Preventative Health Care Through Chiropractic Treatment
Preventative Health Care Through Chiropractic Treatment
by Stephen DanielsProfessional chiropractors are well known for their ability to effectively treat back pain. However, many people may not realize that chiropractic care’s utility goes far beyond easing back problems. Preventative care is also provided by many licensed Doctors of Chiropractic (or DCs). Their skilled treatment and advice can help to promote overall wellness as well as prevent pain.
Those who do not merely wish to treat the symptom of their physical problems - pain - often visit chiropractors to receive pain relief without drugs. Trained in techniques to help both the structural and neurological aspects of the body, DCs perform spinal adjustments that are comfortable for the patient, safe, and perhaps most importantly, effective. Many patients suffering from pain in the back, neck or hips as well as fibromyalgia and even tension headaches have reported great improvements due to the natural treatment and preventative care that DCs can provide.
Diagnosing joint dysfunction before it becomes serious is a major focus of many chiropractors. Finding a problem early on can stop more serious injury and pain from happening later. Fatigue and considerable pain can result from a misaligned spine, and this is a problem that almost everyone experiences sooner or later. Often, it is some time after the initial problem before pain is felt. This is why many DCs recommend that patients schedule regular visits for preventative care — to facilitate early detection and treatment of spinal problems before they can further develop.
In addition, many chiropractors offer lifestyle advice and coaching that helps many patients achieve better health and overall wellness in both the short and long term. To prevent old injuries from recurring or becoming aggravated, DCs will often recommend avoiding or changing certain activities. For instance, office workers may have pain related to sitting at the computer for extended periods of time. A chiropractor who is treating such problems may recommend specific exercises to be done periodically throughout the day, as well as showing the patient a different way to position themselves or adjust the chair for more support. Preventative recommendations such as exercise, diet and nutritional supplements to improve health are also frequently provided by DCs.
Those who receive the Doctor of Chiropractic degree are extensively trained, having undergone a four year doctoral program (and usually a four-year bachelor’s degree as well). Topics of study include anatomy, physiology, rehabilitation, nutrition, pathology, and public health. To obtain a license, most chiropractic schools also require 4200 hours of combined lab, classroom, and clinical experience. The result is a practitioner who is highly qualified to treat many musculoskeletal problems and also provide preventative care.
The field of chiropractic was founded in 1895, but today it is more popular than ever, with an increasing number of people visiting chiropractors for both preventative care and pain relief. This is hardly surprising as natural, drug free methods of treatment become more prevalent in our society.

