Chiropractic is remarkably safe. In fact, it is one of the safest treatments available. Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and takes an overall "wellness" approach to health care. The effects of these disorders on general health can be devastating. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Chiropractic care also teaches a "wellness" approach that focuses on diet, exercise, physical and mental well-being. The Doctor of Chiropractic will diagnose your condition and determine what method of treatment is most appropriate for you. He may make a referral to an allopathic physician if you need prescription pharmaceuticals or surgery. Chiropractic's main forms of treatment specialize in a non-drug and non-surgical approaches to health care.

Doctors of Chiropractic, often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as "spinal manipulation," also called "chiropractic adjustment." The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile, or restricted in their movement, as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.

Chiropractic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment (as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.

In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.

Doctors of chiropractic may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is appropriate or when it is not appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient's condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team. If you have had previous treatment from other practitioners, it is helpful to bring available records or reports with you, including results of any laboratory tests, x-rays, or MRIs.

As with all types of treatment, the speed of response varies. It is not unusual to feel improvement after the first or second visit, and most people will experience improvement within several visits. Except in highly unusual circumstances, if a patient is not experiencing any noticeable improvement within approximately 6 visits, Dr. Bruns will refer him or her to a different doctor or practitioner.

While each case is evaluated individually, a typical initial course of treatment is approximately 1 to 3 visits per week. (In more acute cases, visits may be more frequent at the start. In some cases, people will progress more rapidly and require less treatment.). At the end of the initial series, progress is evaluated. In some cases, treatment ends at this point. In other cases it continues, usually with a decreasing frequency of visits.

Dr. Bruns does make maintenance visits available, but insurance does not cover these treatments. Some people enjoy the since of well-being and other health benefits of the maintenance adjustment, even in the absence of symptoms, diagnosis, or injury.

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The above information was located at http://www.amerchiro.org/ on June 14th, 2007 and portions were re-written for the purposes of this website. To view the original document, please visit http://www.amerchiro.org/ To read the ACA's official description of chiropractic as presented in its master plan, click here.