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Chiropractors are doctors of natural health. But what exactly does a chiropractor do?
Know This
They help people recover from injuries and improve their quality of life without using drugs or surgery.
Harvard Health describes chiropractic as follows…
“Chiropractic is a system of therapy focused on the body’s structure, particularly the spine. Chiropractors manipulate the body’s alignment to relieve pain and improve function and to help the body heal itself.”
How Chiropractic Got Started
As a profession, chiropractic was founded in 1895 by D.D. Palmer, a magnetic healer who had a hunch that the function of your nervous system was responsible for a lot of your health or sickness.
By adjusting the spine, he thought chiropractors could have a tremendous influence on the person’s function… and he was right.
Over the past hundred years, our understanding of the relationships between the spine and the nervous system has advanced by leaps and bounds, but the core understanding remains the same.
Proper movement and range of motion are incredibly important, and many of our bodies’ systems function at their best when we move regularly, eat well, and stay positive with our thoughts.
How it’s Going Today
What exactly does a chiropractor do today?
Today, chiropractors have various techniques to help people recover from injuries and live healthier, better quality lives.
Most chiropractors adjust the spine and extremities (arms, legs, hips, etc.) and offer services that support this care, such as rehab, taping, movement assessments, or massage.
Research has continually shown that the types of conservative care (meaning no drugs or surgery) offered by chiropractors can help people recover from aches and pains so people can stay active and well.
What Chiropractors Treat
Chiropractors commonly help people heal from…
“The Smart Chiropractor’s tools are simply the best ROI I have seen in 20 years of practice.”
Dr. Mike Marino, DC
Marino Chiropractic Clinic
Commonly Treated Conditions
- Headaches
- Low Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Hip Pain
- Knee Pain
- Spinal Disc Bulges or Herniations
- Sciatica
- Auto Accident Injuries
What’s been even more exciting is the emerging research over the past few years that showcases how chiropractic care may be able to influence more than natural pain relief.
Early studies have shown the potential for improvement in athletic performance and functional ability, even in people who have no pain!
What Exactly Does a Chiropractor Do Each Day with Their Patients?
For most chiropractors, their daily routine takes place inside of their practice/office.
It’s common for a chiropractor to work five days a week and see 25-50 patients per day or more patient visits typically range from 10-30 minutes depending on the specific treatment that is delivered.
Almost all of the larger healthcare insurers cover chiropractic care, and many healthcare organizations recommend that medical doctors refer to chiropractors for natural, drug, and surgery-free pain relief.
In the past 10 years, many of the most prestigious healthcare brands have begun to incorporate chiropractors into their systems.
One of us (Dr. Jeff) has personally practiced at two different orthopedic groups in our career, including the well-known Florida Orthopaedic Institute.
Chiropractors use various techniques such as adjustment, exercise, rehab, and additional therapies to help eliminate any issues impacting your spine and nervous system to restore function and improve your health.
The Mayo Clinic describes a chiropractic adjustment as …
What is a Chiropractic Adjustment?
“… a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this procedure, also known as spinal manipulation, is to improve spinal motion and improve your body’s physical function.”
Most of the work a chiropractor will do involves the treatment of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system.
A chiropractor’s education licensure also allows them to diagnose and treat other issues related to your nervous system and musculoskeletal system. The scope of practice (what you can or can’t do as a chiropractor) varies a little bit between each state.
Regardless of where you decide to live there will likely be a chiropractor close by. In the United States alone there are over 50,000 practicing chiropractors who each day help hundreds of thousands of people improve their quality of life, naturally.