What is Chiropractic Therapy? What Does It Do?

Chiropractic is an effective manual therapy method that helps healing by manually intervening in deformations and problems on the spine. 

What is chiropractic?  

Chiropractic therapy, which was first started in 1985, is a manual therapy method that helps to provide energy and blood flow correctly by applying pressure to the vertebrae with the hand and palm, and helps to prevent deformations on the muscle, nervous system and spine. 

Chiropractic practice helps improve quality of life by focusing on mechanical disorders of the joints and spine, including healthy lifestyle, nutrition and exercise programs. Chiropractic therapy based on scientific data is one of the first techniques used in pain management, especially in the USA and Canada. 

By Who Is Chiropractic Therapy Applied?

Chiropractic therapy is practiced by chiropractors or specialist physiotherapists who have completed their 4-year undergraduate education and completed their graduate education. The application of chiropractic practice by a specialist physiotherapist or chiropractor is of great importance in terms of the success of the therapy and the prevention of future disabilities. 

Chiropractors and specialist physiotherapists focus on the close relationship between the nervous system and the spine, aiming to restore the structural integrity of the spine with manual interventions and to eliminate the causes of pain by reducing the pressure on the neurological tissue.

How is Chiropractic Therapy Applied?

Chiropractic therapy acts with the principle of increasing the range of motion, reducing the pressure on the pinched nerves and improving mobility by applying a controlled force with the hand and palm on the vertebrae, soft tissues and nerves with manual manipulation called adjustment. 

Specialist physiotherapists and chiropractors focus on the causes of pain and apply therapies to eliminate the problems that occur on the spine, soft tissue and nervous system with different techniques and methods. The main methods used in chiropractic practice are as follows;

Adjustments: One of the most commonly used methods is manual manipulation of the spine and other joints. The aim is to gently realign the vertebrae by applying manual pressure on the joints and vertebrae to reduce pain and increase range of motion. 

Soft Tissue Therapy: They are interventions to relax tense muscles, relieve muscle spasms and release tension in the connective tissue surrounding each muscle.

Joint Support / Kinesio Taping: It helps sprained joints and muscles heal in a short time. With the Kinesio x taping technique, edema is reduced by supporting muscle, joint and ligament structures without restricting joint range of motion, and the body's natural healing process is facilitated. 

Exercises and Stretches: It is a set of movements applied to regain the resistance, strength and flexibility of the relaxed muscles after chiropractic therapy, to increase and protect joint stability and mobility. 

Why Is Chiropractic Therapy Used?

Chiropractic therapy focuses on the causes that affect the musculoskeletal system, aiming not only for the smooth movement of the joints but also the proper functioning of the surrounding muscles. These causes may include persistent muscle pain, muscle spasms, or a herniated disc. 

Chiropractic therapy has been successfully applied mainly on the symptoms of the following conditions or conditions;

• Arthritis
• Frequent headache, migraine
• Accelerating the recovery process after an accident or trauma
• Joint pain and dysfunction 
• Backache
• Neck pain 
• Arm and Shoulder Pains 
• Sciatica 
• Tense muscles and muscle aches
• Pain in the pelvis area
• Preparing the pelvic muscles before pregnancy 

What Are the Clicking Sounds Heard During Chiropractic Therapy?

A lump or cracking sensation may be felt or heard during chiropractic therapy. These sounds occur with the release of gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, which are trapped in the small spaces between the joints during movement or stretching. Although it is more pronounced during chiropractic therapy in general, you can also hear this sound when you crack your joints, for example, when you crack a finger. 

What to Do After Chiropractic Therapy?

After the chiropractic application, your specialist physiotherapist may give you some homework after the evaluation so that the application will last for a long time and the healing can continue in a healthy way. 

These homework assignments can be listed as follows;

• Exercise and stretching movements
• Ergonomics postures for posture improvement and development
• Cold or hot compress that can be applied to certain areas at home 
• Advice on healthy eating, diet, weight control and general health
• Recommendations for stress management and muscle relaxation 

Who is Chiropractic Therapy Applied to? 

Chiropractic therapy is an effective therapy option for all ages, including children and adults, and it is generally recommended that individuals between the ages of 45 and 65 receive chiropractic therapy for healthy muscle and nervous system strengthening. Chiropractic therapy, which helps to strengthen the muscles for a happy and healthy aging, strengthens, stretches and supports the endurance of the spine together with exercise applications.

Chiropractic therapy, which includes practices aimed at improving the quality of life by focusing on the muscle and nervous system, helps to shorten the recovery period of the muscles after birth by preparing the expectant mothers for a healthy birth, especially when applied before birth. 

What Are the Benefits of Chiropractic Therapy?

When chiropractic therapy is performed by experienced and knowledgeable specialist physiotherapists and chiropractors, it helps to eliminate the causes of pain on the muscle and nervous system and to have a healthy muscle and nervous system, flexible and durable spine. 

The main benefits of chiropractic therapy can be listed as follows;

• Helps minimize migraine and neck-related headaches
• improves your posture
• Improves range of motion of the spine and other joints by reducing pain
• Reduces symptoms of chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis
• Helps heal mechanical injuries on the neck and spine.