Many people choose to become a chiropractor because they want to become a professional in an area of healthcare that focuses mainly on the musculoskeletal system and treatment options that do not rely heavily on pharmaceuticals. A chiropractic physician has the responsibility of bridging the gap between mainstream medicine and more conservative treatment options, for the good of their patients and for the betterment of the healthcare community. This means an understanding of proper referral systems when indicated, establishing and maintaining excellent and trustworthy communication between various types of healthcare providers and most importantly, continually bettering ones knowledge as a physician through courses of continuing education, to guarantee the most current forms of effective treatment plans for a patient. A person who chooses chiropractic medicine as their career of choice will enjoy a long and successful tenure if they continue their learning throughout their career and treat their patients with knowledgeable and well-rounded care.

Educational Career

A student who has chosen to pursue a chiropractic degree will be required to complete some amount of undergraduate coursework before being considered to a chiropractic educational institution. In many cases, the requirement is 90 credit hours, or an associate degree, from an accredited university. Often times, chiropractic students begin a chiropractic program with a bachelor degree already completed but, as of 2005, only one chiropractic school requires a bachelor degree to be completed prior to admittance. It is estimated that this trend of bachelor degree standards may become more common and instituted in more chiropractic colleges over time. Once enrolled, the first two years of a chiropractic students career will consist of in-class coursework including anatomy and physiology, biochemistry, microbiology and pathology to list a few. During the third and fourth years of a chiropractor’s educational career, more practical clinical courses are required. During this time, a chiropractic student will provide supervised care to patients in a clinical setting. They will also create treatment plans for their patients and learn when to refer a patient to different healthcare providers when necessary. It is during this clinical period of their education that chiropractic students get a real sense of how a healthcare setting works. They have to communicate well with office staff to provide timely care for patients, they are required to establish treatment plans designed specifically for individual cases and they need to effectively manage their time throughout the clinical shift to keep an appropriate pace. Upon successful completion of the clinical portion of their education, chiropractic students are required to complete state licensing board examinations to become eligible to professionally practice in their desired state. Once a licensed physician, a chiropractor is required to complete a certain amount of continuing education credits for license renewal every three years. This continual required education is set in place for all healthcare providers to ensure that at all stages of a career, a health professional is up-to-date on the best and most current forms of treatment for their patients.

References Cited in this Article

www.chiropractorguide.com

www.bls.gov

www.chiroweb.net

Akihabara is an area in Japan within the city of Tokyo. This area is also referred to as Akihabara Electric Town and the literal meaning of the name translates to the Field of Autumn Leaves. Many people shorten the name to Akiba. The main source of revenue in the area of Akihabara is the sales of robotic, electronic and computer and anime goods. For people who are searching for old and new video game systems and games, Akihabara is a great place to look. Akihabara is well known as being the original location of stores that first offered personal robotics and robots. The streets of Akihabara are lined with stores and the area is visited by many tourists as well as locals each year.  The Tsukuba Express is a railway system that connects Akihabara (the central area of Tokyo) with Tsukuba City. An Akihabara chiropractor clinic that offers chiropractic care as well as massage therapy, acupressure and osteopathic care is called the Largo Body Care Room. This health care center offers patient hours Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 9 pm and Sundays and holidays from 3 pm to 9 pm.

Chiropractors and Osteopaths

Aside from the Largo Body Care Room, there are many other chiropractors and osteopaths that practice within close proximity to Akihabara. These physicians have been educated at chiropractic colleges in Japan, the United States and other countries as well. The website, www.sunnypages.jp, provides a list of these physicians, the area in which their clinics are located, what type of services they offer and if there are English speaking employees on staff. This site also gives a short description as to the educational background that a physician has achieved and a few words on how they practice. The English speaking information is important as many times, chiropractors in these areas will be treating English speaking tourists. Manomedica is a clinic located in Tokyo that offers specialized chiropractic care with chiropractic physicians that speak English. They offer care for all ages, including pediatric chiropractic care, standard and specialized consultations, herbal remedies, manual therapies such as joint manipulation and deep tissue massage and neurological testing and techniques. This is an established clinic that has been offering conservative care for patients for many years. The doctor on staff will establish an individual conservative health plan following an initial consultation and examination. For more information about this clinic, visit their website at www.manomedica.com.

