What is Chiropractic Care and What Makes It Useful?
Why does Chiropractic work?
Chiropractic care is a prevention-based approach that focuses on lifestyle modifications,
adequate diet, and exercise. It emphasizes holistic and natural methods to wellness. A
chiropractic visit usually includes evaluation, adjustments or manipulations, and other
therapeutic techniques to optimize the body’s function.
Many people ask: does chiropractic work? Chiropractic is an important form of health care
that follows a holistic approach and focuses on the relationship between your central
nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system (PNS), spinal structures, musculoskeletal
system, and their functions.
A growing body of research evidence shows that chiropractic care is a practical approach
to treat neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, including problems with nerves, bones,
muscles, joints, and connective tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. Read on!
How Does Chiropractic Work
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that chiropractic care focuses on the neuro-
musculoskeletal system and diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of disorders related to
it. The procedure usually involves manual techniques, such as joint manipulation or
adjustment, with more emphasis on subluxation.
Dr. Dustin Dukart, an experienced and skilled chiropractor, states that the basis of the
chiropractic method is to restore and protect health between body structures, particularly
the spine and musculoskeletal system.
A 2012 study shows that a qualified chiropractor removes disorders in the body structure
to alleviate stresses on the nervous system, leading to health restoration. Do chiropractic
adjustments work? A chiropractic adjustment refers to spinal manipulation to help restore
the function of the nervous system and joints. It can heal musculoskeletal and systemic
problems, such as:
- Spine and shoulder pain
- Neck pain
- Lumbar spine pain
- Sciatica
- Sports injuries
- Vertigo
- Headaches
- Difficulty breathing
- Problems arising during pregnancy
- Numbness and tingling in hands, arms, and legs
- Pain resulting from falls or automotive accidents
Do chiropractic adjustments work? What does the research say? While the main form of
treatment in Dr. Dustin Dukart’s clinic is an adjustment, he also uses other methods to
improve the effectiveness of adjustments or manipulations.
Dr. Dustin performs the adjustment with hands, handheld instruments, or spinal devices. Besides hand
adjustments or manipulations, other treatment methods include:
- Therapeutic ultrasound
- Electrical muscle stimulation
- Massage
- Phoenix Wave
- Microcurrent
- Acupressure
- Therapeutic exercises
- Decompression
- Manual trigger point therapy
- Ergonomic counseling
What can You Expect at Your First Chiropractic Appointment?
The American Chiropractic Association reports that there are over 70,000 chiropractors in
the U.S. However, not all of them are experienced enough to treat a wide range of
disorders. It is vital to find a qualified chiropractor in your local area to seek treatment.
If you live in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, you can undergo chiropractic treatment at “Adjust
Today Chiropractic,” a clinic run by Dr. Dustin Dukart. Anyway, what can you expect at your
first chiropractic appointment? Keep reading!
Dr. Dustin will thoroughly review your medical history during the first appointment and ask
you about your specific symptoms. Dr. Dustin will also conduct a complete diagnostic
examination, including general tests, such as pulse, blood pressure, respiration, and
reflexes.
Bear in mind that Dr. Dustin follows a step-by-step approach to ensure you get proper and
effective treatment. Dr. Dustin may also perform specific neurological and orthopedic tests
to assess your range of motion of the affected body area.
Likewise, he will evaluate your muscle tone, strength, and neurological integrity. Dr. Dustin
will assess your test results to make accurate diagnoses of your condition. Standard
diagnostic exams include X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and other lab tests, including urinalysis and
blood tests.
At the end of your initial appointment or visit, Dr. Dustin will explain your diagnosed health
condition, recommend a personalized treatment plan based on chiropractic methods,
advise you on the treatment duration, and review costs or payment plan options.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Research highlights that over 70 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. Lumbar spine
pain is the most common reason people in the U.S. seek medical care or consult their
doctors. Many Americans look for alternative treatment options to medication for pain
relief. Chiropractic care is an effective pain treatment, especially for those who suffer from
neck and back pain.
Does Chiropractic Help Neck Pain?
Neck pain is a common health condition in people who sit for a prolonged time during the
day. For instance, poor posture, frequently bending your neck to use electronic gadgets,
and other unhealthy activities can lead to neck pain.
Dr. Dustin can help relieve your neck pain through spinal realignment and manipulation.
The purpose is to relieve tension or pressure on your neck muscles. A 2012 research study
highlights that 12 weeks of chiropractic treatment is more effective than medication for
people with neck pain.
A recent research study concludes that chiropractic manipulation or adjustments in the
cervical spine can reduce discomfort and pain in the neck. Researchers state that cervical
spine manipulation modifies neuropeptide levels in the blood. These are proteins in the
nervous system that function as hormones, chemicals, or neurotransmitters.
Does Chiropractic Work For Back Pain?
Chiropractic care is an excellent alternative to surgical and invasive procedures for treating
acute and chronic spinal pain. According to the American College of Physicians, health
professionals encourage people to undergo non-medication treatment to treat their pain.
