive further certifications in joint pain, sports medicine, pediatrics, imaging, and other fields. Some chiropractors choose to focus on specific types of patients or injuries.
At AICA Orthopedics, our chiropractic staff has years of experience working with car accident victims. By working with orthopedic doctors, physical therapists, pain management specialists, and other experts, the chiropractors at AICA Orthopedics are able to treat patients holistically. Each patient will have a customized plan developed to meet their health and wellness goals. If you are interested in chiropractic in Atlanta, please reach out to us today to schedule your first consultation with a chiropractor!
