Your Chiropractor treats disorders of the musculo-skeletal system by manipulating the joints and muscles of the spine, pelvis, arms and legs with his hands, without the use of medication.Together with General Practitioners, Chiropractors form a part of the public health Service in the treatment of various diseases originating in functional disorders. If you are suffering from pain, and you think chiropractic treatment could relieve it, a chiropractor will be happy to give you a consultation. If after a thorough examination, he finds that your problem is not suitable for chiropractic treatment, or that another form of treatment would give better results he will refer you for treatment elsewhere, such as to a General Practitioner, a Hospital or a Dentist.

Quotation from Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, © 1996:

"CHIROPRACTIC,
therapeutic system for curing ailments by adjustments and manipulation of various body parts, particularly the spinal column. The system is based on the theory that all disease is traceable to nervous malfunctions usually caused by misalignment of the spinal column.

Although the chiropractic method of healing was known among the ancients, in the modern era it was founded about 1895 by Daniel Palmer (1845-1913), a Canadian-born practitioner who opened (1898) the Palmer School of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa. "
 

1. Muscle tension and Your Well-being

If you feel ill, Your muscles get tense. The joints stiffen and the normal function of the nerves that leaves the spine cord between the vertebrae is disturbed. This is a self-reinforcing process, causing even more tension in the muscles. This leads to a vicious circle, which is frequently not broken until chiropractic treatment of muscles and joints is initiated. After treatment, your back will feel freer and more flexible, and your muscles will feel relaxed. Your whole well-being will have received a lift.

2. Your Chiropractor's Task

• Cause
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Inspection
• Complications
• Prevention

is:

• to locate abnormal function in the joints and muscles of the body;
• to diagnose disease and weigh up the pros and cons of various possible ways of treatment;
• to restore normal function, if this is possible, by chiropractic or to refer the patient for treatment elsewhere, e.g. to his or own physician;
• to provide counselling to prevent new functional disorders arising, possibly combined with a training or exercise programme, and
• to carry out research into abnormal function of the mechanics of the body.

2.1 Cause

Your Chiropractor's first aim is to find the cause of the abnormal function and to determine its origin.

He will explain the cause of the disorder and in order to make a proper diagnosis, he may have to ask questions about your medical history, about accidents you may have had, your everyday work position, the general health of your family, and more personal matters.

All Chiropractors have taken an oath of professional secrecy.

2.2 Diagnosis

The Chiropractor's clinical examination comprises tests on the various joints and muscles, and may also include a check-up of the reflexes of the nervous system, pulses, blood pressure, the heart and lungs, and possibly a urine test. A chiropractic examination may comprise:

Inspection

what the Chiropractor can see;

Palpation

what the Chiropractor can feel

X-ray

to examine the posture of the back, seen from the front and the side; the carriage of the head; the posture of the shoulders and hips, and how the positions of the arms and legs are related. He will want to see how you stand, how you move, and the condition of your musculature. Such an examination will help the Chiropractor get a picture of your problem. Palpation may be static (where the patient will not be moved) or dynamic (where the patient will be moved).

The main purpose of static palpation is to determine the consistency and position of the joints and muscles.

Dynamic palpation reveals the extent of, or limitations to, movement in the joints examined.

When the chiropractor finds it appropriate, he will do an x-ray examination. This x-ray of the neck seen from the side, shows a congenital fusion of the 2nd and 3rd vertebra, a degenerated disk between the 3rd and 4th vertebra and lack of the normal forward curvature.

2.3 Treatment

If your Chiropractor's diagnosis leads him to believe your condition can be cured or relieved by chiropractic, he will offer you a course of treatment.

Should he find your condition would be improved by some other treatment parallel to, or instead of chiropractic, he will inform you of this.

The Chiropractor treats the joints and muscles by manipulation, such as gentle or rapid applications of pressure intended to restore mobility to the joints. The joints may also be stretched slightly. Muscles may also be treated by applying various forms of pressure to them.

Chiropractic treatment is normally painless and very relaxing. Any fatigue you feel after the first few treatments could be a sign from your body that you need a rest. You may also feel some slight soreness in the muscles, similar to that which you experience when taking up exercise after a long period of inactivity. This is a very natural reaction.

All depending on the extent of the abnormal function, treatment may consist of a few sessions or a course of sessions. There may also be shorter or longer intervals between sessions, all depending on the nature of your disease.

Basically, the sooner you are treated the better, and the better your general condition, the fewer sessions will be needed.

As with palpation, X-ray examination may be static, dynamic, or both. Normally it is static (without the patient moving). X-ray pictures are taken from the front and the side. In a dynamic examination, a portion of the spinal column is X-rayed in two different positions, e.g. with the head bent forward and then backward. Comparison of the X-rays will reveal the extent of mobility of the joints.

