Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a health care discipline and profession that emphasizes diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, especially the spine, under the hypothesis that these disorders affect general health via the nervous system. It is generally categorized as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), a characterization that many chiropractors reject. Although chiropractors have many attributes of primary care providers, chiropractic has more of the attributes of a medical specialty like dentistry or podiatry. The main chiropractic treatment technique involves manual therapy, including manipulation of the spine, other joints, as well as soft tissue therapies; treatment also includes exercises and health and lifestyle counseling.

Indications

Neck pain

Mid back and lower back pain

Chronic muscle pain and inflammation

Acute and chronic muscle spasm

Decreased spinal range of motion

Chronic fibrositis (outdated term for fibromyalgia)

Nerve entrapment

Pseudo-sciatica

Sciatica where disc bulges are contained less than 5 mm

Failed back surgery

Chronic occipital or tension headaches

Conditions where narcotic pain relievers are of little benefit

Traumatic torticollis

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD.

Contraindications

Malignancy with metastasis to bone

Tuberculosis of the bone

Fractures

Acute arthritis

Acute gout

Uncontrolled diabetic neuropathy

Syphilitic articular or periarticular lesions

Gonorrheal spinal arthritis

Excessive spinal osteoporosis

Evidence of cord or caudal compression by tumor, ankylosis and malacia bone disease.