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When should you see a chiropractor?

By on January 1, 2014

The story about a broken baby’s neck after a chiropractic treatment in Australia appeared in the media in October last year.  Later,  the Australian government’s health regulation agency, AHPRA,  reported that the baby had in fact, congenital spondyloysis, a malformation of the spine inherited from his father,  and not a direct result of chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic is sometimes misunderstood because of the difference in concept and approach to contemporary western medicine.

In western medicine,  a doctor diagnoses to treat disease with the use of drugs or surgery. However in chiropractic,  a chiropractor doesn’t directly treat a disease but rather restores health by improving neurological functions through adjustment of the spine.  In chiropractic care, a chiropractor mainly uses spinal manipulation without the use of prescription drugs. A chiropractic care procedure focuses on three areas: the Initial Intensive Phase for pain relief, the Rehabilitative Phase for spinal correction, and the Maintenance Phase for wellness.

Chiropractic treatment is safe and effective as long as you see a chiropractor with proper credentials who adheres to the code of professional ethics.  A reputable Chiropractor is one whose education is aligned to World Health Organization (WHO) standards, has completed a professional curriculum at a college or university,  and complies with the rules of professional conduct including safety and advertising guidelines.

Of the 30,000 chiropractic practitioners in Japan, only a measly number of 850 meet the WHO standard education.  These 850 chiropractors are members of the Japanese Association of Chiropractors (JAC), the largest professional chiropractic organization in Japan.  There are about 90,000 chiropractors globally where approximately 65,000 of them practice in the U.S.A. where the chiropractic profession began.

In recent years, many research papers support the effectiveness of chiropractic care especially in treating musculoskeletal complaints, including low back and neck pains. The scientific national studies on spinal manipulation for low back were reported to support effectiveness in countries such as the U.S.A, UK, Sweden, Denmark, and Australia. In 2007, the ‘Annals of Internal Medicine’ published the low back pain guidelines by the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians. According to said guidelines, spinal manipulation is recommended for chronic and acute low back pain.

So when should you see a chiropractor?  Here are some frequent signs that you need to consult a chiropractor.

•    You are experiencing chronic pain in the muscles and joints that has not improved with medical treatment or other alternative medicine. A chiropractor can detect underlying problems from old injuries like sports, including car accidents.

•    You work in a sedentary environment every day.  Long-hours sitting causes muscles to weaken and triggers pressure between spinal joints in the lower back area. A chiropractic treatment re-establishes your spinal mobility and flexibility.

•    Unexplained fatigue with no abnormality detected in medical check-ups. This is often related to impaired function of the autonomic nerves. A chiropractor corrects your spinal alignment to balance the autonomic nervous system.

•    You want a drug and surgery-free health maintenance. Chiropractic is non-invasive.  Not only does a gentle spinal manipulation help but so too does a health maintenance advice. A chiropractor will give you the do’s and don’ts to fully benefit from the treatment.

•    You want to improve your  posture.  Poor posture leads to misalignment of the body.  As a result, the soles of your shoes wear out differently. A chiropractor is an expert at spinal manipulation to enhance the functions of the nerve.

Dr. Kei Takeyachi

 

About Dr. Kei Takeyachi

RMIT University School of Chiropractic (BAppSc, BCSc), 2002, Victoria State, Australia Registered Chiropractor, 2003, Integrative Medicine Japan Certified Chiropractor, 2009, Member, Japanese Association of Chiropractors, 2003, Vice President, Asia Pacific Chiropractic Doctors Federation, 2007, Executive Director, Japanese Association of Chiropractors, 2009-2013, Asia-Pacific Region Council Member, International Board of Chiropractic Examiners, 2009, President, Japanese Association of Chiropractors, 2013 Dr. Kei Takeyachi may be reached at Tokyo Chiropractic, info@tokyochiro.com. www.tokyochiro.com