Chiropractic neurologists are chiropractors with a board certified specialty in neurology. They assess and treat patients by purely physical means and therapy. This means that patients will not have to endure surgery or take prescription medications. Many of these neurologists have found their therapies to be highly successful, and with the trend to not use invasive measures unless absolutely necessary, many traditional medical physicians are training in this field to apply these treatments to their own patients.
Function
Chiropractic neurologists are chiropractors who have specialist training in neurology from a chiropractic school. They assess neurological function and treat neurological disorders by strictly using physical therapy. It is non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical. Typical chiropractors treat patients by manipulating the spine and muscles, but with the specialty in neurology, chiropractic neurologists will perform other physical therapy in addition to the manipulations. One of these techniques is a mirror-image exercise, which has the patient view a mirror image of one of his hands to get the brain to retrain the proper muscles and help the patient relearn to write and control tremors.
Significance
These chiropractors provide an alternative means to traditional medicine in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. They use physical therapy and spinal manipulation to treat a variety of neurological disorders, including the following: vertigo, lags in child development, ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, peripheral neuropathies, dystomia, Parkinson's and autism. Neurological chiropractors have also found success in providing rehabilitation for stroke patients as well as treatment for back and neck pain, severe headaches and TMJ.
Benefits
Most patients prefer non-surgical methods of treatment, which are usually safer and have a higher success rate than other invasive means. Non-invasive treatment also usually means shorter recovery and rehabilitation. Patients will endure less pain and be able to return to their normal routines far more quickly than with surgery. Also by not taking any prescription medications, patients will not have to endure any unwanted possible side effects from the drugs. Since chiropractic neurologists offer these types of treatments, patients can expect all of these benefits: quicker recovery, less pain, better results with the treatment, and obviously, no side effects from medication.
Considerations
For a chiropractor to obtain a specialty in neurology, one must attend a neurology program approved by the Commission for the Accreditation of Graduate Education in Neurology. This program must also have a minimum of 300 hours for completion. Upon finishing the program, the chiropractor must pass both written and practical exams in neurology from the American Chiropractic Neurology Board.
Potential
Chiropractic neurology is one of the fastest growing disciplines in not just the chiropractic field, but the medical field as well. Many physicians, neurologists, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons are becoming board certified in chiropractic neurology to bring in another non-invasive treatment option to their repertoire. The trend in medicine for the past fifteen years has been to exhaust all non-invasive means before considering surgery, so this new field in chiropractic treatment is very appealing to add.
Tags: neurological disorders, physical therapy, specialty neurology, board certified, Chiropractic neurologists