A Mechanical Approach
Find a problem and offer a solution
If I was a practitioner that takes a mechanical approach I’d focus on helping people heal conditions like the following top ten reasons people seek Chiropractic care:
- Back Pain. Chiropractic treatment for neck and back pain is especially effective. …
- Neck Pain. As above, neck pain can be the result of poor posture. …
- Pain and Tingling. …Carpal tunnel anyone
- Headaches. …tension headaches are often from issues in the neck and cranium (We’re the experts)
- Fatigue. …
- Poor Sleep Quality. …
- Stress. …
- Injuries Due to Car Accidents.
https://chiromt.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12998-017-0165-8/tables/3
During your first visit I’d take a history of the injury that caused your current condition. I’d ask about past injuries that may contribute to your current problem or increase the healing time. I’d ask if you have X-rays or an MRI or other special tests that may correlate to your current condition and might explain your symptoms.
During my physical exam I would perform orthopedic and neurological tests that would indicate the integrity of your bio-mechanical system, like muscles, ligaments and joints.
I’d focus my attention to your specific problem or area of chief complaint. For example if you suffer with headaches it only makes sense that I would look at your neck, lower back pain would lead to an exam of your lower back and maybe your extremities.
Depending on the result from your history and physical exam I might recommend a treatment plan that looks something like this:
- 3 times per week for 2-3 weeks (acute healing phase)
- 1 or 2 times per week for 2-3 weeks (reparative phase of healing)
- monthly visits to maintain the results you’ve achieved through our work together (remodeling phase of healing-Wellness care).
A Chiropractor who takes a Vitalistic approach believes that the potential for health and healing lies within the innate intelligence of the body. The intelligence is expressed through the nervous system which is the brain, spine and spinal nerves roots that supply every cell in your body with the “know-how” of healing.
If there are blockages that inhibit the messages from the brain to the body, important information won’t be transmitted and the body won’t know what to do.
Because the spine houses these important structures proper alignment of the vertebra is essential to allowing those vital messages to occur. If there are misalignments (Subluxations) in the spine, nerve supply will be diminished that can result in diminished transmission and therefor performance.
So for example, the nerve roots that exits through holes in the thoracic spine supply the heart. If even a small amount of pressure on those nerves (even undetectable amounts of pressure that may or may not result in pain or symptoms) can result in diminished function of the heart which can make the person vulnerable to illness.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher_Kent
Vitalism
The power that made the body heals the body
A chiropractor who believes in the vitality of the body to heal itself when the nervous system is free of subluxations should also take a history of your chief complaint. They will also perform a physical exam using orthopedic and neurologic tests but they also include chiropractic protocols depending on the technique they use.
Even though a chiropractor whose intention is to unleash the power of your nervous system through the adjustment versus the mechanical approach to fixing your immediate problem and get you out of pain, both will likely suggest a similar schedule of care.
Every chiropractor, now matter what technique or philosophy will adjust subluxations. Their approach and intention may be different but ultimately, they all adjust subluxations that bring the body back to a state of homeostasis, the ultimate condition for successful healing.
I will leave you with this, just because two Chiropractors differ in their approach or mindset doesn’t mean both aren’t valuable. Finding someone with a well rounded approach who will address your symptoms and keep the messages from brain to body functioning on the daily provides enormous benefit.
When choosing a Chiropractor…..do your due diligence and then listen to your intuition.
Innate intelligence also applies to the mental, emotional and spiritual connection that contributes to your motivations and actions. Listen to your inner voice and then act.
For more health and wellness advice visit www.jagwellness.com