What is the role?
A neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) health expert
Chiropractors specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) disorders, and the effects that these disorders have on a person’s overall health, in order to ensure the recovery and maintenance of optimal health.
Chiropractors focus on the human body’s intrinsic ability to stay healthy and self-regulate.
Chiropractors are often associated with the treatment of back and spinal pain. The Doctor of Chiropractic degree—earned following five years of full-time education—allows chiropractors to extend their expertise well beyond these types of pain.
Chiropractors use mainly the following methods:
- Chiropractic adjustment, a specialized form of joint manipulation
- Various complementary approaches, including muscle therapy
- Physical therapy devices (e.g., electrotherapy, ultrasound, lasers, shockwaves)
They can also recommend exercises tailored specifically to your health problem, whether it involves your muscles, joints or nerves, and offer advice on ergonomics, posture or lifestyle habits. Chiropractors cannot prescribe medication or perform surgery. They offer natural solutions that complement other healthcare approaches.
Did you know?
Chiropractic adjustment (joint manipulation) is a professional act involving controlled force, direction, amplitude, and velocity.
The primary goal is to restore and optimize joint movement and ensure a better balance between joints, muscles, and components of the nervous system.
This manipulation can be done on the joints of the spine or any other joints of the body. Chiropractors are the healthcare professionals with the most extensive and comprehensive mandatory university education in the field.
A Partner in Your Health Management
Chiropractors understand that adopting healthy lifestyle habits is the key to maximizing your chances of staying healthy as you age. Although some situations or health issues are beyond your control, the key to well-being is making healthy choices on a daily basis.
Chiropractors share this philosophy and try to encourage their patients to adopt healthy lifestyle habits. They are important allies when it comes to making healthier lifestyle choices. Having developed a variety of tools throughout their university education, and given their keen interest in overall health, chiropractors are able to offer advice and help their patients identify and achieve their health goals.
Since prevention is often the most effective solution, adopting a healthy lifestyle makes it possible to avoid many health problems.
When it comes to physical activity, changes in diet, smoking cessation, sleep or stress management, chiropractors are qualified to help patients to the best of their knowledge, within their field of practice. When necessary, chiropractors refer patients to other healthcare professionals, since interdisciplinary collaboration is at the heart of a comprehensive healthcare approach focused on patients’ needs.