chiropractor

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A chiropractor is a therapist who uses chiropractic care to treat functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The aim is to relieve pain and restore normal mobility, especially of the spine. Read here when a chiropractor can help, what exactly he does and what risks are associated with chiropractic care.

What is a chiropractor?

A chiropractor is a doctor or alternative practitioner who has received further training in chiropractic. The term chiropractic is made up of the Greek words for hand (cheiro) and action (praxis) and thus also describes the procedure that the chiropractor uses:

With the help of special hand movements, he tries to remove joint blockages, which are usually associated with muscle tension and pain. Any pressure on nerve tracts should also be reduced and, ultimately, the body's self-healing powers activated.

The general goal of chiropractic is to normalize the functionality and interaction of joints and muscles and thereby alleviate pain or, at best, eliminate it.

When does a chiropractor help?

Due to the blockage of the joints in the spine in particular, various symptoms often appear with a time lag, which the chiropractor can treat. Which symptoms these are depends on which section of the spine is affected, because different nerves are irritated:

A blockage in the cervical spine can cause headache and neck pain, dizziness, and hearing and visual impairment. In the area of ​​the spine, shoulder and back pain, high blood pressure and digestive problems can arise. When the lower part of the spine is blocked, patients often complain of pain in the hips, abdomen, or legs and feet.

What does a chiropractor do?

Before starting the actual chiropractic treatment, the chiropractor will ask about your medical history (anamnesis) and examine you thoroughly. This also includes orthopedic and neurological tests to determine the source of the dysfunction. The chiropractor pays particular attention to what is known as subluxation - a term that describes the misalignment of a vertebral body in relation to the neighboring vertebrae. Subluxations can arise, for example, from poor posture, lack of exercise and accidents.

The chiropractor solves a subluxation in a targeted manner and without much effort by guiding the blocked joint into a certain position with a small impulse. Often there is an audible cracking sound. This process is called adjustment and in most cases has to be repeated several times if you want to permanently eliminate the symptoms. Most chiropractic treatments require 10 to 15 sessions.

If soft tissues such as muscles or tendons are also affected, the chiropractor will use various types of massages and targeted stretches.

An important part of a successful chiropractic treatment is a subsequent physiotherapy, which serves to stabilize and strengthen the musculoskeletal system. It also includes home exercises that you can do independently at home following brief instructions from the chiropractor.

What are the risks of chiropractic?

In general, chiropractic does not pose any risks to the healthy musculoskeletal system and is painless in most cases.

The chiropractor can only treat ailments with a functional cause. This means that organic changes such as osteoarthritis or a herniated disc cannot be improved by chiropractic, but in the worst case even worsened. It is therefore important to rule out such pre-existing conditions prior to chiropractic treatment.

In very rare cases, complications such as symptoms of nerve failure (such as sensory disturbances or symptoms of paralysis) can occur if the chiropractor works improperly. Damage to the vessels in the area of ​​the cervical spine is even rarer if it is adjusted chiropractically. This can lead to the formation of blood clots and thus to strokes.

What do you have to consider with a chiropractor?

So that the chiropractor can get an idea of ​​your illness and rule out contraindications (factors that speak against chiropractic treatment), you must describe your medical history and complaints to him in detail.

Chiropractic should not be used if the vertebral bodies are abnormally abnormal. Broken bones (fractures) and degenerative diseases such as osteoarthritis also rule out chiropractic treatment. Other methods of pain relief and healing are also used for tumors, acute infections, and herniated discs.

If you notice dizziness, pain or nerve failure due to tingling or numbness after chiropractic treatment, contact your chiropractor immediately.

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