How bowel frequency impacts your health
Are there hard and fast rules about what constitutes a healthy …let’s just say it, poo?
When it comes to treating and preventing medical conditions or injuries, there are no shortage of options available. Screenings and vaccinations, surgical interventions, medications and various forms of psychotherapies are all common. Complementary or alternative medicine approaches are also sometimes recommended. These may include acupuncture, herbal medicine and various forms of massage therapy.
Chiropractic care is another alternative approach as it emphasizes interconnectedness between proper body alignment and many bodily functions we associate with overall health.
Here’s what chiropractic care is, what happens during a chiropractic adjustment and who should probably skip out on having one.
What do chiropractors do? What happens during a chiropractic adjustment?
A chiropractic adjustment is a procedure meant to improve spinal alignment and healthy joint function throughout the body. An adjustment usually starts with a chiropractor learning the medical history of the patient, checking their vitals and providing a physical exam, explains Keith Sparks, a board-certified chiropractor at California Chiropractic in Bakersfield, who has been treating patients for 29 years. “Sometimes an X-ray is also taken before the adjustment begins,” he adds.
He explains that once the preliminary exam is given and medical history established, the patient usually starts by lying down on a chiropractic table – a mechanically assisted massage-like table that is divided into different sections that allows for various areas of the hips or spine to be targeted. “During an adjustment, I’ll use my hands, different elements of the table or a low-force instrument to correct any issues that may be occurring,” Sparks says.
This joint and spine manipulation is a sort of reboot for the body’s nervous system and “helps your body move better, feel better and heal better,” says John Ulrich, a board-certified chiropractor at California Sports & Family Chiropractic who has been treating patients for 35 years.
What are the benefits of getting a chiropractic adjustment?
While chiropractic care has many benefits, the one most often sought after is relief from neck or back pain as pain in these regions is commonly caused by nerve compression.
Pinched nerves occur when the surrounding cartilage or muscle or bone tissue put excessive pressure on spinal joints. “When a joint is under pressure, a chiropractic adjustment helps release that pressure, which is the audible ‘pop’ or ‘cracking’ sound a patient hears” explains Zubin Dah, a board-certified chiropractor at Southern California Health Center in Irvine.
Spinal manipulation not only works to treat back pain this way, but chiropractic adjustments may also improve headaches and spine-related conditions, notes Mayo Clinic.
And chiropractic adjustments may also be helpful in preventing or treating some forms of arthritis, notes the Arthritis Foundation, and has been shown to improve immune function as well. “A properly moving spine is more resilient and heals faster than a back or joint that is stuck or unstable,” says Ulrich.
Helping joints become unstuck and stable, he adds, “also improves mobility and quality of life.” Sparks agrees and notes that this also provides better balance, reduced stress and can improve sleep quality.
In addition to treating injuries and conditions, chiropractic adjustments can also prevent them by improving how the nervous system operates. “Chiropractic care can prevent inflammation and many associated conditions the same way going to the dentist can prevent cavities,” says Sparks.
Are chiropractic adjustments safe?
While chiropractic adjustments are safe when they are done by someone trained and licensed, notes Mayo Clinic, they are not for everyone.
“There are times when adjustments may not help and/or could hurt the patient,” says Dah. For instance, someone with joint hypermobility, someone who has recently undergone surgery “in the area of where the adjustment is taking place,” Dah says, an individual with a skin condition that could be irritated by an adjustment or someone who has severe osteoporosis, spinal cancer or bone disease would usually not be given a traditional chiropractic adjustment or possibly any chiropractic treatment at all. Ditto for anyone who has recently suffered trauma or a serious injury that first needs to heal.
“This is why we conduct a thorough exam and evaluate a patient’s medical history before beginning any treatment,” Sparks says. “Not every condition or situation is appropriate for chiropractic care just like not every condition is appropriate for surgery.”
Dr. Loren Fishman, a physician and professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Columbia University, agrees. While he doesn’t recommend that everyone sees a chiropractor, he says that chiropractic adjustments can be helpful for treating or preventing a variety or musculoskeletal issues in some people. “Chiropractic care,” he says, “is convenient, usually close to home, in general less expensive than many alternatives and can sometimes help clear up a problem quickly.”