Chiropractic bases its principles on the idea that a targeted action on the spine improves the functionality of the nervous system and, consequently, the health of the person.
According to its promoters, chiropractors, chiropractic would help in case of: back pain, neck pain, asthma, fibromyalgia, shoulder pain, sciatica, allergies, headache, migraine, neonatal colic, pain in the lower limbs, etc.
According to science, however, it would be effective only in the presence of low back pain (i.e. pain in the lower back)
Chiropractic is not free from adverse effects and complications. Adverse effects are quite common but do not represent a clinically relevant issue.
Chiropractic is a manual technique, so those who perform it use their hands.
At the heart of chiropractic is manipulation of the spine, which contains the spinal cord, one of the two components of the central nervous system (the other is the brain).
Chiropractic does not involve the use of drugs or medical equipment.
Chiropractic: Official Definition
According to the definition provided by the General Council of Chiropractic (in English General Chiropractic Council, or GCC), chiropractic is: "a health profession that has an interest in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical diseases of the musculoskeletal system and for the effects that the aforementioned diseases have on the functions of the nervous system and on the state of general health ".
Who performs Chiropractic: the Chiropractor
Those who perform chiropractic are called chiropractors.
The chiropractor is a professional figure with a specific "qualification in chiropractic. An Italian, to obtain an internationally recognized" qualification in chiropractic, must travel to those foreign countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom etc., where there is a degree course in chiropractic.
Chiropractic: Meaning of the Name
The term chiropractic derives from the "union of two Greek words, which are:"keir"(κειρ) and"praxis' (πραξις). The word "keir"means" hand ", while the word"praxis"means" action. "Hence, the literal meaning of chiropractic is" manual action "or" action with the hands ".
History of Chiropractic
According to a unanimous opinion, the year of birth of chiropractic is 1895 and its founder - the so-called "father of chiropractic" - is Canadian Daniel David Palmer, who lived between 1845 and 1913.
Based on the principles of D.D. Palmer, many diseases and musculoskeletal disorders are the result of misalignments of the spinal column, such that the flow of "vital energy", which flows inside the human body, is altered.
The vital energy cited by D.D. Palmer and also called "vital force" is what guarantees the human being the well-being and health of the body, as long as it flows without interruptions, fluently.
Within this framework, D.D. Palmer proposed chiropractic as a method capable of restoring the correct flow of vital energy, where there was an obstruction, with the ultimate aim of bringing tangible benefits to the human body.
From after 1895, the debates regarding chiropractic and its effective therapeutic efficacy were numerous; after all, the topic in question was interesting and at the same time controversial and subject to criticism.
For the first scientific studies on chiropractic worthy of this definition, it is necessary to wait for the "70s of the twentieth century; while for the first recognitions by the medical communities and by the" WHO (World Health Organization), it is necessary to wait for the years " 90.
In Italy, the legal recognition of chiropractic is quite recent; in fact, it dates back to 2007.
The cornerstones of Chiropractic
Chiropractic states that:
- The biomechanical and structural imbalances of the spine affect the activity of the nervous system, especially the spinal cord;
- By restoring the structural integrity of the spinal column, chiropractic treatment improves the functionality of the spinal cord and, consequently, the well-being and health of the patient.
Chiropractic, Nutrition and Lifestyle
Manipulation of the spine is the basis of chiropractic and its beneficial effects.
However, according to many chiropractors, an aid to the well-being of the person would also derive from the combination of the aforementioned manipulation and an adequate diet, constant physical exercise and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.
Chiropractic or Osteopathy: the differences
Chiropractic is not to be confused with osteopathy.
Osteopathy, in fact, is an alternative medicine practice that aims to achieve the well-being and health of the person through manual massage, mobilization and stretching of muscles, joints and other components of the musculoskeletal system (tendons, ligaments etc.).
Osteopathy believes that increasing joint mobility, reducing muscle tension and promoting blood flow to the tissues, through specific strategies, favors the health of the nervous, circulatory and lymphatic systems, and consequently the well-being of the individual.
;Furthermore, according to some chiropractors, the treatment they propose would also be useful in the presence of:
- Asthma;
- Allergies;
- Colic in the newborn;
- Headache and / or migraine;
- Hypertension;
- Painful menstruation;
- Depression, anxiety, anxiety disorders and / or phobias;
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
This interview has a "fundamental importance, as it allows the therapist to establish on which points of the spinal column it is good to act in order to be of benefit to the patient.
During the first meeting with the patients, the chiropractor asks questions about:
- Characteristics, duration and frequency of symptoms;
- Pain area;
- Which positions or movements improve the symptoms;
- Which positions or movements worsen the symptoms;
- Family history;
- Habitual diet;
- Previous illnesses;
- Previous treatments;
- Medical reports relating to the symptoms in progress (X-rays, magnetic resonance, etc.).
Chiropractic: a typical session
The manipulation of the spine according to the chiropractic technique is a kind of massage, which affects the muscles, bones and / or joints of the spine and back in general.
In order to perform it, the chiropractor has the patient undress and sit on a chair or a special bed.
Actions on the spine:
- Short but sharp thrusts. The intent is to improve joint restrictions and improve joint mobility;
- Gradually move the joints in different directions. The aim is to reduce tensions within the joints;
- Stretch the muscles in various directions. The aim is to strengthen the affected muscles and improve their functionality.
Chiropractic: what does the patient feel during a session?
As a rule, chiropractic is painless; however, for some individuals, it causes pain or discomfort.
In case of pain or discomfort, the patient should communicate with the chiropractor, reporting in detail the symptoms felt.
It should also be noted that the manipulation of the spine is often noisy: it is the joints that creak as a result of the massage.
Chiropractic: how long does a session last?
Typically, the first session of each chiropractic cycle lasts between 30 and 60 minutes; the sessions following the first, on the other hand, have a canonical duration between 15 and 30 minutes.
The duration of the chiropractic sessions is mainly influenced by the entity and the number of problems exposed by the patient at the time of the medical history.
vertebral such as to cause a stroke;The risk of chiropractic leading to the aforementioned complications is very low, especially if the chiropractor you rely on is a qualified person.
, which cause severe compression of the spinal nerves emerging from the spinal cord;Despite the conclusions of science, the debate between those who support chiropractic and those who belittle its therapeutic power continues.
