Have you ever been told that chiropractic adjustments are dangerous? Or maybe you've heard that they're not necessary. 

This article breaks down all of the myths and misconceptions about chiropractic adjustments so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not it's right for you.

Elite Spine Chiropractor is a chiropractic clinic in the heart of Downtown Houston. We provide professional, affordable treatments for people who need chiropractic adjustments. Whether you're a physical therapist, athlete, or executive, we are here to help!

What are Chiropractic Adjustments?

Spinal manipulation is also called spinal manipulative therapy. It is a technique where practitioners use their hands or a device to apply applied controlled thrust. A controlled thrust is the force of a specific magnitude or degree in a specified direction over the joint of your spine. The amount of effort can vary, but the thrust moves more than it would normally do on its own. The thrust differs from spinal mobilization. It does not involve any torque-related movement.

By adjusting the spine, chiropractors can relieve pain and adjust bone alignment. Chiropractic treatment often involves spinal manipulation, which is beneficial in several ways and different situations such as injury recovery or sports medicine. Interestingly enough, it is one of the most common complementary health approaches that adults use, according to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

How Does It Work?

The chiropractors at Elite Spine Chiropractors will start with a routine physical exam, then follow it with an examination specific to the spine. The examiner pays special attention to areas of complaint. For example, if you experience low back pain, the chiropractor will most likely examine your neck as well. Some adaptations stemming from injury or subluxation in one area can cause secondary irritation elsewhere in the spine.

The physical exam is all about determining if there are any abnormalities. Doctors examine varieties of an idea, like the range of motion, muscle strength, and neurological examinations. Neurological examinations are primarily done to check out the main complaint of the patient.

Your chiropractor will tell you the status of your condition and recommend an approach to care. The discussion between you and your chiropractor determines the goals of your treatment. Some examples of treatment goals include simple pain relief and regular chiropractic adjustments. Most people seek both.

Chiropractic treatments usually include adjustments. Chiropractic adjustments are a type of therapeutic manipulation that uses controlled force and leverage to direct specific joints. Adjustments involve more than just opening up the joint. They also require direction at certain angles and amped-up velocity.

Your chiropractor knows the importance of proper alignment and will adjust your spine to improve joint function. Again, the structure is tied into functionality. Thus, joints like the ankle or knee need to be aligned properly as well.

Once you have been diagnosed with pain in your back or neck, one of the first steps a chiropractor will likely take is to adjust it. The adjustments are typically constantly for several weeks. When the irritation dissipates and normal function returns, the frequency diminishes. Sometimes, milder techniques are considered if manual adjustment causes too much discomfort for the patient.

Non-manual therapies are often accompanied by adjustments. These include heat and ice application, electrical stimulation, orthotic supports for your shoes, rehabilitative exercise counseling about diet weight loss and other lifestyle factors, as well as nutritional supplements.

Benefits of Chiropractic Adjustments

• Relieves Neck and Back Pain  

This benefit is probably the most well-known when going to a chiropractor. Statistics showed that 80% of all Americans experience lower back pain in their lifetime, and over half will have this problem at least once per year. Chiropractic treatments are effective in reducing back and neck pain. Furthermore, they are a cheaper alternative for those who want an inexpensive method of managing their aches and pains.

• Treats Scoliosis  

Recent studies have shown that chiropractic treatment combined with physical therapy has been an effective and safe way to treat scoliosis in patients. Scoliosis is a condition where the spine curves too much or not enough, which leads to radiating pain throughout the body. The effectiveness of chiropractic adjustment varies from patient to patient. 

Still, adjustment remains a good option for those who are interested in non-surgical treatments to diminish scoliosis symptoms. It is also advantageous as a preventative measure. 

• Addresses Sciatica 

Sciatica is chronic pain that radiates from your lower back down your legs because of a damaged or pressured sciatic nerve. Over-medication and chronic pain are some causes of sciatica. 

Chiropractic treatment may help relieve pressure on this nerve to reduce symptoms like the number of days in debilitating conditions and severity. Studies show patients receiving adjustments reduced their number of days experiencing any level of discomfort as well as reducing the occurrence of pain and discomfort. The comparison is based on before and after treatment sessions of participants.

• Reduces Inflammation 

Inflammation is one of the top causes of pain, joint issues, and tension. Chronic inflammation has been linked to several diseases like heart disease, chronic pain, and cancer. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to reduce inflammation. 

Reducing inflammation helps decrease your risk for contracting various illness such as hypertension or other cardiovascular conditions related to high levels of inflammatory response in our body's natural immune system

• Relieves Migraines and Headaches 

Back pain can lead to both tension headaches and migraine headaches. The most common ailment that chiropractors treat is headache, with over 200 studies examining the benefits of treatment for relief from pain.

Is Chiropractic Adjustments Safe?

There are several essential benefits to choosing spinal manipulation over other treatments. For starters, it has been found that chiropractic adjustments have the power to help relieve chronic pain and tension. Besides, there is no need for surgery or narcotics if you receive treatment with this form of care!

The most common side effects associated with receiving chiropractor services include temporary muscle soreness, stiffness, or an increase in your current level of discomfort after adjustment. However, these often fade soon after treatment concludes. Severe complications like death can happen as well, but they're relatively rare.

While benign events are more common, serious adverse events were rare. Only 3-7% of volunteer subjects experienced these types of side effects, and not all had preexisting conditions that could be related to the event. Most volunteers found pain increased after taking vitamin D supplements. In contrast, the painful sensations subside within 24 hours without any significant life or medical complications developing due to chiropractic adjustment.

When it comes to caring for patients, chiropractors at Elite Spinal Chiropractors are very attentive. They consult a patient's medical history and co-existing conditions before deciding on the best treatment approach. In some cases, adjusting their original plan is necessary.

In some cases, a patient's medical condition is contraindicated to chiropractic adjustments. For instance, a diabetic person has an increased risk of experiencing neuropathic pain following cervical and lumbar manipulative procedures because there is decreased blood flow in these areas.

The following are some of the contraindicated diseases with chiropractic adjustments:

• Severe osteoporosis 
• Multiple myeloma 
• Osteomyelitis
• Bone tumors 
• Paget's disease
• Arthritis

Is It Effective?

Chiropractic adjustments are one of the few treatments that can provide relief from back pain and promote healing. A recent clinical trial found how chiropractors were able to help 72% of their patients who had sciatica-related symptoms with only a 20% success rate for treatment by physical therapy, 50% for corticosteroid injections.

In a 2017 clinical practice guideline, the ACP suggests that spinal manipulation remains a recommended treatment option for chronic low-back pain. It is one of many options which show some evidence of effectiveness.

Randomized controlled trials, such as the one published in British Medical Journal, show that chiropractic adjustments may provide faster recovery than physiotherapy or general practitioner care.

Headaches are a common condition that is often treated by chiropractors. Studies have shown that they may be cured, prevented, and relieved with the help of chiropractic treatments across many countries in different parts of the world - 230 studies to date.

Chiropractic adjustments are an effective way for people who suffer from headaches. In a group trial, 22% of the participants reported that after chiropractic treatment their attacks were reduced by 90%. Also, 49% said they experienced significant pain relief when compared with most medical treatments.

Why Elite Spine Chiropractic?

At ELITE SPINE Chiropractic, we are committed to providing the best possible care for our patients. Our licensed Dr. of Chiropractic Dominic Lupori and our professional team work together with you during your visit here to promote optimal total body wellness using a holistic approach that is designed just for you! We strive to perform at the highest integrity, ethics, and standards. Do not hesitate- come on over today!