Chiropractic has come a long way. From what used to be a rare and often untapped medical resource to a respected and sought-after medical specialty, chiropractic is now having its day. While chiropractic care has been around for years, it was often seen as the “red-headed stepchild” of medicine. Patients heard comments like “Oh, you’re one of those people”, a reference to people who sought a natural approach to skeletal pain and other medical conditions. Today, chiropractic medicine and chiropractic physicians enjoy the respect of patients, other medical professionals and even insurance providers.
Today’s chiropractic physician is often times involved in more than just performing spinal manipulation. Many also offer services promoting overall health including nutrition management and supplementation, massage services, Functional Medicine, Functional Neurology, integrative medicine, acupuncture, alternative, naturopathic and holistic testing, and therapy treating the whole person and seeking to find the causes of their physical and emotional problems. Some chiropractic physicians even limit their practices to specialty patients such as children and pre or post pregnancy women, sports, or athletic medicine, etc.
The History of Chiropractic, its Goals and Desired Outcomes
Chiropractic as a profession began in 1895 when its founder, Daniel David Palmer, “adjusted” the spine of a deaf janitor and claimed to restore his hearing. Spinal manipulation was not an unknown treatment in 1895, and Palmer never claimed to be the first to use manipulation for the cure of disease. He did claim, however, to be the first to use specific contacts as short-leverage points for making more specific spinal “adjustments.” (Evans and Leininger, 2016)
The more recent professional cooperation and mutual appreciation between chiropractic and conventional medicine lie in stark contrast to many years of discord. Cooperation and the collaborative care of patients are now quite common. Interdisciplinary practices are now becoming more common in a variety of settings, with chiropractors, medical doctors, physical therapists, and others working as partners in occupational health, sports medicine teams, and rehabilitation centers.
Chiropractors provide the primary intervention of manual therapy to normalize joint function in patients recovering from injuries, illnesses and more to relieve pain and speed healing. (Evans and Leininger, 2016)
What to Expect During a Chiropractic Evaluation and Treatment
Chiropractic adjustment, also referred to as spinal manipulation, is a recognized and popular pain relief treatment for many types of back pain, sciatica, neck pain and more. In preparation for the chiropractic consultation, the patient will be asked to fill out forms that provide background information about their symptoms and condition. Typical questions include: When and how did the pain start? Where is the pain felt? Describe the pain—is it sharp, dull, searing/burning, or throbbing? Does it come and go, or is it continual? Did the pain start as a result of an injury? What activities/circumstances make it better or worse? Patients are usually asked to provide information on family medical history, any pre-existing medical conditions or prior injuries, and previous and current treatments provided by other health professionals.
A thorough chiropractic exam includes general and specific orthopedic and neurological tests used to assess range of motion of the affected body part(s), muscle tone, muscle strength and neurological integrity. Further chiropractic tests may be necessary to assess the affected area, such as having the patient move in a specific manner, posture analysis, or assess motion of the affected body part.
An x-ray study is only be undertaken if there is good reason to believe that it will provide information needed to guide the patient’s treatment program. While an x-ray can help view the bones, it is not useful for studying the soft tissues. When soft tissue damage is suspected, such as a problem with a disc, torn muscle, or nerve compression, an MRI scan may be recommended. (Schubbe, 2020)
Spinal Manipulation is usually performed at the patient’s first visit along with any accompanying therapies recommended to assist with healing and pain relief. The number and frequency of treatments, therapies, etc. are determined by the patient’s diagnosis.
Spinal, Cervical, and other types of Decompression as an Integral Part of Chiropractic Treatment
Decompression is the relief of pressure on compressed discs or vertebrae of the spinal column achieved through gentle stretching of the spine. Decompression is painless and clinical studies show it to be 86% effective in spinal correction. Decompression can also be used in the correction of knee problems and knee pain using the same gentle stretching. This takes the pressure off the discs and vertebrae relieving the pain. A vacuum effect is achieved through this process so that material from a herniated disc can be pulled back inside the disc taking pressure off pinched nerves. The vacuum effect also stimulates blood supply drawing oxygen, nutrients and fluids into the disc inducing a healing response. Michigan Health and Wellness often uses decompression in conjunction with spinal manipulation to relieve pain and increase the healing process.
Who Should See a Chiropractor and When?
Individuals should seek chiropractic care when suffering from low back pain, neck pain, headaches, muscle and joint pain, numbness, and tingling. Chiropractors utilize treatments, including joint manipulation, physical therapy modalities, patient education, manual therapy, nutrition, and rehabilitation exercises to address each patient’s unique situation. (Castaneda, 2020)
It is best to seek chiropractic care at the onset of discomfort before additional damage could occur and before the pain or discomfort becomes intense or chronic. This is especially true in the case of accidents or injuries including car, bike or work accidents and falls.
Chiropractic for Pain Management
Chronic pain continues to be one of the primary reasons for medical consultations worldwide. In 2008, the United States estimated that nearly 100 million people were affected by chronic pain with an associated economic cost ranging from $560 billion to $635 billion annually in medical care and decreased productivity.