2.4 Complications

Complications may arise in connection with any kind of effective treatment. Years of experience however have shown, that complications are extremely rare under chiropractic treatment.

2.5 Prevention

As soon as the diagnosis has been made and treatment initiated, preventive measures will be taken to avoid a relapse.

Preventive measures may consist of one or more of the following,

Advice

Training and exercises of the back

Regular check-ups

Prevention. Advice may be given on the best ways to:

• sit properly
• lie down and get up
• lift and carry items
• cough and sneeze
• handle stress
• eat a balanced diet

and how to avoid:

• uneven movements
• incorrect working positions
• draughts and cold

It may not be possible to restore a perfect condition, but the knowledge of how to take care of yourself in everyday life will reduce the risk of relapse.

The Chiropractor will advise you on back exercises, i.e. how to stretch and strengthen the back and loosen up the joints. These exercises are an important supplement to the chiropractic treatment, and it is important to know which exercises are beneficial and which should be avoided. It is vital to do exercises the right way. Your training and exercising the back is not only preventive, but may also restore your health.

Some chiropractors have their own centres for training and exercise where weak joints and muscles can be trained under expert guidance. Intensive training may bring considerable improvement to patients suffering from recurrent back pain or chronic pain in their daily lives. At the same time, the fact that the Chiropractor knows you and watches over your training will improve your condition by ensuring that only the best treatment is offered.In many cases a disease may develop over a very long period of time - months, or even years before the symptoms make you aware of it. Chiropractic treatment may improve this kind of situation. But in most cases the problem will turn if treatment stops as soon as the symptoms disappear. To prevent functional disorders from recurring, the time interval between treatment sessions is increased, and the number of sessions can be reduced as the situation improves. Finally, it may sometimes be necessary to visit the Chiropractor again for a check-up to locate and sort out any problems that may have developed in the muscles and joints. As we all know, prevention is easier than cure.

3. The Society and Chiropractic.

The functional disorders of the body mechanics are primarily a problem for the suffering person. It spoils the quality of life and costs good years of life. It is, how ever, also a tremendously big problem for the society, it is the main reason for early retirement and long term sick leave. 45% of all adult Danes have had pain or slight ache in the the body mechanics within the last 14 days. The costs on society of the diseases amount to 13-15 billion DKK for treatment, social security, etc.

Since the end of the 70'ies a rising number of scientific studies have confirmed, what the chiropractors and chiropractic patients have experienced over the years.

A Swiss doctoral dissertation shows the results of chiropractic treatment of 400 patients. 87% state that they have been cured completely or gotten better. 9% did not gain any relief and the last 4% did not answer. 24% of the patients were on medication/took medicine every day before they came to a chiropractor. After the treatment the number fell to below 2%.

"Manual Medicine", a Dutch examination published in 1991, describes how 634 employees at Phillips, who had been absent owing to illness, were split up in two equal groups. One group got chiropractic treatment the other group either got no treatment or a different kind of treatment. Those who got chiropractic treatment had 38% less days lost through sickness.

There is both clinical experience and documentation for chiropractic treatment as an important role concerning treatment of problems in the body mechanics.

5. Who can be helped ?

If the diagnose made by the chiropractor shows, that the problem is suitable for chiropractic treatment, the patient, no matter what age he or she may have, can be helped. Age itself is of no significance, except from the fact that it is easier for a younger person to recover. The method of treatment does off course vary a lot, depending up on the age, health and problem of the patient.

One must realise that the result of chiropractic treatment is not a "either ...or". Most patients recover. Others does not recover completely, but the pain they are experiencing, may be eased and their quality of life may be improved to some extent, by chiropractic treatment.

4. This is how the joints and muscles functions

If there's an imbalance of in the relationship between the position and movement of the vertebrae, it leads to abnormal strain of the ligaments and intervertebral discs. Tension builds up in the muscles, and may cause the surrounding tissues to inflame and swell. It leads to irritation of the passing nerves.

It is task of the nerves to transmit vital impulses to and from the brain, to the rest of the body. If the nerves are irritated were they leave the spinal cord and passes through openings of the spine, a very vulnerable place, it may change those passing impulses.

This involves a deviation from the normal way the brain and body coordinates and this may create a symptom.

The Symptoms may either be experienced in a specific area of the back , or in a more distant part of body which is connected to the irritated nerve.

If for example a nerve in the lower part of the neck is irritated, pain may occur in that same area - locally or in the parts in the shoulder or arm connected to the nerve. As regards the latter the symptoms may - besides pain - consist of tingling or prickly sensation, warmth, fits of shivering or reduced strength in the muscles.

When a nerve, that originates from the vertebrae of the chest is irritated, symptoms may arise. Some of these symptoms experienced as an uneasy feeling that occurs locally. Other symptom seems to originate from an internal organ. It is possible to experience pain that is similar to the pain that occurs when suffering from a kidney stone or appendicitis.

