Chiropractors are certified professionals in holistic health of the spine and back. By utilizing natural treatments, they help induce the spine to restore it back to health. This requires an understanding of the spine, the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. A variety of therapies are used depending on the patient’s situation. As massage therapy is being used extensively, massage chairs have automated some aspects of patient care in chiropractor’s offices around the country.
Did you know the word chiropractor originates from Greek? This is a combination of “cheir” and “praxis” from the ancient Greek language. Together they mean a treatment done by hand. Technology has come a long way since the Greeks. I am sure the ancient Greek chiropractors would be enthralled with today’s high tech massage chairs.
Chiropractors receive three main types of conditions. People that have overstressed or injured their spine. Conditions where the parts of the spine are degenerating or wearing down. The third condition is certain pre-conditions of insufficient health from the beginning. They are trained by a college accredited by the Council on chiropractic education. To become a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic medicine, they must earn a D.C. degree and be licensed from the state.
Even though chiropractic medicine has been around since Egyptian times, it has not been covered by major health insurance plans. Big Medicine is covering more chiropractic treatments as now many state workers compensation systems are covering chiropractic treatment. This has forced Big Medicine to ante up and now many HMO’s and private plans have included chiropractic coverage.
Chiropractors are trained to understand a patient’s symptoms. They then test theories and validate them to find the root causes. They may take x-rays, perform certain tests or touch and feel what is going on. The spine is a complex arrangement of bones, muscles, tendons, nerves, ligaments, etc. that must be looked at in unison.
Most people have heard of a spinal adjustment. This seems to be the most known treatment by the general public. Most of us picture the chiropractor holding them, aligning their spine and then making an adjustment. The adjustment usually is accompanied by a crack or pop sound.
Chiropractors use massage therapy to warm up the muscles and soft tissue areas around the spine prior to making an adjustment to a patient. Massage chairs are increasingly used to perform massage therapy for chiropractic patients. A massage chair helps to loosen tight muscles, ligaments and tendons. This helps the spine to adjust more freely.
Our spine is very unique in that it enables us to stand upright. When the spine is healthy, then this process is uninhibited. However, slight problems can shift the body weight around. These small shifts can cause an enormous amount of weight and stress to be concentrated in certain areas. This can happen by poor posture or lifting with your back, instead of your knees.
Your spine is particularly sensitive to not being in balance. The spine has to work together to take the weight of the body plus whatever you are carrying. If one area has problems, the spine becomes more sensitive in this problem area. The weight of the body can shift which can also cause further injury.
Chiropractic offices must be able to handle a variety of issues. Massage chairs are used to provide a variety of treatments including massage therapy, application of heat, traction of shoulders and legs, music therapy, and relaxation. Treating the spine involves getting many soft tissue areas to be more pliable and flexible. This helps to increase the range of motion. Massage chairs are used to help soothe, relax and elongate the muscles to help restore the health of the spine.
It is really amazing to see how massage chairs are finding their way into remedial environments. Learn more about the top brands with our Massage Chair Comparison Guide. See Massage Chair Reviews on all the top brands to help you make your choice and find the right massage chair recliner for you.
