Structural vs. Conventional Chiropractic

By: Dr. Johnny Nguyen
Posted: December 15, 2022

Not all chiropractors are the same. Although they go by the same name, they differ in philosophy and technique. The two main types are conventional and structural chiropractic approaches.

Conventional Chiropractic

The conventional approach focuses on symptoms or secondary conditions. The main goal of traditional chiropractic is to achieve the following:

• Temporary pain relief

• Reduced muscular spasm

• Increased range of motion

Structural Chiropractic

Instead of treating a condition, structural chiropractic corrects the underlying cause. It addresses the spine, the body’s foundation, by fixing structural shifts. That includes changes to the discs, nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.

Structural Shifts

Normal health ranges exist. To understand this concept, consider blood pressure. There is no exact number or precise level of blood pressure. You have high blood pressure once those numbers cross the normal threshold. The same applies to running a fever.

Consider your car’s dashboard. It has several warning indicators designed to inform you when the gauges or sensors detect a problem in the working of your vehicle. The symptoms you experience are the warning indicators in your body. They alert you to potentially serious conditions, such as a structural shift.

A joint misalignment impacts the associated structures. These include ligaments, discs, muscles, and other joints. These changes, known as structural shifts, end up affecting your physical function. A structural chiropractor works to detect and correct structural shifts. The goal is to treat your symptoms and allow your body to heal. That will help you function at a higher level.

Secondary Conditions

Symptoms, or secondary conditions, often indicate a more severe underlying problem. The body uses them to tell you that something is not functioning ideally. Some of the most common symptoms addressed by chiropractors include:

• Back, hip, and neck pain

• Slipped, herniated, and bulging discs

• Tingling and numbness in the fingers, hands, arms, toes, feet, and legs

• Muscular tension and spasms

• Sciatica and thoracic outlet syndrome

• Degenerative disc disease

• Tension and migraine headaches

• Degenerative joint disease

• Dizziness, balance issues, and vertigo

• Spinal canal stenosis

• Poor posture

• Restricted and stiff motion

• Rotator cuff and shoulder pain

• Muscular imbalance

• Carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist pain

Are you experiencing any of these symptoms? A chiropractor should determine whether you have an underlying structural shift.

What Does a Structural Chiropractic Exam Involve?

It would help if you set aside at least 45 minutes of your time for your comprehensive examination. It will consist of neurological and orthopedic tests and structural corrective radiography.

It will also include grid posture analysis and a weight distribution test. While essential for detecting structural shifts, these tests also allow a complete understanding of your condition. That will allow for a better understanding of normal.

Conclusion

A vital part of a chiropractor’s mission is to provide patients with objective and accurate information regarding their treatment options. That empowers patients to make intelligent decisions regarding their healthcare needs. If you are experiencing certain secondary conditions, your chiropractor will explore the best treatment to achieve structural correction.

For more on chiropractic care, visit Thrive Chiropractic at our office in Keller, Texas. Call (817) 562-8855 to schedule an appointment today.