These treatment options include chiropractic care or spinal manipulation, exercise, yoga,
Tai Chi, acupuncture, and meditation. A 2017 Meta-analysis study found that chiropractic
care was more effective for acute spinal pain than placebo options for up to six weeks.
Does Chiropractic Work For Arthritis?
Pain resulting from arthritis is caused by cartilage degeneration, especially in the joint. The
condition occurs when two or more bones rub against each other. Dr. Dustin can perform
chiropractic adjustments to realign your joints and reduce the friction between your bones.
Although there is a need for more research, a recent study highlights that chiropractic
adjustment and realignment can slow down arthritic progressions. It helps improve the
status of bone, cartilage, and the joint capsule.
Does Chiropractic Help Headaches?
Dr. Dustin is an experienced chiropractor in St. Paul Park, Minnesota. To date, he has
treated hundreds of patients with tension headaches. A 2016 research study found that 6-
8 sessions of upper thoracic and cervical spine manipulation could reduce headaches and
related symptoms.
Researchers concluded that chiropractic adjustments were more effective than physical
activity and exercise for chronic headaches. However, researchers say that it is crucial to
undergo at least three months of follow-up treatment to relieve chronic headaches.
Does Chiropractic Help Sciatica?
Sciatic nerve pain is extremely debilitating, affecting the patient’s day-to-day life and
activities. Spinal stenosis, injury, and ruptured discs in the lower back are the most
common causes of sciatic pain.
Besides ice and heat therapy, physical therapy, and injections, spinal manipulations are
effective against sciatica. Dr. Dustin will carefully manipulate your spine and joints during
chiropractic therapy, releasing pressure and realigning the out-of-place vertebrae.
Readjusting your spine joints to their normal position can release tension from nerves and
reduce inflammation, spasms, and pain. The adjustment process carried out by Dr. Dustin
is painless and effective in treating sciatic pain.
Does Chiropractic Help Scoliosis?
Scoliosis commonly occurs during puberty when there are growth spurts, leading to severe
discomfort and pain. Sometimes, it can lead to permanent disability. Chiropractic is a
prevention-based treatment that can help prevent scoliosis.
A 2016 study highlights that the Cobb angle of patients with scoliosis can be treated with
chiropractic care. The Cobb angle is a specific measurement that evaluates the side-to-side
spinal deformity.
Researchers concluded that the Cobb angle in young patients, including children with
scoliosis, improved after undergoing eight weeks of chiropractic manipulation. The study
shows that patients will experience improvements after four weeks of chiropractic
treatment.
Does Chiropractic Help Spinal Stenosis?
Spinal stenosis is characterized by narrowing the spinal canal around the cauda equina’s
nerve roots, leading to thickened and bulged ligamentum flavum. The condition can also
lead to disc herniation and spondylolisthesis.
Dr. Dustin is an experienced chiropractor with a vast knowledge of spinal stenosis
pathogenesis. The purpose is to correlate the condition with patient symptoms, physical
exam findings, and advanced imaging results before performing spinal manipulations.
A 2009 review study analyzed six research studies to determine the effectiveness of
chiropractic treatment for spinal stenosis. Although there is limited evidence, all six studies
reviewed by researchers provide evidence that chiropractic treatment can help relieve
lumbar spinal stenosis symptoms.
Does Chiropractic Help Posture?
Poor posture often results from too much sitting, a sedentary lifestyle, joint stiffness,
muscle weakness or tightness, core muscles instability, and occupational demands. Dr.
Dustin is a qualified chiropractor who has treated many patients with poor posture.
Undergoing chiropractic treatment can correct poor posture, primarily if it is caused by
your sedentary lifestyle or prolonged sitting while working on a computer. A case study
conducted in 2017 found that a 27 years old woman suffered from neck and back pain due
to hyperkyphosis posture.
Researchers highlighted that the woman underwent 30 chiropractic manipulation sessions
over six months and experienced significant improvements in her posture. Researchers
also stated that she had relieved back and neck pain.
Does Chiropractic Help Vertigo?
According to Dr. Dustin Dukart, there are many causes of vertigo, such as an arterial
blockage in the neck or atherosclerosis, arterial wear and tear or dissection, disruption of
blood flow to the brain stem, trauma, arthritis, surgery, infection, migraine, stroke, tumor,
and certain medications that damage the ear.
A 2009 study validates that vertigo patients improved several symptoms, such as reduced
dizziness, improved balanced, and decreased neck pain. However, there is a need for more
research and investigation to confirm chiropractic care effectiveness for vertigo.
Does Chiropractic Help Muscle Pain?
Chiropractic care is an effective treatment option for muscle pain. A study conducted in
2004 shows that chiropractic care is more beneficial for patients with muscle pain than
placebo methods and muscle relaxants.
When you visit Dr. Dustin’s Clinic, he will assess the cause and type of muscle pain. Dr.
Dustin recommends treating muscle pain with chiropractic adjustments and
physiotherapeutic muscle therapy. Sometimes, Dr. Dustin combines both treatments to
ensure muscle pain relief.
Body restrictions and joint dysfunctions often result in muscle knots and pain. Although
massage therapy can provide short-term relief, your muscle pain will continue if you don’t
address the root cause.
