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Chiropractic care has been successful in treating sciatica, slipped disc, neck pain and low back pain, besides being good for babies with colic and senior citizens with arthritis, informs Mumbai based chiropractor Dr Ismat Kanga.
Many people don’t understand what a chiropractor does. What exactly does your work entail?
Chiropractors treat disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
What are the techniques used in chiropractic therapy?
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation or “chiropractic adjustment.” The purpose of spinal manipulation is to restore motion into joints that are restricted or not moving freely.
Manipulation of the affected joint and tissues restores motion in the joint, reducing pain and muscle tightness, which allows the tissues to heal. Chiropractors also incorporate other techniques including soft tissue therapy, acupuncture and modalities such as ultrasound and laser. Along with these treatments chiropractors also focus on rehabilitation of the joints by utilizing appropriate stretches and strengthening exercises.
What health disorders are best treated by chiropractors?
Chiropractors primarily treat disorders of joints, muscles and nerves. Some of the reasons to seek chiropractic care:
- Back Pain
- Neck pain
- Arthritis
- Strains and sprains
- Work and sports injuries
- Knee pain
- Shoulder pain
- Jaw/TMJ Pain
Therefore any health disorders that occur due to these are treated by chiropractors. However, chiropractors do specialize in treatment of the spine and therefore see patients with neck pain and back pain more frequently.
The number of people suffering from chronic back pain is increasing alarmingly. Why is it so?
From my practice, the numbers of chronic back pain patients are increasing due to more sedentary behaviours. Sitting for long periods of time with poor posture in front of the computer, television and at work can contribute to increased low back pain. Other unhealthy behaviours such as obesity, poor diet and decreased physical activity can lead to low back pain.
People spend hours in front of the computer everyday now. What is the correct sitting posture when working on the computer?
Sitting for long hours in front a computer is harmful for the back. Therefore, it is important not to sit for more than 20-30 minutes without a break. I recommend that my patients take short standing break of a minute as often as they can. Using a desktop computer is preferable to a laptop, as the latter has poor ergonomic design. It is important that the top of your screen be at your eye level. A proper office chair with hand rests and lumbar support is recommended. When sitting one must ensure that their back is straight and shoulders are pulled back. It is important not to hunch or sit with rounded shoulders.
Could you suggest five ways to eliminate back and neck pain at work?
- Maintain proper posture while sitting at your desk.
- Ensure that the top of your screen is at eye level.
- Take micro breaks frequently at work.
- If you spend long periods of time on the phone a headset is recommended.
- While using a cellphone bring it up to the level of your chin rather than bending your neck forward.
How do you strengthen your spine muscles?
Strengthening your core muscles in the neck and the back are important for maintaining strength and preventing back pain. These core exercises should be performed at least two to three times per week.
For what age group is chiropractic care recommended? Is it suitable for senior citizens?
Chiropractic care is suitable and recommended for all age groups. Chiropractic care is effective for babies with colic and is also helpful for alleviating arthritis pain in senior citizens. The techniques used can be modified for any group.
What is the success rate of chiropractic therapy?
Chiropractic has been shown to be successful in treating sciatica, disc herniations (slipped disc), neck pain and low back pain. It is hard to provide a success rate for the therapy as it depends on a number factors including the type of condition and patient adherence.
Is there any risk involved in chiropractic care?
Like any medical treatment or procedure there are risks involved with treatment. Therefore, it is important that a thorough history and physical examination is conducted prior to an individual receiving treatment. The most common side effect of any manual therapy including chiropractic, physiotherapy and massage is short term aggravation of the patient’s symptoms.
How popular is this method of treatment in India?
Chiropractic is new to India and therefore not very popular. The primary reason being is that there is no school in India that certifies practitioners in Chiropractic. Therefore there is decreased awareness of the profession and individuals have to study at accredited universities in other countries.
Dr Ismat Kanga graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto, Canada in 2011. In 2014, she obtained her fellowship from the College of Chiropractic Sciences. Utilizing spinal manipulation, acupuncture soft tissue therapy and rehabilitative exercises, Dr.Kanga aims to reduce pain, increase function and improve quality of life. She is also a certified in Active Release Technique®, Graston® and acupuncture.
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