References Cited in this Article

www.largobodycareroom.jp

www.sunnypages.jp

www.manomedica.com

As with all states, the state of Washington has many different chiropractors to choose from. Finding a Seattle chiropractic physician can be easy when using online search sites that specialize in connecting potential patients with practicing chiropractors in the Seattle area. The Washington State Chiropractic Association provides online resources for patients as well as information for chiropractic physicians practicing in Washington state. Their website provides information about the chiropractic profession, any past and current government legislation relating to chiropractic, tabs for chiropractic physicians to post advertisements, look for or post job openings or to search for continuing education courses. Patients can search the site to find chiropractic clinics in their area. In the Seattle area, there are hundreds of chiropractic physicians to choose from. When searching for chiropractors in Seattle, the website www.citysearch.com will provide a listing of chiropractors and also show what, if applicable, certain chiropractors specialize in. This site also states in what neighborhood a chiropractic clinic is located. Some Seattle chiropractors specialize in children who complain of bed wetting and other pediatric issues, some provide care to athletes in certain age groups, many chiropractic physicians in Seattle work in multidisciplinary groups with other health care providers and others may be found working at hospitals or outpatient clinical settings. Some searches allow a prospective patient to look specifically for a straight chiropractor (mainly works to correct health issues with only spinal manipulation), a mixed chiropractor (combines joint manipulation with other forms of therapy) or a reform chiropractor (works closely with medical providers and does not agree with all theories of chiropractic care).

Practicing Chiropractic Physicians

According to the chiropractors directory at www.healthprofs.com, there are currently no practicing chiropractic physicians in the Seattle, Washington area that accept Medicaid as a form of insurance payment. It is advised that because of this, if a patient is insured by Medicaid and wishes to receive chiropractic care, that they expand their search and look for chiropractic clinics in King County, and if that produces no results then to do an online search of the entire state of Washington. Since long travels are not always possible and if a patient wishes to be seen by a specific chiropractor in Seattle, some clinics will provide a printout of what their charges are for certain treatments and this can make it easier for a patient to decide what amount of care they will be able to afford.

References Cited in this Article

www.chirohealth.org

www.healthprofs.com

As you drive through a city, a town, a suburb or even a small rural town, you may see many local businesses. Without a doubt,  included in these businesses you probably will see a local chiropractor. You may wonder what it is that this local chiropractor does.  A chiropractic physician (or ‘practitioner’ depending on the state language) is a doctor, who, by conservative means, evaluates and treats many ailments that one may encounter. The term chiropractic literally means “to do by hand”. This translates more generally to a treatment method in which doctors of chiropractic utilize a ‘hands-on’ approach to healthcare. Specifically, a chiropractor will use a spinal manipulation to affect the ailment, in historical cases a vertebral subluxation complex. The subluxation complex results in a misalignment of a vertebral segment which results in altered nerve function. Nerve dysfunction may result in anything from decreased organ function to pain to nerve symptoms to altered joint mechanics. It is largely disagreed upon what the subluxation is or if it even exists, however there is much literature about the effects of spinal manipulation itself. 

A Natural Approach to Healthcare

There are many varying treatment techniques that one chiropractor may do versus another that you may encounter in a given town. For example one chiropractor that you may visit will utilize treatment via spinal manipulation only to have a desired effect on a given ailment. Contrast this with another chiropractor who may utilize spinal manipulation in conjunction with other therapies ranging from physiotherapy modalities including electric stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, diathermy, micro-current, heat, cold and many more. In addition to modalities, such a chiropractor might use exercise and rehabilitation and various soft tissue techniques or a mixture of all of the above depending on the patient. Over the past 20+ years, chiropractic has been viewed as part of CAM (complimentary alternative medicine) therapy and in many cases integrated into mainstream medicine. There are varying philosophies and divergent views within the profession, but regardless of these facts and diversity, at the heart of the profession is a natural approach to healthcare which is treatment without drugs and surgery.  It has been successful as well, at least in the public opinion, as according to a 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a survey of CAM. Approximately 8 percent of adults and 3 percent of children (which is more than 2 million) had received a manipulation either done by an osteopathic or a chiropractic physician over the course of one year. If you seek out treatment for muscle, joint, nerve pain, chiropractic treatment is a viable option which does not include the side effect of drugs or surgery.

References Cited in this Article

Definition of Chiropractor    http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2707

Chiropractic as spine care: a model for the profession  Chiropractic and Manual Therapies.  Nelson, Lawrence  http://www.chiroandosteo.com/content/13/1/9

Chiropractic: An Introduction from the NCCAM (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine)    http://nccam.nih.gov/health/chiropractic/introduction.htm

Patients want quality healthcare. Many times a prospective patient looking for a chiropractic physician will ask their primary care physician for a recommendation. They may also ask for opinions from family and friends. Chiropractor reviews can also be found online for patients. These online review sites allow a patient to search for a chiropractor by state and then by city. The reviews are from past and current patients of a specific chiropractic office and are good ways for someone to learn about practice styles of various chiropractic physicians. Because there are differing philosophies among chiropractic doctors, the manner in which they practice and offer treatment plans to patients will vary. Some patients require certain types of treatment that a certain chiropractic physician can offer them; another patient may not respond well to the treatment that this very same doctor has offered. For this reason, it is important for a prospective patient to narrow down their physician search in order to find a doctor that is a good fit for their health care needs. With online search engines for patients, finding a chiropractic physician that will be a good fit makes the process more easily accomplished for prospective patients.

