Given that patients’ medical problems run the spectrum, no two days in a chiropractor’s life are exactly the same. In addition to the painful backs and necks that people associate with chiropractic care, patients may present with such diverse conditions as asthma, headaches, hormone imbalances and ADHD. A typical chiropractor sees 15 to 30 patients per day. However, certain themes are consistent, and chiropractors must call on a specific skill set to help their patients every day.
A Day in the Life of a Chiro
A Day in the Life of a Chiropractor:
Rush Hours
Chiropractors treat patients that range in age from 1 to 100, but the bulk of patients are of working age. This means many want those coveted early morning and evening appointments to fit around a typical nine-to-five workday. These are busy hours for chiropractors, who try to help as many patients as possible in these time slots.
Exams
Before a chiropractor devises a plan of action, she or he must identify the problem. This requires a thorough physical examination of the patient. The chiropractor assesses the patient’s movement patterns. X-rays are often necessary. In clinics with X-ray facilities, the doctor or a trained assistant conduct the X-rays.
Business Aspects of Practice
Just like other types of doctors, chiropractors can choose to run a private practice or join forces with others in a bigger clinic. Depending on their setup, doctors may be responsible for many administrative duties in addition to treating patients. These important tasks include running staff meetings, reading lab tests, training staff, writing reports, accounting, marketing, banking and interfacing with insurance companies. If a doctor does not have staff to help, he or she may spend 8 to 16 hours a week fulfilling these responsibilities.
Wondering how chiropractic treatment could help you? We’d love to see how your busy day can fit with ours, moving you toward a happier and more pain-free life.
Therapies
Once the chiropractor has diagnosed the patient’s medical issue, it’s therapy time. Manual adjustments are the core of chiropractic care. Other common therapies include many types of electrical stimulation and exercises. For example, chiropractors often use transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to reduce pain. The doctor strategically places sticky pads attached to wires around the afflicted areas, and then sends stimulating electric pulses to send blood to muscles and reduce atrophy. A chiropractor often juggles several patients at a time. While one patient receives therapy in a treatment room, the doctor consults with another elsewhere.
Communication
Communication is a cornerstone of the chiropractic skill set. Doctors talk extensively with patients to understand their health issues and aspects of their daily lives that contribute to pain and medical problems. Chiropractors are also teachers dedicated to helping patients learn to take better care of themselves.
Types of Massage
One of the reasons massage therapy is so effective on many different kinds of problems is because there are many different kinds of massage therapy. Different massage technique have their own special benefits to bear on your health, rehabilitation, and wellness. Examples include:
- Swedish massage – This light form of massage is a relaxing experience that boosts blood flow, promotes lymphatic drainage and loosens muscles near the skin surface. Swedish massage can relieve emotional stress, stiffness, swelling and inflammation.
- Deep tissue massage – Deep tissue massage is a firmer form of massage than its Swedish cousin, manipulating underlying tissues to tackle deep-seated chronic pain. We may prescribe it to free muscles trapped by adhesions, collections of scar tissue that limit motion.
- Trigger point massage – Trigger point massage lives up to its name by releasing the hard “knots” of tissue known as trigger points — knots that can send pain signals to various parts of the body. Freeing up this tight tissue can put an end to your pain.
- Myofascial release – Fascia is a form of connective tissue that covers your muscles — tension in one area of the fascia can create significant pain and tightness. Myofascial release is a relaxing form of manual therapy that undoes these painful restrictions.
- Prenatal massage – Prenatal massage can be a great relief for expecting mother suffering from the aches, pain, swelling and other discomforts of pregnancy. Our prenatal massage techniques are gentle, comfortable and safe.
- Sports massage – Sports massage can help athletes in all phases of their chosen activity by concentrating on the muscle groups they tend to use the most. It can limber you up before an event or help you recover from a sports injury.
PROUDLY SERVING GREATER EDISON, WOODBRIDGE, PLAINFIELD, ELIZABETH, METUCHEN, AND PERTH AMBOY
Massage therapy could be a key ingredient in your personalized health, wellness or rehabilitation program. Find out more about what this remarkable discipline can do for your health. Call 732-661-1121 for a consultation with our Edison chiropractor!