Besides, if spinal or joint issues are the root cause of your muscle pain, Dr. Dustin can
remove restriction and dysfunction through hands-on spinal manipulation techniques.
After dealing with joint dysfunction or spinal restriction, your muscle pain will go away
within a few days or weeks, depending on your condition or intensity of symptoms.
Does Chiropractic Help With Anxiety?
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), over 40 million Americans
suffer from mental illnesses, such as stress, depression, and anxiety every year. Mental
health conditions are the leading causes of disability worldwide. Although anxiety
symptoms vary from patient-to-patient, the most common ones are:
- Fatigue and restlessness
- Muscle stiffness and pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Bodily aches and pains
- Inability to relax and calm
- Sweating and trembling
Chiropractic treatment performed by Dr. Dustin can lower blood pressure, reduce
discomfort, relieve headaches, and decrease stress associated with anxiety and
depression. It can also relieve other symptoms, such as nervousness, tension, restlessness,
panic attacks, heart palpitations, sweating, and trembling.
A 2018 study highlights that spinal manipulation or adjustments via chiropractic treatment
effectively treat neuropsychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression. However,
there is a need for investigation in larger patient groups.
Does Chiropractic Help Herniated Disc?
Chiropractic care for herniated or bulging disc produces effective and long-lasting results.
It is a safe treatment option that reduces discomfort and pain resulting from a herniated
disc in your spine.
If you want to reduce pain, improved mobility, and enjoy the quality of life, make sure you
seek treatment from an experienced and qualified chiropractor like Dr. Dustin Dukart. One
study shows that chiropractic is an effective treatment for lumbar disc disorders.
Researchers highlight that chiropractic treatment using activator techniques and manually-
assisted adjustments can help treat resistive disc lesions and relieve pain from disc
herniation. Thus, chiropractic treatment can help treat a herniated disc in your spine.
Does Chiropractic Help Babies With Reflux?
Reflux is a common condition in infants caused by many reasons, such as underdeveloped
sphincter muscles, irritating or damaged esophageal lining (GERD), food intolerance,
Sandifer syndrome, Eosinophilic esophagitis, and Pyloric stenosis.
A case study published by NCBI states that chiropractic treatment can help relieve
symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in infants and young babies. The study authors
highlight that chiropractic adjustment can treat reflux disease within three months of care.
The study validates that chiropractic treatment is effective for both musculoskeletal and
non-musculoskeletal conditions.
The study concludes that chiropractic care for three months with 4-5 visits can help relieve
the following gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms:
- Sleeplessness
- Gastrointestinal gas
- Nausea and vomiting
- Excessive crying
- Torticollis
- Difficulty breastfeeding
Can Chiropractic Help Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction causes a lot of frustration in men, affecting their relationship and sex
life. The condition is characterized by the inability to maintain an erection. Common causes
of erectile dysfunction are obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease,
multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, smoking, alcoholism, and sleep disorders.
A case study published by NCBI in 2013 states that chiropractic care may help treat
neurogenic bladder, erectile dysfunction, obstructive sleep apnea, ocular migraines, and
bilateral ulnar neuropathy.
Moreover, untreated sciatic and lower back pain can lead to a wide range of complications,
such as erectile dysfunction, constipation, urinary problems, leg inflammation, or edema.
A 2017 study shows that chiropractic treatment can help ease symptoms of lower back
and sciatic pain.
Can Chiropractic Help Vision?
Chiropractic treatment performed by Dr. Dustin Dukart can help maintain a healthy
nervous system, leading to improved body functions, including vision. Your optic nerve is
a vital part of the nervous system, and any nerve disruption can result in twitches and pain.
Your eyes also require an adequate supply of blood, oxygen, and nutrients to function
properly. The blood flowing toward your eyes follows a path along arteries in your spine.
For instance, when there are alignment issues in your neck, these arteries constrict and
proper blood circulation, leading to blurry vision.
Spinal manipulations and adjustments performed by Dr. Dustin can ease the constriction
of arteries in your spine and neck, allowing the blood to flow toward your eyes properly.
One study highlighted that a patient with glaucomatous visual field loss underwent four
treatment sessions for one week. Researchers of the study concluded that chiropractic
spinal manipulations helped the patient recover her vision.
Final Words
Does chiropractic work? How does chiropractic work? What can chiropractic help with?
These are some of the common questions asked by people who want to seek alternative
treatments to medication and epidural injections for their spine, neck, knee, and other
bodily pains.
While there are many chiropractic healthcare clinics in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, it is crucial
to find an experienced, reliable, and skilled chiropractor who can treat your condition
accurately. Dr. Dustin Dukart is a licensed and professional chiropractor with many years
of experience in hands-on manipulation and adjustment techniques.
Dr. Dustin can reduce pain and allow your body to heal itself by focusing on your spinal
issues. We have mentioned the results of numerous research studies in this post. Some
studies show that chiropractic care is an effective treatment option for different forms of
back and neck pain. Other studies validate that it can treat a wide range of non-
musculoskeletal conditions. Contact us today!