COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

Principles and Practice of Complementary Therapy

Principles and Practice of Complementary Therapy

Chiropractic Therapy

Concept

Chiropractic therapy is one of the most rapidly growing and most widely implemented therapeutic treatments around the globe and is recognized as most implemented natural therapy (Rondeberg, 1998). Several studies indicate that the many patients after being recipients of ineffective or conventional medicines turned towards chiropractic therapy as alternative treatment.

Origin and Development

Chiropractic therapy is one of the techniques employed for the correction of the displacement of vertebral disc, spinal injuries or alignments. This therapy is referred by the physiotherapists when medicines fail to provide relief to the patient. The most common recipients of this therapy are patients suffering from joint dysfunctions or tissue injuries resulting from traumatic events. Repetitive stresses, improper lifting, improper spinal postures and sitting in inappropriate positions for longer time periods are major contributors to the tissue injuries. The tissue suffering from injury undergoes physical and chemical variations with respect to time which causes pain and inflammation to the patient.

Chiropractic therapy is referred as primary treatment to the patients suffering from fibromyalgia which causes violent pain in muscles throughout the body. The patient develops some tender points at specific cites which are touch sensitive. The intensity of pain suffered by fibromyalgia patient, increases significantly over time. Many conventional medical treatments for fibromyalgia are not much effective and cause frustration in patients as indicated by Ernst (2009). Chiropractic therapy serves as best alternative treatment for the patients suffering with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Therapy Objectives

In chiropractic therapy, “Spinal Manipulation”, also called “Chiropractic Adjustment” is used for the restoration of mobility of the joint suffering tissue injury by application of control magnitude of force which adjusts the affected joints which lessens the muscle tightness; thereby alleviating pain and allowing damaged tissues to heal. Primary objectives of chiropractic therapy include elimination of the musculoskeletal systems' disorders and normalization of the joint functionality.

Regulations and Legal obligations

The healthcare system of any country requires the physiotherapist to offer chiropractic care to the patient only if it is appropriate. Clinical condition of the patient must be assessed first through diagnostic intervention, imaging, and laboratory testing and medical examination for the determination of the applicability of chiropractic therapy. Chiropractors are bound by law to refer the patients to suitable healthcare provider when chiropractic treatment is inappropriate.

Training Required

Chiropractor needs specialized training skills pertaining to chiropractic therapy. Chiropractor must able to limit the force applied to the defected area because the controlled force applied for normalization of joint, however, also impacts the surrounding tissues which include muscles, tendons etc. Thus, therapist must be skilled enough to confine the applied force to the damaged area to avoid the reflex effect on the surrounding tissues.

Key Aspects of Good Clinical Practice

The chiropractic therapy must not cause pain or discomfort to the patients. Occasionally, soreness can be experienced by the patients. In the cases of lower back pain, chiropractic therapy is recommended as primary treatment by the physiotherapists. In other medical cases, chiropractic therapy can be employed as secondary or support treatment ...