Pain in the back and neck, joint pain in the arms and legs and headaches can be treated with chiropractic care, a health care profession with a discipline focused primarily on conditions involving disorders of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems and their effects on overall health. Chiropractic physicians are trained in both rehabilitative and therapeutic exercises and provide counseling on lifestyle, dietary and nutritional issues as they relate to the condition of the patient. Chiropractors practice a health care approach without the use of drugs or chemicals. Our Chiropractor NYC is skilled in diagnosis, patient examination and treatment of therapeutic or rehabilitative procedures, the most common of which is chiropractic adjustment.

Golfers are especially susceptible to injuries that could use chiropractic treatment, specifically chiropractic adjustments of the spine. Chiropractors can give advice on and treat golfers for preventive swing and anti-inflammatory diets and rehabilitative exercise programs, respectively. A common movement done by golfers is spinal rotation, frequently and often incorrectly. Rigid control of the abdominal muscles to obtain parallelization during a golf swing is one advice which a chiropractor usually gives to golfers.

Why Golfers would need a Chiropractor

Chronic back pain is the most common health issue with golfers, yet available data shows that of the 25 million golfing population in the United States, less than two percent go to a chiropractor and prefer to take aspirin or over-the-counter medication. Some golfers consult physical therapists and yet others opt to see orthopedic doctors. Golf swings are stressful and potentially injurious to the spine, particularly the lumbar region. Training the lumbar to adapt to a mechanism that automatically sets controls on how swinging should be done correctly is possible with chiropractic treatment. Exercises to acquire this mechanism involve curl-ups, cat stretches and isometrics to strengthen the pelvis and shoulder, two body parts which should be parallel throughout a swing when there is tremendous strain on the torso.

The golfer’s nutrition is also considered by chiropractor NYC best practices as crucial, mainly because when a golfer self-medicates, the result is more often than not reduced healing of the connective tissues and gastrointestinal ulcers. Programs designed by chiropractors for golfers specifically require consumption of anti-inflammatory foods such as dark green leafy vegetables (which contain high amounts of the anti-inflammatory Omega-3 fatty acids), ginger and turmeric, supplements which contain bromelain, glucosamine, Boswellia and chondroitin.

Complementary Alternative Medicine

Non-golfers who suffer chronic back pain will be benefited by a visit to a chiropractor. Chiropractors diagnose patients using laboratory testing and clinical examinations, as well as diagnostic interventions and diagnostic imaging procedures. Should chiropractic treatment be unsuitable for the patient, a chiropractor will not hesitate to refer him or her to the appropriate health care provider or work in coordination with any health care practitioner already consulted by the patient, such as a neurologist or orthopedic doctor.

In a 2007 issue of Pediatrics, the official journal published by the American Academy of Pediatrics, chiropractic was stated as “the most common complementary and alternative medicine practice” used to treat children not only for painful back and neck conditions but also for asthma, nursing difficulties, bedwetting, chronic infections of the ear and colic. Chiropractic treatment is also helpful in the treatment of injuries sustained from golf like pulled muscles due to an over swing.

Chiropractic is Not a Cure-All Treatment

Chiropractic treatment has been considered effective and safe for acute lumbar pain, osteoarthritis and some cases of fibromyalgia wherein moderate pressure is applied by massaging deeply into the tissues. However, no confirmation has been made as to its safety in temporary alleviation of pain from osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritis or compression of the spinal cord.

There have been cases in which individuals undergoing chiropractic treatment suffered injuries to the spinal cord or strokes. Golfer or not, it is best to consult with a provider of primary health care before undergoing chiropractic treatment with a chiropractor NYC so as not to worsen any existing conditions.