Chiropractic Care

Have you experienced lower back pain that has kept you from enjoying  the quality of life you deserve? Eight out of ten adults will experience  low back problems at some time in their lives. Most symptoms of low  back pain are caused by injury or overuse of muscles, ligaments and  joints. Low back pain can also be caused by pressure on nerve roots in  the spinal canal and compression fractures. 

The pain caused by lower back pain can lead to patients  experiencing prolonged bed rest, uncomfortable traction, heavy sedation,  injections, and surgery. Luckily, Ash Chiropractic and Wellness can  provide a safer, more natural approach to healing the back: Chiropractic care.

All About Chiropractors

Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) care for patients of all ages, with a  variety of health conditions.  Chiropractors are well known for their  expertise in caring for patients with back pain, neck pain and  headaches. They also care for patients with a wide range of injuries and  disorders of the musculoskeletal system, involving the muscles,  ligaments and joints.  These painful conditions often involve or impact  the nervous system, which can cause referred pain and dysfunction  outside the region of injury.  The benefits of chiropractic care extend  to general health issues such as headaches, certain types of migraines,  menstrual cramps, allergies, asthma, stomach disorders, spastic colon,  and arm, hand, and leg pain that's due to dysfunction of the neck or  lower back. Chiropractors also counsel patients on diet, nutrition,  exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification. 

What Happens during a Chiropractic Examination?

At Ash Chiropractic and Wellness, Dr. Ash and his team will start  with a medical history discussion then conduct physical, neurological,  and orthopedic examinations. At Ash, we will spend an extensive amount  of time assessing posture, examining the spine, testing reflexes, joint  motion, and muscle strength. X-rays and other diagnostic images are may  be used to locate vertebral dysfunction and to rule out disorders like  tumors or fractures, which would require the attention of additional  healthcare experts. 

What Training Do Chiropractors Have?

Chiropractors are licensed in all 50 states and the District of  Columbia. Doctors of chiropractic are educated as primary-contact health  care providers, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of  conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments  and joints of the spine and extremities) and the nerves that supply  them. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the  most stringent of any of the health care professions. 

The typical applicant for chiropractic college has already  acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college  education. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, the  requirements become even more demanding — four to five academic years of  professional study are the standard. Doctors of chiropractic are  educated in orthopedics, neurology, physiology, human anatomy, clinical  diagnosis including laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, exercise,  nutrition rehabilitation and more. 

Because chiropractic care includes highly skilled  manipulation/adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is  spent in clinical technique training to master these important  manipulative procedures. In total, the chiropractic college curriculum  includes a minimum of 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory and clinical  experience. The course of study is approved by an accrediting agency  that is fully recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. 

Is Chiropractic Care The Right Choice?

Chiropractic care is a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care  that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. The U.S.  government has taken a giant step in support of spinal manipulation. In  1994, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) published  and announced its new clinical practice guideline for the treatment of  acute low back problems (LBP) in adults. The guideline was developed by a  multi-disciplinary team that reviewed relevant scientific research on  LBP treatments. The AHCPR Guideline panel found that "for patients with  acute low back symptoms without disease of the spinal nerve roots, the  scientific evidence suggests spinal manipulation is effective in  reducing pain and perhaps speeding recovery within the first month of  symptoms." The panel goes on to recommend spinal manipulation as a first  line of treatment for low back problems. Many insurance companies cover  chiropractic care, and hospitals are offering access and/or staff  privileges to chiropractors.