In our daily lives, we frequently experience joint and muscle pains stemming from factors like a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture, injuries, medical conditions, stress, anxiety, inadequate diet, and lack of exercise.

This article discusses chiropractic care, also known as chiropractic adjustment, which is a common, non-invasive, and effective treatment. We’ll explore the conditions it can help with and how it contributes to overall well-being.

What Is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care (aka chiropractic medicine) is the science focused on assessing, diagnosing, and treating neuromuscular disorders of the body, especially those related to the spine and the nervous system.

The treatment​

In other words, chiropractic care is a hands-on therapy that uses mechanical joint adjustments and gentle mobilizations to restore the proper biomechanics of the affected joint, reduce tension, and improve movement at the affected site.

What Conditions Can Be Treated by Chiropractic?

Based on the cause of each health condition, like sports injuries, accidents, pregnancy, and according to the thorough assessment done by practitioners and chiropractors, they provide a specific type of treatment designed for the patient.

However, some conditions and symptoms could generally be treated by manual therapy through chiropractic adjustment. Here are a few examples:

We will describe how chiropractic and chiropractors help treat some of these common syndromes and conditions.

Lower/Middle/Upper Back Pain

Back pain is an extremely common condition among Canadians. Upper back pain and lower back pain are frequently associated with sustained positions without movements, poor posture, and poor lifting techniques.

Lower back pain can have many causes, and a thorough assessment and diagnosis is crucial to appropriate chiropractic treatment. Remember, not all back pains are the same.

As back pain is also considered a spine misalignment, chiropractors can realign the spine, improve joint function, and reduce the pain.

It’s important to note that the effectiveness of chiropractic care for back pain can vary from person to person, and not all individuals will experience the same results.

Therefore, the same stretches will not work for everybody. Ensure you get your back and spine professionally checked by a chiropractor if you are experiencing any type of back pain.

Neck Pain – Neck Stiffness

Cervical spine injuries, associated headaches, and neck pain are common among individuals. The causes could be sudden trauma, repetitive overuse injuries, poor posture, or poor sleeping habits.

These injuries vary in severity and can present as neck stiffness, headaches, pain in the jaw, and even vertigo.

Sustained position without breaks and movements and poor mattress and pillow are other reasons one may experience neck pain.

Chiropractors use manual manipulation and adjustments to address misalignments in the spine, including the neck, with the goal of improving joint function and reducing pain.

However, before seeking chiropractic treatment for neck pain, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare provider, particularly if the neck pain is chronic, severe, or accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, weakness, or radiating pain.

Other treatments for neck pain are also available at our clinic. Check out here for more information.

Shoulder Pain – Rotator Cuff Injury

The shoulder is a ball and socket joint, which allows for great mobility and a broad range of motion. Shoulder restrictions often result from soft tissue-related injuries, repetitive overuse, and sprain/strain injuries of the rotator cuff.

However, shoulder pain could also arise from Calcific Tendinitis, shoulder dislocations, or the frozen shoulder.

Through a series of Orthopedic assessments and careful observations, our healthcare professionals at Fulcrum Therapy can accurately diagnose any shoulder injury and suggest the best treatment plan for your specific injury.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel refers to an anatomical space on the palmar side of the wrist where an important nerve, the median nerve, passes through.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition seen in individuals working in an office setting, using a keyboard and mouse for extended periods.

A non-ergonomic workstation can increase the risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

This condition can present as pain in the wrist or numbness and tingling in the affected hand. CTS can be effectively diagnosed and treated with chiropractic care through manual therapy of soft tissue and joints compressing the nerve.

When combined with specific home care and rehabilitation exercises, most people find relief from this condition without needing surgery, especially when treated early in its presentation.

Arthritis – Osteoarthritis

Often, we hear patients say, “It’s just arthritis, nothing can be done,” “I have to live with this forever,” or “I am just getting old”.

We want to challenge these statements because although arthritis is not reversible from a physiological level, the pain associated with arthritis is.

Chiropractic treatments are extremely effective in easing joint pain associated with arthritis, not through manipulation but rather gentle mobilizations that promote circulation and aid in the joints’ gliding capabilities.

Suppose your joints are inflamed or have osteophyte formations or joint fusion.

In that case, chiropractic can still help you by ensuring surrounding joints and body parts are functioning optimally, which could slow down the onset of arthritis in those adjacent joints and prevent a chained pain reaction in the body from compensatory movements.

Hip Pain – Bursitis Hip

Hip pain can be directly from the hip joint or secondary to a dysfunction of the Sacroiliac joint. Other conditions such as Piriformis syndrome, hip dysplasia, hip Bursitis, or impingement syndromes can also present as hip pain.

Hip pain is broad and non-descriptive, and diagnosing the type of hip pain requires a thorough history of the condition and appropriate orthopedic tests by qualified practitioners such as chiropractors.

Your hip pain could result from an SI joint dysfunction or a soft tissue injury. Treatment prognosis will vary depending on the etiology.

The Takeaway

Usually, most people prefer to reserve invasive treatment options such as surgery and medication for later if they can fix their issues through non-invasive treatment modalities such as chiropractic.

Invasive treatments often follow a more difficult recovery period and a longer time away from sports and activities.

Alternative non-invasive medicines like chiropractic care are here to facilitate the healing process and reduce invasive treatment’s challenges.

Chiropractic adjustment and soft tissue techniques provided by chiropractors can help treat different health conditions like headaches and migraines, back pain (either lower, middle, or upper part), neck and shoulder pain, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee and foot pain, plantar fasciitis, etc.

Some chiropractors have extra training to assist in prenatal and postnatal care for women to facilitate an easier, pain-free pregnancy and labor.

At Fulcrum Therapy, our dedicated and professional team is here to help you go pain-free and return to your normal life.