The American Academy of Pain Medicine outlines the management of nonmalignant chronic pain and recommends combination therapy, including analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants. As the public health issue of substance abuse grows, there is a strong correlation between opioid sales and opioid-related deaths. Opioid sales quadrupled from 1999 to 2015, while opioid-related deaths quadrupled during the same time period. Chiropractic care has been shown to help in managing or alleviating chronic pain without the use of drugs or surgery as well as being cost effective, considered safe, and satisfactory to a high number of patients. (Mann and Mattox, 2018)
Chiropractic as Part of your Overall Wellness Program
Many patients do not suffer from the disorders typically associated with chiropractic, such as arthritis, backache, neck pain or headache. Instead, patients seek chiropractic care for a variety of benefits, which are supported by scientific research.
Chiropractors keep abreast of the latest health research. Patients consider chiropractic visits not only opportunities to keep their spine in optimal conditions, but also occasions to learn about late-breaking research in wellness fields like disease prevention, nutrition, exercise, mental outlook, and stress reduction. Preventive care and wellness workshops aim at keeping patients on the forefront of holistic research and warding off potential health challenges before the onset of symptoms.
⦁ Correct Extremity Conditions – It is known that chiropractic alleviates pain and disability in the spine, hips, back and neck. You are probably aware that this drug-free approach to health wards off headaches, jaw pain and fibromyalgia as well. But did you know that chiropractic offers effective correction for problems in the joints of the upper and lower limbs (extremities) as well? Chiropractic addresses maladies affecting the ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, and shoulders with a multifaceted approach. First, alignment in the extremities is influenced by spinal posture. Consequently, a misaligned spine may spark a chain reaction that throws limbs slightly out of balance, leading to uneven wear on joints. Your doctor examines the spine for areas where movement is restricted, or spinal bones (vertebrae) are slightly out of place.
⦁ Improve Overall Health – Scientific research indicates that chiropractic care improves the immune response, which may lead to superior health overall. One study looked at the effect of chiropractic adjustments on specific white blood cells associated with immune function.
⦁ Boost Athletic Performance – Regular chiropractic care helps keep the entire body not merely pain-free but also in top physical form. That’s why professional athletes like Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady turn to chiropractic. Nearly all major professional sport teams work with doctors of chiropractic.
⦁ Bolster Cognitive Function – Research indicates that these adjustments promote cognitive function and may boost short-term memory.
⦁ Be More Productive at Work – Patients often report that chiropractic care enhances their productiveness at work. This productivity boost stems from elevated energy and reduced fatigue. In addition, these treatments ward off debilitating chronic pain. (Wade, Davis, Kulesz, 2019)
Dr. Tony Aboudib, DC and Michigan Health and Wellness
Dr. Tony Aboudib, DC has 33 years’ experience in the care and treatment of spinal health. He received his chiropractic degree at Parker University in Dallas, Texas in 1988. He went on to run four chiropractic clinics in the Fort Worth, Texas area. Dr. Tony started two diagnostic imaging centers with CT and MRI as well as a sleep lab, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation center. He moved to the Traverse City area and started his clinic in 2009 returning to the home of his wife, Shirley Popp Aboudib. Since then, he has diversified his facility, Michigan Health and Wellness, to include everything from chiropractic care to Functional Medicine, Functional Neurology and many natural and alternative therapies and treatment. He continues to expand his knowledge base to treat patients with thyroid conditions, infertility, diabetes, ASD, Alzheimer’s disease and more. He has expanded his facility to include a Hyperbaric Chamber to help treat Alzheimer’s patients, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, post-concussion and more. His Theta Chamber helps patients with PTSD, depression, anxiety, ADHD, traumatic brain injury and addictions. Hyperthermic Ozone and Carbonic Acid Treatment Therapy (HOCATT) is available for detoxification at the cellular level from mold, toxins, heavy metals, viruses, bacteria and to boost the immune system. This makes Michigan Health and Wellness a one-of-a-kind, state-of-the-art clinic and the place for many of those seeking answers they haven’t found elsewhere.
Dr. Aboudib attended post-graduate studies at Carrick Institute for graduate studies in clinical neuroscience, American Functional Neurology Institute, Functional Medicine University, Institute of Functional Medicine and Kharrazian Institute for graduate studies. To learn more call Michigan Health and Wellness for a FREE consultation. For more information call 231-421-5213 or click here to go to our Contact Us page to schedule a free consultation.
References
Evans, Roni, DC, MS, PhD, Leininger, Brent, DC, MS. (2016). What is the history of Chiropractic? University of Minnesota. Retrieved from https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/what-history-chiropractic.
Schubbe, John, DC. (February 2020). What to expect at the chiropractic consultation? SPINE-Health. Retrieved from https://www/spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/what-to-expect-first-chiropractic-consultation.
Castaneda, Ruben. (August 2020). Signs you should see a chiropractor. US News and World Report Healthcare. Retrieved from https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/should-i-go-to-a-chiropractor.
Mann, David J., DC, Mattox, Ross, DC. (June 2018). Chiropractic Management of a Patient with Chronic Pain in a Federally Qualified Health Center: A Case Review. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nhm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6112063/.
Wade, Andrew, DC, Davis, Mark, DC, Kulesz, Christina, DC. (August 2019). Health and Wellness; Chiropractic Care Not Just for Back Pain. Lacamas Magazine. Retrieved from https://lacamasmagazine.com/2019/08/health-wellness-chiropractic-care-not-just-for-back-pain.html.
