Chiropractic care offers a type of alternative therapy that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure. Although it can be applied to various parts of the body, it is especially dedicated to the manipulation or adjustment of the spinal column.
Traditionally, chiropractors specialized in correcting back pain and neck pain problems arising from spinal misalignment. The therapy was predominantly administered manually or with the help of basic tools. Today, a lot of progress has been made in chiropractic care. The tools and methods used in the past have evolved dramatically, making it possible for practitioners to administer advanced treatment aided by modern technology.
Modern progressions have seen chiropractic care evolve from being a corrective treatment for the spine to providing deep tissue therapy, laser therapy, physical therapy and so on. Despite these progressions, chiropractic treatments have remained non-invasive, and for many people, chiropractic is still the best non-surgical therapy available.
In this article, we will focus on five progressive advancements made in chiropractic care, which are:
- Laser Therapy
- Evolution of Spinal Adjustment Instruments
- Insight Subluxation Station
- Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
- Spinal Decompression Therapy
1. Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is a minimally invasive chiropractic procedure that is used to treat a diverse range of injuries as well as chronic muscle pain and degenerative conditions like arthritis. The treatment is also commonly known as cold laser, low-power laser, and soft laser, and is inherently safe, painless, and very efficient.
Laser therapy involves the use of infrared and red light on internal injuries. Exposing body cells to this type of light reduces their inflammatory response and stimulates the repair of damaged tissue. Lasers such as the K-Laser are commonly used to this effect and are known to offer pain relief as well as expedite the healing process. Laser therapy has no known side effects and is a painless, non-invasive, and efficient methods of chiropractic treatment for musculoskeletal injuries.
2. Spinal Adjustment Instruments
Spinal adjustment protocols, especially those involving the manipulation of the cervical spine to reduce to pain and inflammation and to restore joint function, have always been fundamental techniques for chiropractic care. Traditionally, these complex techniques were performed manually. But today chiropractors like Dr. Adam Tran at T98 Rehab, have access to technology that allows them to measure spinal motion in order to accurately determine how fluid or rigid each vertebra is.
Computerized sensors like the ProAdjuster and Pulstar spinal adjustment instruments have given chiropractors the ability to accurately study spinal movement, diagnose spinal issues, and offer safe treatment. Such sensors are attached to vertebral segments of the spine non-invasively.
3. Insight Subluxation Station
The insight subluxation station is a patented device invented by the Space Foundation. Its function is to help chiropractors create a representation of the patient’s condition so as to offer a more effective treatment. This technology has diverse applications that are yet to be established. However, it has dramatically increased the accuracy and effectiveness of chiropractors’ diagnoses and treatments by enabling them to better understand the body’s way of functioning.
4. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
This type of shock wave therapy utilizes shock waves that are characteristically stronger than the shockwaves utilized by other medical instruments such as the ultrasound. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is much more intense and is commonly used to treat muscle strains as well as hardened or calcified tissue such as is witnessed in unhealthy tendons. It is another non-invasive yet highly effective tool for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and conditions.
5. Spinal Decompression Therapy
Finally, we have the spinal decompression technique, a commonly used chiropractic technique that involves the stretching and relaxing of the spine. The therapy was traditionally conducted using an inversion table, which applied a steady force on the body as a means of taking away the load on muscles, joints, and other supportive structures.
Today, spinal decompression has become computerized through the use of a special traction table. The modern variation utilizes computer-controlled traction to gently pull on the spine without causing muscular contraction responses. This new method is not only a more effective treatment, but it’s also more relaxing and can be personalized to suit patients’ individual needs.
Chiropractic Therapy’s Relevance in The Modern
Chiropractic care has remained the best non-invasive alternative to surgery especially where musculoskeletal injuries are involved. The practice is becoming more popular in the treatment of sports injuries since it promotes faster recovery and involves a lot less pain. Modern advancements will only serve to better the art of chiropractic medicine, which has thus far proved to be essential to our musculoskeletal wellbeing.