Chiropractic Review Websites

Health insurance companies offer their insured clients a list of in-network chiropractic physicians in their area to choose from. While these lists give patients information about doctors in their area, they say nothing about specific information that a patient may be curious about. Websites such as www.mydochub.com and www.bookofdoctors.com are designed to direct patients to an appropriate chiropractic physician that will be able to treat their individual health problems. Sites such as www.chirohub.com will also give information to patients about various forms of chiropractic techniques to familiarize them with the language of the profession. The websites also have other physician specialties to choose from. Some chiropractic review websites also offer reviews for chiropractic products, chiropractic schools and chiropractic equipment. Because of all of these reviews, these websites are also utilized by chiropractic physicians as well as patients. Some of the chiropractic review websites have other types of information as well; these sites provide marketplace style information for doctors within the profession to look for employment, by and sell new and used clinical equipment, search for upcoming seminars and continuing education courses, find information about chiropractic associations and search individual states for their board examination information.

References Cited in this Article

www.chirohub.com

www.mydochub.com

www.bookofdoctors.com

2.) You don’t want to age like Dora.

3.) You don’t have a fish to take care of you.

4.) You remember this show.

5.) Neck Problems

Chiropractic medicine is a beneficial complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapy. The profession has become more widely embraced by patients and other healthcare providers as a legitimate conservative treatment option for people who suffer from musculoskeletal problems. When a patient chooses a physician for their healthcare needs, they want to make sure that they are choosing the best specialist for their individual health needs. It is difficult to say who the “best” chiropractors are because that opinion is just that, an opinion. Because within the chiropractic profession there are many different forms of care provided, as a patient, it is a personal choice as to who they would like to choose as their chiropractic physician. Chiropractic physicians hold different practice philosophies and employ different techniques when treating their patients. For these reasons, prospective patients who are considering chiropractic care for treatment often times ask their primary care physician or family and friends for recommendations. Doing an online search of chiropractic physicians in an area is a good choice as well. This search will allow the patient to view pictures of the clinic, read about the doctor and their education, to see which forms of care they offer and what types of payment options are available.

Ask Questions

 When looking for an appropriate chiropractic physician to treat individual health needs, a patient should ask questions about the doctor’s treatment style. Are the spinal manipulations low force adjustments? Does the chiropractor use an activator tool more often than a manual adjustment? Is the chiropractic physician well experienced in treating the disorder that you are seeking help for? Does the chiropractor work well with other healthcare providers that you may be referred to? There are several statements that are red flags for a patient if they hear them from the chiropractic physician. If a chiropractor claims to a patient that their spinal manipulations can cure cancer, arthritis or other chronic health conditions, this would be a reason to choose a different chiropractor. Some chiropractors will offer spinal consultations to new patients and then ask them to sign up for prolonged treatment plans that are not medically necessary. These prolonged plans include signing up for 3 chiropractic visits per week for 6 to 12 months followed by 2 visits per week for an additional 6 to 12 months and then once per week for another 6 to 12 months. This would not be the best chiropractic physician choice. Once a patient is educated on the chiropractic profession and the differences between doctors, they will be able to confidently choose a provider that is a good fit for them.

References Cited in this Article

www.spine-health.com

www.consumerresearchcncl.org

Acid Reflux or GERD stands for gastro esophageal reflux disease.  This is a medical condition in which acid, bile, and partially-digested food in the stomach backs up into the esophagus.  This food contains a strong acid; when it comes in contact with the esophagus causes irritation, inflammation, and pain.  The stomach layer contains a mucous lining that protects against such acids; however, this lining doesn’t line the esophagus making it vulnerable.  Typically, this condition happens right after a meal and causes an uncomfortable burning irritation behind the sternum.  It just so happens that most patients with GERD also suffer from hiatal hernias in addition.  A hiatal hernia is when part of the stomach bulges into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm, a thin sheet of muscle.  It’s approximated that one in four Americans experience heartburn once a month.  Some additional GERD facts include: about 15 million Americans experience heartburn every day, it is extremely common during pregnancy about 50% of women; most GERD patients also have hiatal hernias, affecting 15% of patients. 

Treatment of GERD

GERD may be treated with diet changes, medication, or surgery.  When patients remove daily factors which cause significant symptoms a substantial reduction overall is noted.    A change to diet along with pharmaceutical medication and/or natural supplements improves symptomatology.  Triggers to GERD include but are not limited to: alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, tea, coffee, spicy foods, and fatty foods.  Other factors that contribute to GERD include: cigarette smoking, overweight and obesity, stomach sleeping, and restrictive clothing on the abdomen.  Some guidelines to live by to reduce or eliminate GERD are the following: quit smoking, eat a proper diet, eat smaller meals more times a day for satiety instead of a few larger meals, sleep with the your head raised a few inches, avoid eating 2-3 hours prior to bedtime, avoid restrictive clothing or belts, and avoid trigger foods that exacerbate the symptoms. 

