What is Chiropractic Medicine?
Chiropractic Medicine is primarily concerned with the conservative treatment of back and neck pain. Manual methods are used to detect and treat the painful dysfunction of spinal joints, or the various soft tissues of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia). The goal is to achieve a reduction in pain by improving the function of the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery.
Chiropractic treatments are accompanied by education in proper posture and ergonomics, so that the problem has a less chance of returning. Treatment plans are designed to transition a patient from passively receiving care for their pain to a more active approach, where the patient is taught to care for themselves.
What is Treated?
Chiropractorsare trained extensively in the treatment of acute and chronic neck and back pain. This pain may arise from various forms of trauma (sports or motor vehicle injury), or repetitive movements or postural overstrain (working at the computer).
Treatment protocols are also effective for a host of other musculoskeletal conditions, i.e., certain headaches and TMJ disorders associated with neck and upper back dysfunction. Research has also shown some promise for the treatment of Fibromyalgia, primarily due to the presence of overlapping muscular pain syndromes, many of which are treated effectively by manual methods.
How is it Treated?
The primary goal is to get the patient out of pain, and concurrently, discover what activites of daily life maybe responsible for the problem in the first place. The examination attempts to determine if the pain is from the spinal joints and/or disks, the surrounding muscles and soft tissues, or a combination of all. Affected joints are treated with mobilizing and/or manipulative techniques. Painful muscles are treated with specialized soft tissue techniques. Often the biggest culprits are weakened muscles that no longer support the spine properly. If this is the case, spinal stabilizing "core" exercises are taught, or an appropriate referral to aPhysical Therapist or Personal Trainer is given.
How often will I Normally Visit a Chiropractor?
Treatment should not typically exceed 1-3 months, with patients typically being treated 1-2 times per week. (This may vary according to each patient). At this point, most patients should have reached maximal improvement. Transition is then made to a home regimen of stretching and exercise, prescribed by your chiropractor. Follow-up treatments are not required, but may be helpful in long-term chronic cases. These options are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If, after a course of treatment, the problem persists, an appropriate referral to another back pain specialist may benecessary.
What is Manipulation?
Manipulative treatments for the spine and other joints have been used for thousands of years. It is said that Hippocrates himself (the "Father of Medicine") employed various tractionand manipulative techniques to help his patients.
Joints, for various reasons (trauma, postural overstrain), lose their inherent range of motion and become stuck or fixated. This fixation eventually leads to pain. Often the painis felt in the surrounding soft tissues, as they try to compensate for the decrease in joint motion. Manipulation restores proper motion to these fixated joints. Joints that move properly are not likely to hurt.
A good example is the familiar "head forward" posture of many who work at a computer. This poor posture may cause an upper back fixation, but it may not be felt for many years. When pain is felt, it might be in the neck and shoulder regions, causingheadaches, arm pain, TMJ dysfunction, etc. Proper treatment should resolve these problems and a postural correction exercise program should prevent them from returning.
Office Location & Hours
Harbin Clinic Spine & Pain Center
Harbin Clinic Specialty Center
550 Redmond Road
Rome, GA 30165
(706) 233-8514
8:00-5:00 (M-F)
To Schedule an Appointment
Call (706) 233-8514. Appointments can be made by patients without a physician referral unless a referral is required by the patient's insurance carrier.
Insurance and/or Payment options
Please check with your healthcare plan to see if chiropractic services are covered. Co-pays and co-insurances are due at the time of service. Courtesy claims will be filed to your insurance.
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William F. Hunter, D.C.
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