Generality
Chiropractic is a manual alternative medicine technique, which focuses its attention on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical diseases of the musculoskeletal system; all in the belief that the aforementioned diseases have negative consequences on the functionality of the nervous system and on the general health of the human being.
According to its promoters, chiropractic care would be beneficial in the 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 (ie 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.
What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a practice of alternative medicine, which focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical diseases of the musculoskeletal system, in the belief that the aforementioned diseases have negative repercussions on the functionality of the nervous system and on the general state of health of the 'human being.
Chiropractic is a manual technique, so those who do it use their hands.
At the heart of chiropractic is the manipulation of the spine, in which the spinal cord resides, one of the two components of the central nervous system (the other is the brain).
AN OFFICIAL DEFINITION OF CHIROPRATICA
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 interests 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 PRACTICES THE CHIROPRACTIC?
Those who practice chiropractic are called chiropractors .
The chiropractor is a professional with a specific qualification in chiropractic. An Italian, to obtain an internationally recognized qualification in chiropractic, must go to those foreign countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, etc., where there is a degree course in chiropractic.
ORIGIN 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". Thus, the literal meaning of chiropractic is "manual action" or "hand action".
HISTORY
According to a unanimous judgment, the year of birth of chiropractic is 1895 and its founder - the so-called "father of chiropractic" - is the Canadian Daniel David Palmer, who lived between 1845 and 1913.
Based on the principles of DD Palmer, many musculoskeletal diseases and disorders are the result of misalignments of the spine, such that the flow of " vital energy ", which flows inside the human body, is altered.
The vital energy mentioned by DD 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 interruption, fluently.
Within this framework, DD 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.
Since 1895, there have been numerous debates concerning chiropractic and its effective therapeutic efficacy. Moreover, the subject in question was interesting and at the same time controversial and the subject of criticism.
For the first scientific studies on chiropractic worthy of this definition, it is necessary to wait for the 70s of the XX century; while for the first recognitions from the medical communities and from the WHO (World Health Organization), it is necessary to wait for the 90s.
The legal recognition of chiropractic in Italy is quite recent; in fact dates back to 2007.
operation
Having discarded DD Palmer's ideas due to a lack of scientific basis, modern chiropractors argue that manipulating the spinal column, freeing the latter of any blockages or injuries, results in an improvement in the function of the spinal cord, an improvement that depends, secondarily, a general well-being of the musculoskeletal system.
CHIROPRACTIC IS NOT JUST MANIPULATION OF THE COLUMN
Spinal manipulation is the basis of chiropractic and its beneficial effects.
However, according to many chiropractors, a person's well-being aid would also derive from the combination of the aforementioned manipulation and a proper diet, constant exercise and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.
Indications
According to those who practice and promote it, chiropractic care would be particularly indicated in the event of:
- Pain in the lumbar area of the back;
- Neck pain;
- Shoulder pain or discomfort;
- Disc protrusion and, in general, not particularly serious discopathies;
- Pain in the lower limbs;
- Sciatica;
- Pain or problems in the hips, knees and / or joints of the foot (ankles);
- Pain or problems in the elbows, wrists and / or hands;
- Fibromyalgia.
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.
How do you do it?
Chiropractic is a treatment that is generally divided into a cycle of at least 10 sessions .
The first session is different from all the others, because it foresees a preliminary phase in which the chiropractor investigates the patient's state of health and performs a sort of medical history .
This preliminary phase is of fundamental importance, as it allows the therapist to establish on which points of the spine it is good to act, to be of benefit to the patient.
CHARACTERISTICS OF 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.
To be able to perform it, the chiropractor removes and accommodates the patient in a special chair or bed.
Actions on the spine:
- Short but sharp thrusts. The intent is to improve joint restrictions and improve joint mobility;
- Move the joints gradually in different directions. The aim is to reduce tensions within the joints;
- Stretch the muscles in various directions. The aim is to strengthen the muscles involved and improve its functionality.
SENSATIONS DURING THE SEATING
Chiropractic is usually painless ; however, for some individuals, it causes pain or discomfort. In case of pain or discomfort, it is good that the patient communicates with the chiropractor, reporting in detail the symptoms experienced.
It should also be noted that the manipulation of the spine is often noisy. These are the joints that creak due to the massage.
HOW MUCH THE SEATS LAST?
Generally, the first session of each chiropractic cycle lasts between 30 and 60 minutes ; the sessions following the first one, instead, have a canonical duration between 15 and 30 minutes .
The extent and number of problems exposed by the patient at the time of medical history affect the duration of chiropractic sessions.
Risks and complications
The manipulation of the spine, foreseen in case of chiropractic, presents some risks. In fact, it could give rise to several adverse effects and some serious complications .
ADVERSE EFFECTS
For adverse effects, doctors mean minor issues.
The main adverse effects of chiropractic are:
- Stiffness or soreness in the neck and / or back;
- Temporary increase in pain, for which the patient had undergone treatment;
- Sense of generalized fatigue.
These effects tend to appear within 4 hours of the end of the manipulation and resolve spontaneously within one or two days.
According to some statistical studies, about 50% of people undergoing chiropractic complains at least about one of the aforementioned disorders.
COMPLICATIONS
For complications, doctors mean problems of a certain clinical relevance.
The most important complications associated with chiropractic are:
- Spinal injuries such as to cause paralysis ;
- Lacerations of a vertebral artery such as to cause a stroke ;
- Brain hematomas such as to induce coma or, in the most unfortunate cases, death . This and the previous complication are situations that can only take place when the manipulation of the column concerns the neck (cervical spine section).
The risk that chiropractic will lead to these complications is very low, especially if the chiropractor you rely on is a person qualified to practice.
Contraindications
Experts believe that chiropractic is absolutely contraindicated in case of:
- Not yet consolidated fractures of the spine;
- Severe herniated discs, which cause severe compression of spinal nerves emerging from the spinal cord;
- Severe osteoporosis;
- Bone tumors of primary or secondary type;
- Spinal stenosis. Stenosis means narrowing; vertebral stenosis is an abnormal narrowing of the vertebral canal, within which the spinal cord passes;
- Syringomyelia;
- Diabetic neuropathy not treated properly;
- Forms of arthritis involving the joints of the spine (eg, rheumatoid arthritis).
Results and criticisms
Chiropractic has been the subject of scientific investigations for several years, aimed at demonstrating its effective therapeutic efficacy.
Currently, science has highlighted that chiropractic:
- It is certainly useful for people suffering from low back pain, especially if it is associated with traditional medicine treatments (painkillers, physiotherapy, etc.);
- It could have a beneficial effect under conditions such as migraine, headache, frozen shoulder, acute back pain, acute neck pain, arthrosis of the hip, osteoarthritis of the knee, elbow of the tennis player and pain in the shoulder girdle;
- It is certainly ineffective in case of allergies, fibromyalgia, hypertension, depression, anxiety disorders, phobias, pain not related to the spine, infantile colic, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma and painful menstruation. The ineffectiveness of chiropractic in the aforementioned circumstances is the reason why doctors strongly advise against using it, especially if this involves the non-use of traditional medicine treatments with a more than proven validity.
Despite the conclusions of science, the debate between those who support chiropractic and those who diminish its power continues.
