chiropractor

chiropractor are so-called manual therapists who use certain manipulative techniques to restore normal function or mobility to the spine or joints. In most cases of illness, a chiropractor treats subluxations, slight displacements of the vertebral bodies, which can lead to the most varied of symptoms. All spinal segments can be treated chiropractically.

What is a chiropractor?

The word chiropractic consists of the syllable chiro, Greek for hand and practice, which translates as activity. It is therefore a practical treatment carried out directly on the patient with the hands of the therapist.

Training to become a chiropractor is not regulated by law, at least in Germany. Nevertheless, not everyone is allowed to call themselves that, because the application of chiropractic is the practice of medicine and therefore falls under the law on alternative practitioners. If you want to practice chiropractic professionally in Germany, you must therefore be a doctor or at least an officially licensed alternative practitioner.

The medical degree in human medicine, but also the basic training as a naturopath do not include any chiropractic training. Chiropractors have therefore trained in chiropractic after their basic training as a doctor or alternative practitioner. The actual qualification of a chiropractor is therefore not always clear to the patient.

Treatments & therapies

The list of indications for chiropractic treatment is quite extensive and includes virtually all physical and psychological symptoms. Attempting therapy is almost always worthwhile, especially with chronic ailments.

Often a significant improvement can be achieved after just one treatment. If there is spontaneous healing after a chiropractic operation due to slight vertebral displacements, this is also referred to as a so-called second phenomenon in chiropractic. The terms chiropractic and chirotherapy are often used synonymously in medical parlance. The main therapeutic area of ​​attack in chiropractic is the spine, with manipulative interventions in the area of ​​the cervical spine being particularly delicate.

The range of treatments offered by chiropractic includes, in particular, tension, blockages and pain in the entire area of ​​the spine. Every second patient who visits a chiropractor suffers from acute or chronic back problems, caused by poor posture, painful tension or herniated discs. Particularly in the case of neck pain, it has been shown that chiropractic interventions often provide faster and more effective relief than taking painkillers.

The chiropractic, which is popularly known as straightening, should not be used as a long-term therapeutic agent. Trained chiropractors must admit that if the muscle corset in the area of ​​the spine is inadequate, chiropractic alone and in the long term cannot be a solution. Rather, the patient must be urged to avoid incorrect posture in everyday life and to strengthen his dorsal muscles through back training and circuit training so that vertebral displacements do not occur in the first place.

Diagnosis & examination methods

Since the Chiropractic When it comes to manual medicine, the therapist works primarily with his hands. This applies to both the diagnosis of the individual vertebral segments and the actual chiropractic treatment.

It goes without saying that a reputable chiropractor first takes a detailed anamnesis to get to the bottom of the causes of the complaints before each treatment in order to be able to recognize whether a chirotherapeutic treatment makes sense in the individual case. He will also educate the patient about possible risks associated with the use of chiropractic. After all, improper execution can lead to symptoms of paralysis up to and including obstruction of the carotid artery with fatal consequences for the cerebral blood flow.

For the actual manipulative intervention, the patient is positioned exactly on a couch, depending on his symptoms. Adjusting the blocked spinal column segment is usually carried out quickly and jerkily within a breathing maneuver. In most cases, the result is a cracking-creaking noise, which the patient often perceives subjectively as promoting healing.

The exact source of these joint noises could not yet be identified, but it is most likely the release of a negative pressure within a joint space.

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What should patients watch out for?

Quality chiropractor can be both doctors and naturopaths. Successful healing from chiropractors usually makes the rounds quickly, so that in this case a patient can also trust word of mouth.

If there are justified doubts, a potential patient should not hesitate to ask the practitioner directly about his or her qualification as a chiropractor. American chiropractors, many of whom are now practicing in Germany, are particularly qualified. In America, chiropractic therapy is recognized as an independent course in medicine with the option of a doctorate.

Nevertheless, a well-trained American chiropractor in Germany has to pass the alternative practitioner examination in order to be allowed to do chiropractic work in this country.