If you are experiencing any of a number of common physical ailments, then it is likely your doctor will at some point refer you to a chiropractor for therapeutic treatment. After your initial evaluation at a chiropractic office, the chiropractor will develop a personalized treatment plan for your condition, which will include regular in-office sessions. These sessions may include things like deep tissue massage, acupuncture, traction, and/or cold laser . . . but they will always include spinal manipulation, because spinal manipulation is the hallmark of chiropractic care. So, exactly what is spinal manipulation, and is it as scary as it sounds? If you are facing the prospect of seeing a chiropractor, then these spinal manipulation basics can help set your mind at ease:
Did you realize that good chiropractic care can boost your body’s immunity? This will boost your physical ability to ward off infections and disease.
Origins of spinal manipulation.
The process of manipulating the spine for proper alignment can be traced back to the beginning of recorded history. Ancient Egyptian and Chinese texts outline techniques they used to keep the spine in proper form, and even the ancient Greek philosopher and physician Hippocrates touted the positive effects and importance of spinal manipulation in his texts, saying that the spine is associated with many common health ailments. Spinal manipulation was introduced to the American mainstream in 1895 by Doctor Daniel David Palmer. Since that time, its popularity has spread to global proportion.
Ask your chiropractor if the office allows for multiple visits. Chiropractic care often implies a number of visits. You may need to go a couple of times per week for months to come. It can become costly.The doctor’s office may be able to give you a discount if you visit a lot so things don’t cost you so much money.
Spinal manipulation techniques.
A cervical pillow or roll up a towel and position it beneath your neck when you sleep can really help. They will let your head drop back instead of normal pillows pushing your head being pushed forward.
How spinal manipulation works.
The purpose of spinal manipulation is to properly align the vertebrae in a way that frees up space between the spine’s discs. When there is ample space between the discs, irritation and swelling may go down and, in turn, the nerves encased in the spine receive less pressure (which they register as pain) and are better able to communicate effectively with the body’s nervous system.
Don’t carry your wallet within your back pocket. Many men put a wallet in the back pockets because they do not know it can hurt your lower back. Carry it in a front pocket.