Those kind of problems may be treated by the chiropractor, if the cause of the pain is originated from a functional disorders of the body mechanics, not if it originates from diseases of an internal organ.

Problems occurring in the loin does not always result in pain locally, but is frequently felt as a pain in the groin, buttocks, or legs. It can be experience in one side only, or in both sides at the same time.

6. What does the Chiropractor treat ?

• Pain in the Loin
• Sciatica
• A Slipped Disk
• Coccyx
• The Neck
• Headache
• The Ribs and the Chest Part of the Spine
• Arms and Legs
• The Shoulder
• The Elbow
• The Wrist, Hand and Fingers
• Osteoarthritis
• The Knee
• The Ankle
• The Feet
• Internal Organs

All disease that are caused by functional disorders in joints and muscles of the body mechanics.

Below a brief description is given, in which the most common diseases, where a good result might be achieved by chiropractic treatment.  

6.1 Pain in the Loin

More than half of all the patients of the chiropractor has a problem in the loin. These are patients from all part of society, both male and female.

80 % of the adult population will at one time or another experience pain in the loin, most of them between the age of 25 to 60 years. For a fourth , in the group aged 6-13 year, and for a third in the group aged 14-18 year, those same facts applies. The problem does not occur very often among elderly people.

The reason that especially the loin causes so many problems, is that it is exposed to a large amount of strain -the weight of the body- and the fact that it is very flexible.

Lumbago results in pain, rigidity, curvature of the spine.

It often occurs in connection with a physical strain, cough, sneeze, draught, or a sudden movement. One is particularly exposed when driving a car, working in a bad working position, repeatedly lifting heavy things or being exposed to vibrations.

The same thing applies for a person with weak muscles or a bad condition.

6.2 Sciatica

The sciatica nerve is the largest nerve of the body. It is about the same size as a little finger. Sciatica origins from this nerve and is a disease, causing pain in the area of the lower back. This pain radiates towards one and sometimes both legs along the sciatica nerve. The pain is felt on the back of the thigh, in the loin, the heel or the big toe. It is very characteristic, that the leg cannot be raised without pain, when lying on the back.

Chiropractic is considered a very efficient way to treat pain in the loin, with or without symptoms of sciatica.

6.3 A Slipped Disc

A slipped disc is mostly appearing in the loin, less frequently in the neck and rarely in the vertebrae of the chest.

A person with slipped disc is not necessarily suffering from pain. As a matter of fact 40 % of the population aged 40 or more, is suffering from a slipped disc without noticing it, and at the age of 75 years the same thing applies for 80 % of the population. It is possible to experience backache and a slipped disc, even though the pain does not originate from the slipped disc.

After surgery for a slipped disc at a hospital, certain problems may arise, that, some extent, might be relieved to by chiropractic treatment.

6.4 Coccyx

A pain in the coccyx, which is the small bone at the bottom of the spine is mostly caused by:

A fall on one's behind.

Problems occurring in the loin or the joint of the sacroiliac.

A strain cause by giving birth.

In the same way that problems of the loin may cause pain in the the coccyx, the opposite may occur, and in that case this is where the cause of the pain in loin should be found.

The lower part of the extension of the spinal cord is attached to the coccyx. Tensions in the spinal cord caused by problems in the coccyx, may also result in symptoms in other areas, as far away as head and neck.

6.5 The Neck

The reason that the neck often causes problems, is that it is both delicately built and also very flexible.

23 % of the adult population did, within the last fortnight, suffer from problems in the neck and shoulders. The second most important symptoms occurring in the back - besides pain in the loin - is problems in the neck.

Functional disorders in the neck may lead to e. g. pain in the neck, headache, symptoms in the hands, symptoms in the wrist, symptoms in the joints of the hands, pain in the arms, elbows, shoulders, shoulder blades or the upper part of the vertebrae of the chest.

Among the most common causes is, a frequent repetition of the same movement or working for a long period of time without break or a change of position. But things like draught, low temperatures and psychical strain may also influence.

Physical strain is an other important cause, e. g. at a whiplash injury. This kind of injury involves a sudden movement of the head, first in one direction, then in the opposite direction.

Chiropractic treatment of the neck has a relaxing effect on the the muscles in that area and loosens up the joints. In that way a number of diseases originating from this area may be cured.

6.6 Headache

Headache is not a disease, but a symptom that indicates that something is wrong. Mostly there are many coinciding causes for a headache. It is often seen that it is a muscle- and/or joint problem that becomes the last straw that breaks the camels back. When you are in pain, you become tense. The joints stiffen. This will aggravate the pain, and start a vicious circle.

3 % of the population suffer from headache every day, and approximately 10 % of the population at least once a week. 50 % of these people suffer headache caused by tension. Headache is the most common cause for people to see a doctor. At the chiropractor, 10 % of the patients are there, primarily because they suffer from headache.

