Chiropractors treat numerous musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders that affect the spine. They receive extensive training in anatomy, radiology, and many other basic and clinical sciences that prepare them to treat conditions such as degenerative disk disease, whiplash and piriformis syndrome. Chiropractors often use spinal joint manipulation to improve a person's structural fitness, along with soft tissue techniques, physical therapy modalities and functional exercises to help speed healing.
Degenerative Disk Disease
According to the Spine Health website, degenerative disk disease is one of the primary causes of low back pain, but it is also one of the most misunderstood. Unlike its name implies, DDD is not a progressive, threatening condition or disease. While the intervertebral disk may continue to degenerate over time, the low back pain associated with this condition typically does not get worse and may, in fact, get better.
Chiropractors can help relieve their patients' DDD-related pain or discomfort, states the Mayfield Clinic, one of the world's largest neurosurgical practices. Chiropractors use chiropractic manipulative therapy or adjustments, among other therapies, to treat DDD. Chiropractic adjustments target the joints to promote optimal range of motion. According to the Mayfield Clinic, optimal spinal joint motion is important for disk and joint health, as movement encourages the exchange of fluids, nutrients and waste. Without good joint movement, disks and joints may degenerate at a faster-than-usual rate.
Whiplash
According to the Spine Universe website, almost 2 million Americans experience whiplash each year, and while most cases of whiplash result from auto accidents, whiplash can also be caused by a sports injury or a fall or from being punched or shaken. Whiplash typically involves several neck injuries resulting from a rapid hyperextension or bending back of the neck. The rapid hyperextension of the cervical spine may cause damage to the neck, shoulders and upper back muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Whiplash is a condition commonly treated by chiropractic physicians, who use the following therapies to promote healing and reduce pain: CMT, soft tissue mobilization, traction, stretching exercises, physical therapy modalities such as cold laser or microcurrent, and home or work behavior modifications. Chiropractic physicians may discuss important nutritional advice with their patients or provide them with medical equipment to help manage their whiplash-related pain.
Piriformis Syndrome
Rice University states that piriformis syndrome is a condition in which one or both of the piriformis muscles, which are pear-shaped muscles in the gluteal region, irritate the sciatic nerve, resulting in buttock pain and referred pain or sciatica into the back of the leg, along the path of the sciatic nerve. The pain associated with piriformis syndrome typically is exacerbated by sitting, stair climbing or performing squats.
According to the Dynamic Chiropractic website, piriformis syndrome is a symptomatic hip condition commonly seen in chiropractic clinics, and it's treated using rehabilitation techniques, including the following: stretching and passive mobilization, isotonic resistance exercise, proprioception and coordination training, and functional alignment of the body's segments and load-bearing joints. Chiropractors may also perform CMT, physical therapy modalities and soft tissue work in or near the gluteal region to reduce piriformis syndrome-related symptomatic complaints.