Chiropractic and GERD

Since Chiropractors work with the ever-important nervous system, they affect the nerves that correspond with the stomach and esophagus.  They will check for interference within the nerve pathways to restore optimal capacity to these organs.  A reduction or complete elimination of symptoms and often medication is noted when Chiropractic care is introduced to the health regimen. 

MUA

Manipulation under anesthesia, or MUA, was once a procedure that was performed by doctors of osteopathy in the 1950’s and 1960’s. In the late 1980’s, a group of chiropractors in Texas began the procedure again, and since then, it has remained a source of controversy between MD’s and chiropractic physicians. This group of physicians in Texas began developing protocol for the procedure and concluded that for successful treatment, a patient would be recommended for three rounds of MUA consecutively. The patients to receive treatment were selected and all had common histories of failed surgeries or were people who had undergone many years of conservative care such as physical therapy and chiropractic care and were not approved as candidates for spinal surgery. Manipulation under anesthesia is generally considered to be a safe and effective procedure for people suffering from neck, back and joint pain and from muscles that have shortened or have chronic spasm. MUA is a procedure that has been studied and has been shown to offer an improvement of pain and dysfunction in patients who receive the treatment. For more detailed information of the success rate of manipulation under anesthesia, go to www.spine-health.com.

The Procedure

When it has been determined that a patient may benefit from manipulation under anesthesia, the procedure will be scheduled and take place at either a hospital or surgical center. MUA has been done to help treat issues of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine as well as the pelvis and sacroiliac area. The procedure is performed either under general anesthesia, with the patient mildly sedated or immediately after the injection of an anesthetic solution into certain soft tissues of the spinal region The patient is put under anesthesia by a licensed anesthesiologist and the manipulation is done by a chiropractic physician who is trained and certified to perform a MUA. There is an assistant present during the procedure, also a chiropractic physician who is certified in MUA. While under sedation, along with receiving spinal manipulation, a patient may also undergo passive stretching to the muscles near the joints to help break up scar tissue and to reduce muscle spasm. This stretching is done more easily during MUA because the muscles are completely relaxed. A patient who is an appropriate candidate for this procedure is typically someone who has received many forms of conservative care with no long term success. They may feel temporary relief from pain, but for reasons such as scar tissue formation around the joints from an injury, the pain they feel becomes chronic. It is important to speak with a chiropractic physician who is certified in MUA if you feel you may benefit from the treatment.

References Cited in this Article

www.dynamicchiropractic.com

www.spine-health.com

There are two different types of Spondylolisthesis’ and they include an Anteriolisthesis and a Retrolisthesis.  In an Anteriolisthesis the vertebra has slipped anterior or forward in relation to the bone below.  In contrast, a Retrolisthesis is when the vertebra has slipped posterior or backwards in relation to the bone below.  Spondylo’s is the abbreviated name and are based on a grading scale from 1 to 4.  A degree 1 Spondylo is mild while a degree 4 is very severe and a 100% slippage.  Individuals suffering from a mild Spondylo may not even possess any pain and will only have it brought to their attention on x-ray incidentally.  Patients suffering from a grade 3 and 4 Spondylo are usually in your office because they are in severe pain and want you to get them out of it.  These are severe cases and must be handled with delicately and efficiently.  Many times these are surgical cases that can only be treated with surgical fusion of the bone or in between the vertebra themselves. 

Chiroporactic care

If the case is mild and less severe in nature then the patient may benefit from Chiropractic care with adjustments to above or below the specific Spondylo. A Chiropractor will never adjust directly on the bone that is displaced either forward or backward for fear of further displacing it.  The Chiropractor may also incorporate a technique called Chiropractic BioPhysics depending again on the severity of the curve abnormality.  If mild, they will introduce mechanical traction to the area of the spine in need of correction.  They will also introduce passive therapies like massage therapy, acupuncture, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, diathermy, and core strengthening rehabilitation exercises to correctly and safely decrease pain, local inflammation, and strengthen weak and inhibited muscle groups.  A Chiropractor will make the necessary referral if the patient is not responding to the Chiropractic treatment program or if the case is beyond the scope of practice of a Chiropractor. 

Talk to your Dr.

It is important to talk to your primary care physician about your treatment options, expectations of care, and what to expect after treatment has begun and what to expect for months and years to come.  Individuals need to be cautious of their current and future activity levels to not further displace the vertebra.  In most cases, the Spondylo was caused from a high-impact activity like gymnastics or soccer (hyperextension injuries), trauma, or is a congenital finding (meaning the patient was born with it).