The first thing that the chiropractor does, before deciding if it is possible the help a patient with a headache, is to examining if there are other and possibly even more serious causes for the headache. If this is not the case, and the chiropractor can connect the headache with joint- or muscular problems, he may be able to do something about it.

The way the joints of the the jaw are moving depend on, in what way the neck is functioning and vice versa. This kind of joint- or muscular problems may, among other things, also cause headache.

6.7 The Ribs and the Chest Part of the Spine

Pain in the the chest part of the spine occurs more rarely than pains in the neck and the neck. This is due to the stabilising effect the ribs have on the spine.

Pain is caused by e.g. a wrong movement, strain or a bad working position.

Those muscles, which are connected to the arms, may also cause pain in the middle of the back, if they are strained.

The pain sometimes radiates along the ribs and deteriorates by a pressure on the nerve, where it leaves the back, and also when taking a deep breath and bending towards the side.

6.8 Arms and Legs

Even though the chiropractor treats functional disorders of all the joints and muscles of the body, most treatments are concentrated towards the joint and muscles of the back or the hip. Chiropractic treatment of other joints of the body are directed both towards the joint causing problems, and towards those parts of the back and the hip, that may influence that particular joint.

Below some of those problem will be mentioned.

6.9 The Shoulder

Problems occurring in the shoulders does often result in reduced mobility- it may be hard to raise the arm to a horizontal position or putting the hand behind the neck. The most common problem is taking your coat on and of. Problems in the shoulder, that are caused by functional disorder in the shoulder and/or that part of the back to which the shoulder is connected to the nervous system, may be treated by the chiropractor.

6.10 The Elbow

Both the so-called "tennis elbow" and this that is referred to as a "golf elbow" appear as a result of the sport they are named after. But they may also appear from different kinds of strain on the elbow.The strained ligaments and the insertion of the muscles will heal faster, when the surfaces of joint after treatment, are put in the correct position and then retains mobility.

6.11 The Wrist, Hand and Fingers

When the wrist is strained, it will often result in a lock of the bone of the corpus and/or the forearm. Pain and a tickling sensation may appear in the fingers and the hands,radiating towards the elbows. If you try to prevent a fall by reaching out with the hand, it may cause the problem. A strain of the joints in the fingers may also cause pain and stiffness.

6.12 Osteoarthritis

A patient suffering from osteoarthritis has often been told, that it is a disease that can not be done anything about. "It is a condition the patient should learn to live with". It is true that Osteoartthritis can not be removed. However, experience show that the pain may be eased, and in some cases removed. To what extent relief may be achieved, will depend upon how damaged the joint is, and where the joint is situated.

6.13 The Knee

Damage to the knee is often caused by a displacement of one of the two leaves of cartilage situated in the knee, or it may also get pinched. That type of damage to the knee is often treated by the chiropractor with a good result. Damage to the knee is often seen in connection with sports injuries.

60% of all football injuries occur in the knee. A sharp pain frequently appears under the kneecap.

6.14 The Ankle

A sprained ankle will under normal circumstances recover by itself, but recovery may be accelerate, if the ankle is treated as soon as possible. This may reduce the risk of overstretched ligaments. Ice should be used immediately when a sprain occurs, and not removed until the swelling has been reduced. In mild cases it is enough to use ice. In severe cases chiropractic or other treatment may be necessary.

6.15 The Feet

Everyday the feet are exposed to a incredible amount of strain. In particular when referring to exercising various kinds of sports. When running down the road, the feet are exposed to 3 times the full weight of the body, and even more when running in a hilly country or downhill ! Often it will result in a lock of one of the 27 joints in the foot. A malfunction of the foot, may cause the loss of balance in the body, and that may cause problems, e.g. in the knees, hips or back. A lot of these problems may be eased by chiropractic treatment.

6.16 Internal Organs

The chiropractor treats musculo-skeletal disorders and those symptoms that may consequently occur as a result those disorders.

Based on experience it is found, that symptoms of asthma among children may be eased by chiropractic treatment as the normal functions of joints and muscles is reestablished. This applies to children that, in a lesser extent, has been suffering from asthma from an early age. A research made in Denmark shows that 92 % of the parents of asthmatic children, that had received chiropractic treatment, did state that it had helped.

Another Danish research on chiropractic treatment of infants suffering from colic, showed that the parents experienced a reducment in attacks. from an average of 5 hours per day to 40 min. a day over a fortnight. 94 % of the parents consider the treatment a success. A opinion they stuck to ,when asked four weeks later.

Some times pain experienced to origin from heart, lungs, stomach or other internal organs, come from problems with the body mechanics, and could be eased by chiropractic treatment

© 2008 Dxz and ALT