The history of chiropractic

The word ‘chiropractic’ comes from the Greek words cheir (meaning ‘hand’) and praktos (meaning ‘done’), i.e., done by hand. Manual healing methods can be traced back to ancient times; however, it was not until the late 1800s when chiropractic profession in the United States began to take shape.

Daniel David Palmer is widely credited with giving the first chiropractic adjustment in 1895. He also established the first chiropractic school in 1897 in Davenport, Iowa. From that point forward, Palmer and others continued to refine chiropractic manual adjusting techniques and study how manual manipulation can relieve pain and improve function.

 In the beginning, chiropractic was rooted in energy flow, spiritualism, and other concepts that did not follow science. The profession has continued to evolve, and there are now research facilities all over the world dedicated to it.

What do chiropractors do?

At the very core, chiropractors work to remove joint restrictions to restore the normal movement of the human body. Chiropractors will perform a detailed history and new complaints for each new patient. This, combined with a series of detailed neurological, orthopedic, and vital sign tests, will allow the doctor to come up with a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is determined, the doctor will create a treatment plan that may or may not include chiropractic adjustments.

What are 5 great benefits of seeing a chiropractor?

While seeing a chiropractor has many great benefits, we have put together five benefits that our patients tell us at our Saratoga Springs office. 

1. Live life with less pain

Nobody likes to be in pain, and for many people, the thought of pain is enough to make them change their behavior or way of life. In our chiropractic office, we try not to use pain as the primary benchmark for progress, but it is hard to ignore. Many different sources cause pain, but chiropractors treat pain from specific sources.

Joint Pain – Joints that are not moving correctly can get inflamed. That inflammation can cause pain at the receptors in the joint. Adjustments help reduce that inflammation, thus reducing pain.

Muscle/Tendon Pain—Muscles and tendons can be painful for two main reasons: acute trauma or when a muscle is strained from working harder than it is capable. Cumulative trauma or repetitive use occurs when a muscle is constantly activated without enough rest or in a way that eventually damages the tissue.

Neurological Pain—This distinct pain is more common than people think. Nerve pain is the result of an irritated nerve. Nerve irritation can be caused by pressure or friction, and each treatment differs for each. The most challenging aspect of nerve pain is that it can refer to different areas of the body.  

Referral Pain—As noted above, referral pain can be from nerves or muscles. It is challenging because the area that hurts is not the area that is causing the pain. This leads to problems for doctors who do not do thorough exams, as they end up “chasing pain.”

2. Improved Performance

Performance is one of those words that can mean different things to different people. For example, a parent who needs to bend over to tie their child’s shoes cannot perform that task if they have lower back pain or dysfunction.  Another example of performance is a soccer player dealing with hip pain who cannot stop and change direction quickly when running. For this reason, we break down performance into two categories.

Functional Performance is categorized as performance related to daily function. The seven foundational movements are the baseline for functional performance. Those movements are push, pull, squat, walk, lunge, hinge (bend), and rotate. Some combinations of those movements are tested during an exam, and if the patient has a faulty or painful pattern, it is addressed to improve overall performance.

Athletic Performance is categorized using the same foundational movements. The difference is that athletic performance combines the movements and incorporates speed and power. For example, golf combines rotation, hinge, and rotation with speed and power to produce an athletic movement. 

Chiropractic treatment can help with improving performance through chiropractic adjustments, corrective exercises, and stretching.

3. Comprehensive Care and Treatment

Healthcare in the United States and Saratoga Springs has become very focused on treating one specific area of complaint. While this is great as it leads to doctors being experts in one field, allowing them to focus their resources on one condition, it can cause some things to be missed. In our Saratoga Springs chiropractic office, we take a comprehensive approach. Our chiropractor will ask about your work life, what you do for fun, and a variety of other things to learn more about your day-to-day life. This helps identify any potential roadblocks to your recovery and health. It also allows chiropractors to create a chiropractic treatment plan and rehabilitation program that fits your lifestyle and needs.

4. Car Accident Treatment and recovery

Car accidents are serious regardless of the severity of the accident. You can suffer from emotional and physical trauma, and the process of getting your car fixed and making sure you take care of yourself, in addition to figuring out how life will move forward until all the dust settles, is very stressful. Our Saratoga Springs chiropractic office has a process to ensure your treatment is seamless.  

Our office staff will help walk you through opening an insurance claim and setting up your treatments. We will also handle all of the billing and paperwork, so you don’t have to do anything except focus on your own health. If an attorney does not represent you, we are happy to make personal recommendations for you.

Car accident chiropractic treatment is very detailed. Injuries can linger for long periods of time, and your improvement can fluctuate with each treatment. We have relationships with imaging centers, so we can order X-rays, MRIs, and nerve studies without having to jump through hoops. We will also fit you with any equipment we feel will aid in your recovery.

During your chiropractic treatment, special care and attention will be given to your movements and the soft tissues involved in those movements. Car accidents are traumatic for your body, so a cautious but direct approach is important.

5. Wellness

Chiropractors might be most sought after for treating injuries or resolving pain, but many patients end up feeling so well that they choose to continue on a maintenance plan of care. Maintenance plans are not required, but many chiropractic patients choose this plan to ensure they continue to feel their best.

What is wellness care?

Wellness care or maintenance care is defined as treatment that seeks to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong and enhance the quality of life, or therapy to maintain or prevent deterioration of a chronic condition.

Does insurance pay for wellness care?

Insurance companies do not cover maintenance care, but the service is reimbursable through health savings accounts (HSA) and flex spending accounts (FSA. 

Why should I seek wellness care? 

The human body is like any other machine or moving part. When we subject our body to repetitive and varied stressors, we are bound to break down at some point. Wellness visits help reduce the likelihood of injury and the recovery time should an injury happen.

Summary

Chiropractic treatment has many benefits. Those benefits largely depend on the individual being treated, their mechanism of injury, their fitness level, age, lifestyle, and other factors. Whether you have been to a chiropractor before or are just searching for a chiropractor near me, we are happy to help. If you want more information or want to meet our chiropractor to discuss treatment, click on the book now button above to schedule a free consultation.