Chiropractic is a licensed health care profession that emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself. Treatment typically involves manual therapy, often including spinal manipulation. Other forms of treatment, such as exercise and nutritional counseling, may be used as well.
What Chiropractors Do
Chiropractors approach patient care in a manner similar to that used in conventional medicine. They interview the patient, obtain a detailed health history, perform an examination, and develop a working diagnosis. They then develop a treatment plan, start treatment, and monitor the patient’s progress.
Chiropractors often treat problems related to the musculoskeletal system but many other systemic issues can resolve through chiropractic care. Chiropractors often receive additional training in subspecialties. For example, Dr. Jen Wilhelm, D.C., who provides care at Well Within, has special training and experience treating pregnancy and pediatrics. Read more about Dr. Jen in the “Practitioners” link.
The manual treatment methods used by chiropractors range from stretching and sustained pressure to specific joint manipulations, which are usually delivered by hand and involve a quick and gentle thrust. The purpose of the manipulations is to improve joint motion and function. Manipulations are most commonly done on the spine, but other parts of the body may also be treated in this way.