Types of Chiropractic Care You Should Know About

A chiropractor is someone who works muscles and joints of the body back into functioning shape. Places in the body that are stressed or tensed can cause pain that may be debilitating in some patients. Any misaligned joints can also cause unnecessary pain. A chiropractor works with patients to discover the source of their pain, using practiced movements and techniques to release the tension within those areas. Here are the basics of the types of chiropractic care and how they can help to reduce or alleviate your pain.

How Chiropractic Works

A chiropractor may move limbs around to their fullest extent in order to stretch out muscles and realign joints. Since pain often comes from the body getting out of line, chiropractic care can return problem joints and muscles to their original positioning and function. This benefits the patient in terms of joint mobility and decreased pain.

Spinal Manipulation

Just as the name suggests, this technique is the readjustment of vertebrae in the spine. A chiropractor will use quick thrusting movements along the back to push any misaligned vertebrae into place. You may hear a popping or cracking sound when the technique is successful, and this is the noise of pressure being released from between the joints. Many forms of back pain may be a result of spinal misalignments, and readjusting the spine so that it is properly shaped can help eliminate the pain.

Articulatory 

This type of chiropractic care involves moving other joints around the body, such as the shoulder and arm joint. If a joint cannot complete its full range of motion or trying to do so causes pain, articulatory may be able to help. A chiropractor will move the joint slowly around until it reaches its full range. This gradually restores the joint to its full functional mobility and reduces the pain that was once caused by it.

Spinal Mobilization

This focuses on the same result as spinal manipulation, but it gets there through a different process. If someone has fragile bones, the thrusting technique may do more damage than good, so spinal mobilization is used instead. It involves stretching and slow movements to eventually realign the spine. This may take more time, but it can ensure the healthiest route.

There are many other forms of chiropractic care. Once you’ve discussed your pain with a chiropractor, like a chiropractor in Baltimore, MD, he or she can inform you of possible treatment options that suit your particular needs. You’ll be on the right path to eliminating your pain faster.

Thank you to the clinicians and experts at Mid-Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic for their insight into chiropractic care.