Chiropractors adjust their patients' spines to correct subluxations. A subluxation is a misalignment of the vertebrae, which is believed to interfere with proper nervous system functioning and/or muscle pain. Although all chiropractic treatments focus on adjustments, there are three different types of chiropractic care, each with its own specific goal.
Chiropractic Care for Relief
Chiropractor Dr. Greg Molis says that one type of chiropractic care is aimed at acute pain relief. This type of care is used to relieve discomfort that is being caused by a medical condition, accident or other type of injury. The chiropractor's main goal is pain relief, but he also focuses on correcting the problem. The length of time needed for treatment will vary, depending on the cause of the pain. The All 4 Natural Health website says that some chiropractors will use other methods, such as TENS units (portable devices that block pain signals and stimulate endorphin production with electrical impulses), acupuncture or laser treatments, instead of relying solely on adjustments.
Corrective Care
Some patients come to a chiropractor with spinal problems that have been building for a long time. These problems require corrective care to fix them. Dr. Molis says they often require long-term treatment because of their severity. According to All 4 Natural Health, the patient's symptoms will stop once the spine has been realigned into the proper position by the treatments.
Maintenance
Once an acute or chronic problem has been corrected, the patient usually requires maintenance treatments. Once the spine has had problems, Dr. Molis says it is weakened and needs regular treatments to keep it healthy. This type of treatment is usually done once every two to six weeks, depending on the individual patient's needs.
