Chiropractors provide drug-free back pain relief
photo: file
Chiropractors employ High-Velocity Low Amplitude Thrust (HVLA) manipulation techniques that will provide rapid pain relief along with improved mobility, flexibility and movability.
Dr Arsalan Sajjad Sunday explained that chiropractic practice involves joint manipulation, mostly of the spine to grade five thrusts. He said this technique can also be applied to the wrist, ankle, foot and knee joints.
“During a chiropractic procedure, the joint is rotated to its maximum range of motion and then a quick, controlled force is applied,” he said and went on to explain that the cracking sound produced comes from gas bubbles bursting in the joint fluid and not by the bones themselves.
He said chiropractic sessions must be performed by licensed professionals for safety and proper diagnosis should precede any chiropractic sessions. “Patients with advanced osteoarthritis are not recommended for chiropractic sessions and they should consult orthopaedic surgeons instead,” he added.
Dr Sajjad outlined key differences between chiropractic care and physiotherapy saying that chiropractors focus on the spine and rapid manipulation while physiotherapists address a wider range of injuries providing long-term solutions through graded mobilisation.
He said physiotherapists also utilise pain management techniques by mobilizing joints and muscles.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 10th, 2023.