Back pain can cause stress, neck stiffness, headaches, poor posture and a lot of muscle tension. To prevent and treat these problems, chiropractic is an alternative to treating the neuro-musculoskeletal system, i.e. the tendons, joints, muscles, bones and other structures linked to body movements.

Celebrated worldwide on September 18, the date marks the moment when the Canadian Daniel David Palmer, in 1895 in the United States, discovered that he could treat bodily pain through manual maneuvers and called it Chiropractic, chiro (hands), praxis (practice).

To better understand the profession, the chiropractor graduated from the Centro Universitário de Feevale (RS), Ariel Ferreira de Souza, spoke with Acorda Cidade about treatment concepts and promoting the quality of body mobility.

“The goal of treatment is to align the spine. Many patients have herniated discs, osteoarthritis, parrot beak, spinal deviations, patients who have even suffered spinal fractures, they come to me to improve spinal movement , joints, posture, helping to reduce pain,” he emphasized.

According to the professional, anyone, from children to the elderly, can carry out the procedure, respecting the predispositions of each patient. But he emphasizes that the initial evaluation is important to observe possible contraindications that could prevent the practice from being carried out. If possible, ongoing medical history investigation and certain examinations, such as radiographic evaluation and MRI of the spine, may be necessary before treatment.

“I do this first assessment, where we take an anamnesis, I ask the patient’s history, if he has already undergone back surgery, if he has suffered serious accidents, fractures and we will determine the best adjustment techniques for each case. It is important to understand that a 20 year old patient and an 80 year old patient, the treatment is different, they must respect the limits of the body. Older patients have more advanced wear , osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, so we have to be more careful so that the treatment is effective, but also does not harm the patient. Therefore, always look for a professional who is truly trained in chiropractic,” he said. He underlines.

Prevention

To avoid back problems, practicing physical activity regularly is essential. According to Ariel, sedentary patients may take some time to respond positively to treatment or, if their condition improves, they may experience pain again in the short term. He therefore recommends low-impact activities, such as weight training, Pilates, swimming, as good ways to protect the body. Correcting your posture is also something simple that you can do throughout your daily life.

“Sleeping posture, working posture, how to behave, how to bend, in addition, some indications for physiotherapy or for a doctor specializing in pain, in addition to chiropractic treatment, we do preventive work, educating the patient “Ariel said. in an interview with Acorda Cidade.

Many people go to the doctor complaining of back pain, accompanied by severe attacks, but he says that prevention is the best practice to avoid getting to that point. According to Ariel, each chiropractor performs the treatment in their own way depending on the patient’s needs. For him, the sessions can be quick depending on each person’s state of health, demand and lifestyle.

“I always give an example of teeth, teeth are also bones and we brush our teeth every day. You don’t wait for a tooth to fall out to ask for help. So the spine is the same process, we have to take care of it and chiropractic is one of the ways to take care of the spine,” he informed.

Chiropractic in Brazil

Currently in Brazil, only three universities train chiropractors. Another challenge that the region still faces is the regulation of the profession. A bill 114/15 is already planned to remedy this situation, awaiting a vote by the education committee of the Chamber of Deputies.

The project divides opinions because some professionals consider that the profession should be integrated into fields such as medicine and physiotherapy, making it a complementary therapy. But according to the president of the Brazilian Chiropractic Association, Daniel Facchini, regulation is necessary so that the population, particularly the working classes, can have access to responsible and quality service.

According to Ariel, the profession is widespread in other countries and is now part of health and insurance plans. But in Brazil, it is still difficult to access consultations and sessions with chiropractors accredited by the Brazilian Chiropractic Association (ABQ), the only one that regulates the professional in the country.

“In Brazil, treatment is private, in a clinic, it is not yet completely integrated into the SUS, it is not in health centers and it is a battle. There is a need, because health professions cannot be left unregulated, there is a risk even for patients themselves who submit to untrained or unaccredited professionals,” he said. underlines.

He also warns that, as this is a practice little known to the general public, the profession requires standardization to estimate risks, safety, techniques and concepts.

“I understand that it’s still a little scary to see these famous cracks in the spine, but not all patients are installed by us, not all techniques consist of installing the spine, we have several techniques in place. chiropractic and they are all safe, provided they are safe. they are carried out with a truly trained professional,” he reinforced.

From the therapist’s perspective, chiropractic has much to offer when it comes to health issues that affect people every day. To avoid resorting to surgical interventions on the spine, practice is essential to prevent any type of injury caused, for example, by repetitive strain.

“According to the World Health Organization, approximately 80% of the world’s population will suffer from severe back pain at some point in their lives. So there are many people who suffer from poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, overweight people, with strain on the spine. It is one of the most serious causes of work incapacity. People end up missing work, taking sick leave. Surgical procedures are complicated and require more careful postoperative care. Chiropractic care therefore constitutes very important preventive work. And we then have a population that may need chiropractic care,” he concluded.

To contact the Spine Clinic, where Ariel works, call 3223-6074 or WhatsApp 75 99189-6638.

With information from journalist Ed Santos of Acorda Cidade

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