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Chiropractors are well-known medical specialists for treating back pain and other body ailments, but there is more to the specialty than that. Not many people know about graduate chiropractic specialties such as upper cervical chiropractors or how they can make a huge impact on daily pain. Chiropractic care is becoming accepted by more insurance carriers because of its non-invasive techniques and preventative care benefits. You likely want to learn more about advanced treatments as they could likely save you thousands in medical bills down the road.
According to statistics, the chiropractic industry was valued at 12.26 billion in 2017. It has been projected to expand at a rate of 4.32% over the following seven years. With this growth, you can expect to find a chiropractor near you if there isn’t one already. Although the chiropractic industry has grown tremendously over the years, only very few people know the history of the practice. Everyone knows that seeing a chiropractor can help us reduce pain, but most don’t know the roots of the practice. In this article, we will discuss the history of chiropractic care and how modern chiropractic techniques can help alleviate pain
The History of Chiropractors
The Beginning of Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care first began in 1895. Daniel David Palmer “adjusted” the spine of a hard-of-hearing janitor, Harvey Lillard. Lillard was working shirtless in Palmer’s office when Palmer noticed that the worker’s vertebra was out of position. Palmer asked Lillard what had happened, and he answered, “I heard a “pop” in my back when I moved the wrong way and realized that I lost my hearing.”
Palmer was already involved in other natural healing philosophies such as phrenology and magnetic healing. He instructed Lillard to lie face down on the floor as he proceeded with his “adjustment.” The very next day, Lillard approached Palmer in his office and claimed that he could hear again.The experience Palmer had with Lillard inspired him to open a chiropractic school two years later. Palmer used his school to share his unique healing methods and train chiropractors.
Initial Resistance of the Medical Community
Not everyone embraced the idea of chiropractic back in the day. In fact, the medical community called Palmer a “quack” because of his unique healing techniques and theories. Some refused to acknowledge his accomplishments in the medical industry. He was even indicted on criminal charges for practicing medicine without a license. Chiropractors being thrown in jail was actually common during the late 1800s to the early 1900s. It was only in 1913 that the first law that licensed chiropractors was passed.
Chiropractic Care Today
Today, all states in the US and several countries worldwide acknowledge chiropractors as health care professionals. There are more than 50,000 chiropractors in the US alone, and thousands of chiropractic educational programs are offered worldwide.Despite its controversies in the past, many legal, patient, and medical communities now embrace chiropractic care and its benefits.
How Can Modern Chiropractic Techniques Reduce Pain?
A chiropractic adjustment doesn’t only work for the back. Through the manipulation of the spine, we can get rid of recurring pain felt in different parts of our bodies. As chiropractic adjustments are made, our body’s alignment is corrected, and our overall function significantly improves. Modern chiropractic techniques work in reducing pain by manipulating the joints in our bodies. A licensed chiropractor treats many conditions that affect our musculoskeletal and nervous systems by using one or a combination of the following techniques:
- Soft-tissue therapy: With this technique, a licensed chiropractor will apply direct pressure to an overly toned muscle to treat and manage body frame structures so it can continue to function at optimal levels again.
- Gonstead Technique: The Gonstead Technique is different from other techniques because it involves a thorough analysis of the overall condition of the spine. This technique will require the chiropractor to feel the spine as the patient bends and moves at different angles. This is the safest chiropractic method suitable for pregnant women and children.
- Flexion-Distraction: With this technique, the chiropractor stretches the patient’s back to realign the treat disk herniation and align the spine. This technique also relieves scoliosis, facet joint pain, and other conditions causing severe neck and back pain.
- Thompson Technique: The Thompson Technique involves the use of padded platforms and a special table. These platforms automatically drop about an inch whenever the chiropractor applies a thrust onto the patient’s body. This technique aims to realign spine extremities and joints.
What Is the Upper Cervical Specialty, and Why Is It Different?
Upper cervical chiropractic care is gentler than general chiropractic care and focuses on correcting the misalignments in the upper neck region of the spine. Upper cervical chiropractors manipulate the top two bones in the neck closest to the brain stem. The relationship between the two structures is crucial as it affects our ability to restore health.
Our nervous system functions as a switchboard operator between our body and brain. Signals are relayed to every cell and organ through our spinal cord. A misalignment in either of these systems can impair our brain-to-body communication and may result in loss of body function if not corrected immediately. An upper cervical chiropractor prevents this from happening by quickly determining where the misalignment is and correcting it using precise adjustments in the upper vertebrate in the cervical spine. An upper cervical chiropractor removes any interferences or distortions in our bodies, allowing our brains and bodies to communicate easily.
Additionally, upper cervical chiropractic care is more critical than general chiropractic care because it deals with the nervous system. Medical experts believe that our nervous system is the gateway to the rest of our bodies, and its condition affects various human functions, such as the fluidity of movement and the regulation of hormones. Upper cervical chiropractic adjustments benefit our body regardless of if we’re in pain or not. This kind of treatment offers several health benefits, namely:
Improved Sleep
Sleep is important to our bodies because it helps us recover from mental and physical exertion. Sleeping at least eight hours every night allows our minds and bodies to rest, so we feel refreshed and more alert when we wake up the next day.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, one-third of the people who have undergone chiropractic adjustment experience better sleeping patterns. Upper cervical chiropractic improves the quality of our sleep due to many reasons, namely easing muscle tensions that cause restlessness, relaxing the body, and stimulating our body’s blood flow.
Strengthened Immune System
The strength of our immune system affects the quality of our lives. Having weak immune systems increases our risk of experiencing frequent infections and severe health conditions.
Aside from sticking to a healthier diet, seeing an upper cervical chiropractor regularly can also help strengthen our immune systems. One study showed that chiropractic care improves our immune systems by up to 200%. This works because chiropractic care can effectively reduce stress, a significant contributing factor that can suppress our immune systems.
Better Mood
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Apr 06, 2017When our brains and bodies aren’t working correctly, our mood is affected. Instead of being productive during the day, having a sour mood can prevent us from moving and working properly.
According to a study, chiropractic care can improve our mood because whenever a chiropractor relieves pain, our body naturally releases endorphins, like dopamine. This hormone is associated with pleasurable sensations and makes us happier.
Hire a Professional
Chiropractic care provides countless health benefits, allowing us to live life to the fullest. This should be reason enough for all of us to regularly take advantage of chiropractic services. Our team of doctors at Upper Cervical Chiropractic of Georgia is specially trained in upper cervical care which takes an additional 2-3 years to achieve than standard chiropractic education. Our patients travel from neighboring states because we are the team that they trust for their long-term wellness goals. Schedule a free consultation today and get your body back in balance!
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