Chiropractic care is a popular form of alternative medicine that focuses on restoring the body's physiological functions by improving nerve transmissions and aligning the spine. While chiropractors can help relieve pain caused by various conditions, there are some cases where they cannot provide treatment. Although some chiropractors claim to provide treatment for high blood pressure by manipulating the spine, their effectiveness is still in question. You may want to see another medical professional for your blood pressure condition.
Another common condition that people like to believe chiropractic care can treat is asthma. Studies show that spinal adjustments and manipulation do not provide sufficient progress or changes in asthmatic patients. However, nutritional and lifestyle guidance from the point of view of a chiropractor could help manage the condition. Osteoporosis, also known as bone thinning, often occurs as you age.
While a chiropractor could help relieve pain caused by the condition, no adjustment or manipulation of the spine will help reverse osteoporosis. Your chiropractor may suggest offering nutritional counseling or proposing some exercises to treat osteoporosis to control the condition. Cancer patients who are undergoing treatment are very discouraged from seeking chiropractic treatments. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, increase the risk of weakening bone structures.
Spinal adjustments in already weakened bones could cause more harm than good to the patient. In addition to adjustments, chiropractors use many types of treatments found in a physical therapy office: heat and ice, electrical stimulation, ultrasounds, lasers, and therapeutic exercises. Sports injuries also fall within the purview of chiropractors. The immediate recommendation is to treat the patient conservatively with the hope of improvement, which may include treatment with a chiropractor, physical therapy and a doctor specializing in the treatment of pain, along with diagnostic imaging studies, such as an MRI of the neck and back.
Chiropractors have also been promoted to treat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, headaches, and postural problems. However, there are some conditions that are beyond the scope of the knowledge and practice of a chiropractor, such as serious traumatic injuries like fractures and bone fractures. In addition, cancer patients undergoing treatment should not seek chiropractic treatments due to weakened bone structures. We understand the thrill of seeing chiropractic care as the best solution to your body problems, but it's important to be aware of what conditions a spinal chiropractor cannot treat.
