Chiropractic care for pain relief

Chiropractic is a health care system that holds that the structure of the body, particularly the spine in relation to the nervous system, affects the function of every part of the body. Chiropractors correct the body's alignment to relieve pain and improve function and to help the body heal itself. Chiropractic care is used to treat many types of complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, disc conditions, pain in the joints of the arms or legs and headaches.

photo Dr. Charles Pray

"Over the years in my practice we have consistently seen success rates for pain well over 90 percent," said Dr. Charles Pray of Pray Chiropractic. "Doctors of Chiropractic often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians -- practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment."

Pray has been in private practice more than 20 years, and he has completed more than 250,000 individual patient visits and performed millions of chiropractic adjustments successfully and safely.

"Chiropractic has proven to be highly effective in relieving many types of pain," he said. "Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise [which] typically fades within 24 hours."

While primary treatment in chiropractic is spinal manipulation, or adjustment, chiropractic care in many offices now includes a wide variety of other treatments, including manual therapies, exercise and education, ergonomic training (how to walk, sit and stand to limit back strain), nutritional consultation, ultrasound vibration, decompression and even laser therapies. There are many different ways to adjust the patient to restore movement and balance to the spine ranging from hand manipulation to use of a special table to stretch the spine to high-tech instruments that produce light impulses.

"Many of my patients ask, 'What is that popping noise?' It is believed to be caused by the breaking of a vacuum or the release of a bubble into the synovial fluid: the clear, thick fluid that lubricates the spinal and other joints," Pray explained.

Most research on chiropractic has focused on spinal manipulation for back pain. Chiropractic treatment for many other problems - including other musculoskeletal pain, headaches, asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia - has also been studied. A recent review concluded that chiropractic spinal manipulation may be helpful for back pain, migraines, neck pain and whiplash.

Most spinal manipulation treatments take between five and 10 minutes and are scheduled two or three times a week initially, as the doctor is attempting to change a spinal pattern, which takes repetition and time. Each adjustment is tailored to that person and spinal condition. Most patients will see improvements in symptoms after a couple weeks.

The ultimate goal of chiropractic is to help relieve pain and help patients better manage their condition at home. For the person experiencing acute or chronic pain, chiropractic has a high rate of success and is a safe alternative to addictive drugs and irreversible surgery. Get off the sidelines and get back into the game of life and see a chiropractor for pain.

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"Chiropractic has proven to be highly effective in relieving many types of pain," said Dr. Charles Pray, owner of Pray Chiropractic."Many patients feel immediate relief following chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, just as they do after some forms of exercise [which] typically fades within 24 hours."

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Dr. Charles G. Pray, owner of Pray Chiropractic, is an author, lecturer, and educator who has appeared on television and radio programs to educate the public on chiropractic health and related subjects. He has been serving the Chattanooga area for more than 20 years with his unique chiropractic approach of helping people get out of pain fast and stay pain-free. He has been named "Best Chiropractor" five years in a row by the Chattanooga Times Free Press in Chattanooga and North Georgia. He can be reached at 706-935-7729 or praychiro.com.

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