A chiropractor is a healthcare professional focused on the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders with an emphasis on treatment usually related to the spine.
What do Chiropractors Do?
Chiropractors use manual therapy, which can include spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy (massage), stretching, exercise, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound therapy to help correct musculoskeletal problems.
What Conditions do Chiropractors Treat?
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) care for patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. They are especially well known for their expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain, and headaches using their highly skilled manipulations or chiropractic adjustments. DCs also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system, which includes the muscles, ligaments, and joints. These painful conditions may involve or impact the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction distant to the region of injury.
Is Chiropractic Treatment Safe?
Chiropractic is widely recognized as one of the safest non-drug, noninvasive forms of health care available for the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal complaints. Although chiropractic has an excellent safety record, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. The risks associated with chiropractic, however, are very small. Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness, or aching, just as they do after some form of exercise. Current research shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.
Joseph Sekulski, DC
Berks Community Health Center Chiropractor
