Chiropractors treat many conditions related to your body’s structure, aiming to provide pain relief and improved function. They are particularly focused on the importance of spinal health.

Due to the nervous system controlling all facets of your body’s function, you may be pleasantly surprised at the effect of chiropractic adjustments on different, seemingly unrelated issues in your body.

Chiropractors support a broad range of conditions, including some of the more common ailments, as listed here…

Back pain

This can be the result of many various spinal conditions. We are trained to determine the cause of the back pain. This may be muscular, nerve related, arthritis or due to myriad other conditions. We treat back pain by first diagnosing what is causing the back pain, then correcting the aberrant functioning of the spine and any other structures that may be involved.

Lower back pain

This is one of the most common reasons people seek treatment from a chiropractor. Research on spinal manipulation often focuses on lower back pain. Studies have shown the high degree of efficacy of chiropractic treatment in relation to other forms of treatment. Remember: Chiropractic first, drugs second, surgery last!

Headaches & migraines

Many headaches are caused by incorrect movement and functioning of joints and muscles in the upper neck area. Referred pain from these structures may result in different forms of headaches. Chiropractors correct the function of the upper neck and by doing so may alleviate many headache conditions.

Neck pain

Chiropractors often treat neck pain with gentle neck manipulations. These are also called adjustments. In some cases, these neck adjustments, along with exercises, may work better for neck pain than pain medications and other more invasive treatments.

Shoulder pain

A chiropractor might also be able to help you if you have a stiff and painful shoulder. Shoulder pain can be referred from dysfunction in your neck. Other problems may involve tendon damage and/or formation of adhesions. This condition is called frozen shoulder syndrome. People with frozen shoulder may have less pain and more movement after chiropractic care. Your chiropractor may stretch the muscles surrounding your shoulder and show you how to perform more stretches at home.

Knee pain

Often, wear and tear in the knee joint will cause osteoarthritis. This is a very common condition. Weight-bearing imbalance through the lower limbs can be a contributing factor to knee pain and wear and tear. Chiropractic care often helps by ensuring correct lower back function, or by correcting pelvic imbalance to restore even weight bearing through the lower limbs. Chiropractors may perform back adjustments, along with knee adjustments and muscle strengthening techniques and exercises. This type of treatment may work better than knee exercises alone. Some people treated with chiropractic adjustment have less pain and better movement after a few weeks of treatment.

Hip and elbow, arm and leg pain, hand and foot pain

In addition to performing spinal adjustments, chiropractors also evaluate peripheral joint function. This includes all joints of the upper and lower limbs. Various adjustments are used to restore correct funtion to joints that may painful or have reduced range of motion.

Pinched nerve

This is a popularly held misconception and something of a layman’s explanation of sudden and debilitating back or neck pain. There are many explanations for this type of acute pain but conservative treatments such as chiropractic, particularly incorporating Applied Kinesiology, have often demonstrated good efficacy with regard to clinical outcomes.

Sciatica

Sciatica is a radiating pain involving the sciatic nerve along its course from the lower back through the buttock, and into the posterior thigh, calf and sometimes the foot. Chiropractors might be able to help the condition by treating the underlying cause of the sciatic pain, whether it be a disc bulge, a pinching of the lower lumbar segments, piriformis muscle syndrome or other nerve entrapment along the length of the sciatic nerve. Referral from other structures in the lumbopelvic region can also mimic sciatic pain.

Scoliosis

This is a lateral or sideways curvature of the spine, that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. Unfortunately, girls are more frequently affected than boys. Most cases of scoliosis are mild, but some spinal deformities continue to become more severe as children grow, and severe cases can be disabling and possibly require surgery. Chiropractic treatment may help and perhaps reduce or halt the progression of the curvature of the spine. This may help reduce pain and discomfort caused by the condition.

For further advice on maintaining your spine health book an appointment online today or phone (08) 8178 0181.

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