Acute (traumatic) Injuries
Injuries that occur due to a traumatic and unexpected events such as a fall, car
wreck, or sports injury. The acute traumatic pain usually does not last longer than
two or three months.
Acupressure:
The practice of applying; pressure on parts of the body to relieve pain.
Acupuncture:
The practice of inserting fine needles on specific meridian points for the purpose
of relieving tension, stress, and pain. Highly useful in the treatment and relief of
back pain.
Adjustments
A chiropractic technique involving the application of pressure to specific bones.
Adjustments employ a gentle, yet firm thrust which is meant to help relieve
pressure from spinal nerves and restore the bone to its natural position.
Arthritis
A gradual breakdown, or deterioration, of the joint spaces in your
musculoskeletal system.
Atlas
A large vertebra in the upper cervical spine.
Bulging Disc
A common condition related to the spine, usually the lumbar, which occurs when
a disc distends through a crevice in the spine.
Bursitis:
A condition in which the bursa, or fluid filled sacks that cushion joints, become
swollen.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A progressive and sometimes painful joint disorder caused by a compression of
the median nerve of your hand. The compression causes swelling, which exerts
pressure on the nerves.
Cauda equina:
A region at the lower end of the spinal column in which nerve roots branch out in
a fashion that resembles a horse's tail.
Cauda equina syndrome:
Dull pain in upper buttock region with bowel and bladder dysfunction due to
pressure on the cauda equina from tumor or degenerative disc disease.
Cervical Vertebrae
The seven vertebrae immediately behind the skull, or the neck area of the spine.
Chiropractic
An alternative noninvasive health care practice with the mission to diagnose and
treat mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system in order to relieve the
obstructed nerves and improve overall health.
Chiropractor
Also known as a doctor of chiropractic (D.C.), diagnoses and treats a broad range
of physical conditions in patients with muscular, nervous and skeletal problems.
Chronic Back Pain
Unlike Acute Pain, Chronic Back Pain lasts more than three months.
Coccyx
A triangular shaped bone at the bottom of the spine. Also known as the tailbone.
Compressed Nerve:
Material from a bulging or Herniated disk pushes against a nerve in the spinal
cord causing severe pain.
D.C.
Abbreviation for "doctor of chiropractic."
Decompression
A form of chiropractic traction using a device that stretches and releases the spine
while the patient lies face up. Decompression is often times used to treat arthritis,
herniated and bulging discs while improving circulation.
Degenerative Disc Disease
A condition in which the inner core of the vertebral discs leak proteins that can
inflame the nerve roots.
Electrotherapy
A pain management technique that applies electrical stimulation to affected nerves
and muscles and encourages the body to release pain-killing chemicals, such as
opiates and endorphins, and blocks pain signals from being transmitted to the
brain.
Exercise Therapy
A form of chiropractic treatment used to help manage pain, rehabilitate damaged
soft tissues, such as muscles, ligament, and tendons, and restore normal range of
motion.
Facet Joint Syndrome:
Pain resulting from degeneration, wear, pressure exerted on and inflammation of
the facet joints, which are the joints at the back of each vertebrae linking the
vertebrae together.
Fibromyalgia:
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes pain in muscles, joints, ligaments and
tendons.
Fibrositis:
Pain arising from damaged tendons or muscles.
Foraminal Stenosis:
Narrowing of a vertebral opening.
Heat Therapy
A form of chiropractic and physical therapy often used in patients who have
chronic or long-lasting pain.
Herniated Disc
A common disorder in which a disc ruptures and shifts to a position that irritates
the spinal nerves. A herniated disc occurs frequently within the lumbar region of
the spine.
Ice Therapy (Cryotherapy)
A form of therapy involving the application of ice to treat several types of acute
injuries, including those associated with back or neck pain.
Lumbar Roll
A form of chiropractic adjustment in which the patient lies on his or her side
while the chiropractor applies a firm, quick thrust to the misaligned vertebrae.
Lumbar Vertebrae
The lower-back. The five bones in the bottom portion of the spine.
Manipulation
A form of chiropractic treatment, which involves the application of gentle, yet
firm, specified pressure to bones. The goal of manipulation is to relieve pressure
from the surrounding spinal nerves, eliminate pain and restore normal range of
motion.
Maintenance Care
Also known as "preventative maintenance", maintenance care is a subluxation
correction program that involves spinal adjustments and examination in order to
maintain spinal alignment.
Migraine
A severe headache that has a tendency to reoccur when blood vessels and the
head and neck spasm, restricting the blood flow to the brain.
Sciatica
A condition in which the sciatic nerve, which is several small nerves bundled
within the pelvis area, is injured. Sciatica causes numbness, tingling and in the
buttocks, legs, feet and toes.
Scoliosis
A medical term that refers to spinal curvatures and a condition that often begins
in early childhood.
Slipped Disc
Another name for a ruptured or herniated disc.
Spinal Column
The term for the bones of your back that protect your spinal cord and allows the
body to move in several different directions.
Strengthening Exercises
Exercises that focus on strengthening the core muscles that protect your spine.
These muscles include the abdominal and back muscles.
Stretching Exercises
Exercises that focus on limbering the soft tissue surrounding your spine and other
body extremities.
Subluxations
Another term for the misalignments of the vertebrae. Subluxations can create
pressure on the spinal nerves, causing a wide variety of symptoms throughout the
body including localized soreness, pain, bodily irregularity and weakness.
Table Adjustments
A method of chiropractic adjustment that involves lying on a special chiropractic
table for chiropractic adjustments.
Therapeutic Massage
A form of massage that involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body to
prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, muscle spasm and stress.
Thoracic Vertebrae
The middle twelve segment of the vertebral column, between the cervical
vertebrae and the lumbar vertebrae.
Ultrasound
A pain therapy technique using sound waves to heat soft tissues while viewing the
condition of joints, nerve roots, tendons muscles and more. The ultrasound
sometimes helps chiropractors figure out the best form of treatment.
Vertebral Bodies
The 24 moveable bones that act as a support column to hold up the spine.
Vertebral Discs
Composed of collagen, discs act as "shock absorbers" and are situated between
vertebral bodies.
Whiplash
An injury to the neck or cervical spine that occurs when muscles are hyper
extended.
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