Chiropractors are professionals in the health industry and they specialize in the treatment of musculoskeletal system disorders. These disorders can affect a patient’s general health and nervous system, so after they have diagnosed and treated a problem, they also instruct their patients in ways to prevent a recurrence of the same condition. Nerve impulses travel along the spine and carry messages from the brain to the rest of the body and back. When this flow has been disrupted, the body cannot function optimally and disease and pain ensue.
Prevent back problems by following these rules:
- Exercises to reduce stress and to strengthen the stomach and back muscles thereby supporting the back;
- A good posture when standing, driving and sitting and sleeping on your side on a firm mattress with the knees bent;
- Lose weight as obesity puts more strain on the back;
- Learning to lift correctly. This means avoiding jerky movements and to lift an object by bending and using your knees as opposed to bending at the waist and using the back.
Chiropractors also treat babies and children. They use gentle manual movements to reduce any irritation that may be present in the nerves that run along the spine. Babies face trauma when they enter the world through the birth canal; their spines are under pressure and twist as they come into the world. Minor damage can be caused to the spine, something that is not easily noticed but can leave an unhappy child. Symptoms that indicate minor spinal damage include colic, reflux, poor sleeping patterns, and a baby who does not feed well. Treatments for babies are safe in the hands of these experts.
To become a qualified chiropractor, you have to study for 6 years. After you have obtained your degree, you will probably become a member of CASA, the chiropractors’ professional association. The latter subscribe to certain minimum standards as set out by the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa. Chiropractic treatments are quick and easy and many medical aids provide cover for these treatments.