What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a branch of musculoskeletal medicine that includes hands-on care and avoids medications, injections, and surgery to relieve pain, especially in the spine and joints of the body. Chiropractic care can help with:

• Neck pain

• Back pain

• Headaches

• Sciatica

• Shoulder pain

• Rotator cuff injuries

• Tendinitis

• Knee pain

• Hip pain

• Muscle pain

Chiropractic care at NuVive Medical can also help you recover after a personal injury — including auto accidents and workplace injuries — or sports injury.

What do chiropractors do?

Chiropractors are trained to examine, evaluate, and diagnose problems of the musculoskeletal system. At NuVive Medical, the integrated team performs comprehensive physical and orthopedic exams in order to determine the cause of your pain. They also provide referrals for imaging, including X-rays and MRIs, when needed to make an accurate diagnosis.

Chiropractic treatments include a variety of therapies, such as:

• Chiropractic adjustments, also called spinal manipulation therapy

• Rehabilitation

• Soft tissue therapy

• Nutritional counseling

• Lifestyle and behavior modifications

Chiropractic care can be used on its own, or it may be combined with other types of physical medicine, including physical therapy and regenerative medicine, in order to help you overcome pain and improve your overall physical function.

What happens during a chiropractic adjustment?

Before a chiropractic adjustment, your provider assesses your injured joint for areas of stiffness, decreased range of motion, pain, or restricted motion to determine if an adjustment is appropriate. If an adjustment would be beneficial for you, your provider explains what to expect before performing the adjustment.

During the adjustment, your provider places their hands over the affected joint and applies a quick, direct force to your joint to increase the range of motion and decrease pain and inflammation. You may hear or feel a popping or cracking sound, which is the release of naturally-occurring carbon dioxide gas from within your joint. This is called joint cavitation and is completely safe and harmless.

Chiropractic adjustments often provide an immediate improvement in your range of motion, and many patients report feeling more relaxed after their treatment.

Is chiropractic safe?

Yes, according to the American Chiropractic Association, chiropractic care is one of the safest options for the treatment of neck pain, back pain, and headaches. Since chiropractors don’t prescribe medications or perform surgeries, their care is significantly less invasive than other health care providers.

The main documented side effect of chiropractic care is mild soreness at the treatment site for one to two days, similar to muscle soreness after working out. Your provider can give you recommendations for at-home care and stretches to reduce soreness after your visit if desired.

To set up a chiropractic visit at NuVive Medical, call today.