Chiropractic
What is Chiropractic
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Chiropractors receive five years of training, leading to Master of Chiropractic (MChiro), in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions; these are the result of, or alternatively caused by, mechanical dysfunction of the joints which ultimately have various effects on the nervous system.
The academic training includes standard requirements under the provision of the regulations described within the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 and the (Amendment) Regulations 2006. Chiropractors undergo three years of investigative imaging learning, from an introductory evaluation of spinal and extremities radiographs to then proceed to localization, identification and categorization of abnormal findings in order to gain skills to confidently diagnose a range of common conditions pertinent to those topics
Recent guidelines from various National Health Services throughout Europe recommend chiropractic care as the primary method of treatment for conditions such as lower back pain. In fact, chiropractic legislation has been established in various European countries to protects the profession, its practitioners and the patients using it.
Chiropractors do not utilize medications or invasive therapeutic methods.
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Chiropractic is a primary health care profession that has moved and adapted through scientific changes over decades. Chiropractic practitioners practice in over 100 countries in all regions of the world, mostly in North America, Australia and parts of Europe.
The academic chiropractic curriculum is intense and focuses on understanding the musculoskeletal structures and its functions, and how these relate to each other.
Doctors of Chiropractic, also referred to as chiropractors, practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have:
- broad diagnostic skills,
- basic training (usually three years) on musckuloskeletal radiology,
- advanced knowledge of therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises,
- professional duty to provide nutritional and dietary advice.
Chiropractors use a wide range of therapeutic techniques to treat patients, depending on the presenting complaint; these range from passive stretching of hypertonic tissues to deep tissue work, nerve stretches and dynamic muscle reactivation. However, the most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is spinal manipulation, also called “chiropractic adjustment.” It consists of applying a controlled gentle thrust on a joint that has been affected by mild traumatic changes, i.e. improper lifting of a heavy object or through repetitive stresses, such as adopting a “slack” posture for extended time.
The purpose of joints manipulation is to affect the pain receptors, present in every joint. Such stimulation has been showed to lead to:
- decrease of pain intensity
- faster healing,
- increase general health,
- restore joint mobility, (for those joints that have become hypomobile, or restricted in their movement,
Occasionally, following a chiropractic manipulation, patients may experience mild soreness or aching, similar to some forms of exercise, that resolves within 12 to 36 hours.
Recent National Health Services guidelines across Europe and World Health Organization, recommend chiropractic care as the primary method of treatment for conditions such as lower back pain. However, chiropractic treatment may also be found useful in complement of other medical treatments by relieving symptoms associated with the condition
Doctors of chiropractic must assess patients through clinical examination to determine whether, or not, chiropractic treatment is appropriate. To ascertain the patient’s condition, other diagnostic investigations may be required such as X-rays, muskuloskeletal sonography or laboratory testing; in such cases, chiropractors will make the necessary arrangements. Chiropractors will refer patients to other health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s conditions.
At present, chiropractic research offers significant evidence of its effectiveness in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions such as lower back pain.
Various countries in Europe have gained Chiropractic Legislation that protects the profession, its practitioners and the patients using it. New guidelines for the treatment of lower back pain have, in fact, been published (British NHS and World Health Organization) that recommend chiropractic care as more effective and safer than traditional medicine for the treatment of certain musculoskeletal conditions.