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are different stages of chiropractic care. They go by different
names but the purpose of each is clear. The overall aim of chiropractic
care is not just to eliminate pain but also prevent it coming
back. Regular chiropractic cecks keep the patient informed about
which stage of care they need.
Initial intensive care
Most new patients are in the initial
intensive care stage. If an ache, pain or other obvious symptoms
has prompted them to begin chiropractic care, the first thing
they want is to feel better. Patients attend the clinic frequently,
depending on the severity of the problem, and treatment is aimed
at providing immediate pain relief. Intensive care can last form
anything from a few days to several weeks.
Gentle adjustments are made on the spine to restore
movement to the stiff and painful joints, as well as relieving
irritation on the spinal nerves and muscles. Self-help advice
is often given for in-between visits, such as the use of ice to
reduce inflammation or back supports to take the strain off sore
joints and ligaments. Exercises are recommended because too much
rest at this stage causes more stiffness.
Rehabilitative care
Muscle and other soft tissue damage
often remains after original symptoms have improved. The chiropractor
focuses on stabilising and strengthening the spine now that the
patient should be more comfortable. Patients who choose to discontinue
care at this time, are more likely to have the symptoms come back
weeks, months or even years later. This can be prevented with
appropriate rehabilitation.
As patients do not need to be seen as frequently
at this stage, a strict exercise regime is usually prescribed
and other self-help tips. Exercises leads to stronger and more
flexible muscles, especially in the spine and trunk.
The exercises that are the most effective are
sit-ups, trunk raises, squats and specific buttock and thigh training.
It is also true that the benefits last only as
long as the exercises are done. People who stop their exercises
lose their improvements.
In the rehabilitation phase, which can last from
a few weeks to several months, chiropractors advise on ergonomics
and lifestyle changes to avoid the daily postural stresses that
contributed to the problem in the first place.
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Maintenance care
Once the chiropractor is happy that
the spine is functioning to the best of its ability, regular chiropractic
check-ups are often recommended to help preserve and maintain
progress. The two reasons for this third and ongoing phase are:
- To
maintain all of the improvements in the spine’s function that
has been achieved by the chiropractor. Patients who have suffered
for a long time, may never bet totally free of symptoms. For
these patients, regular adjustments keep them active and help
prevent further deterioration. People with severe arthritic
changes fall into this group, and they often find considerable
relief from regular chiropractic.
- To
prevent recurrence in problems that have been relieved. If the
first two phases of care are followed according to the chiropractor’s
instructions, more than 90% of patients obtain lasting relief
from pain.
It does not stop here. As people continue with
activities of daily living, the stresses and strains that contributed
to the problem in the first place start exerting themselves. Bending,
lifting, carrying, sitting even minor trips and bangs put pressure
on the delicate spinal tissues causing further problems. These
may go unnoticed at first but eventually the pain threshold is
reached and the cycle begins again.
This is avoidable. A programme of periodic visits
based on the chiropractor’s clinical experience with other patients
with similar conditions, can help catch little problems before
they have any symptoms at all. This is just like going to the
dentist for a check-up.
How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic
care is, of course, always up to you. Many people make regular
trips to their dentist because catching problems early avoids
needless pain and expense later on. And so it is with chiropractic.
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