Chiropractors use only their hands and manual techniques to provide treatment to their patients.
Is this what you think?
Don’t worry you are not the one who thinks like this. People often see and feel that chiropractors don’t need chiropractor tools, treatment equipment, or lubricants/solutions while providing chiropractic services. However, there are actually a lot of different tools that chiropractors use while providing pain relief to their patients.
From chairs, counters, and tables to laser treatments, a range of apparatus and lubricants are used on patients according to their health needs. There’s no doubt in saying that the most effective and trained tools are chiropractors’ hands; no tool can compare the level of adjustment they provide. Although, certain tools like a fully integrated EHR system are necessary for a chiropractic practice that help run the office smoothly and avoid the hassles of hiring a chiropractic billing service provider.
Keep reading to find out what chiropractic tools and equipment are and how they are used in providing relief.
Chiropractor tools to facilitate Patients’ needs
Chiropractor tools are not just tangible but a wide range of non-tangible (digital) tools are also used in the therapies. The integration of technologies in every medical field has significantly impacted efficient deliverance of treatment at every stage.
This technological equipment includes X-ray machines, computers, and iPad. The tools of care include chiropractic adjustment tools and tables. These tools aid in performing chiropractic adjustments easily. Let’s have a look at some of them.
1. Chiropractic Tables
One of the common chiropractor tools used in the practice is a chiropractic table. It is a special table that depends on a chiropractor’s preferred techniques. Different chiropractic tables are used for different purposes. Some common examples of chiropractic tables include traction or drop tables that are normally used to exert an increased gravitational force or pressure on the body of the patients for their tailored needs.
2. Activator adjustment tools
It is a hand-handled device that is loaded with a spring that exerts moderate pressure at a high speed on the lower back. It is used to realign the spinal cord. This treatment unseizes the muscle and prevents them from treatment resistance by minimizing joint torsions.
3. Digital X-ray Machine
X-ray machines are commonly used to diagnose spinal alignment and analyze the pathology level. The scans and images can be viewed and stored in a computer software called ChiroTouch. Later, these reports can be used to compare patients’ improvement throughout the process.
4. iPads and Computers
Technology has become an integral resource for every medical field and for productive work and effective service, every practice has to integrate technology into its office. A common example of a technology-oriented device is a computer or iPad that helps streamline the process.
An electronic cloud-based service used for maintaining health records (EHR) system integration improves scheduling, billing, and charting, into simplified processes. With EHR integration, the time practitioners spend on billing, filing, insurance papers, and SOAP notes can be saved, and they could spend more time on patient care. Plus, with this cloud computing technology, submitting reports and taking papers from one doctor to another can also be eliminated as a patient’s medical history can be accessed from anywhere by utilizing special codes.
In addition, a computer or iPad for EHR makes the filing and billing submission error-free. Because the selection of the relevant coding gets easier and the process doesn’t proceed if the program has errors.
It is convenient to access EHR on an iPad for mobility and convenience to see reports on a patient’s bed. You can have all the information on the counter, at the front desk, and at places where access is needed.
5. Cervical Traction Devices
Cervical traction devices are surgical instruments that are used to treat tension and discomfort in the neck and thoracic spine. They function by gently extending the cervical spine, which can help relieve nerve pressure and pain. These devices can be inflatable collars, over-the-door segments, or manual devices that require the help of a therapist or medical professional.
To give a more regulated and precise stretch, several cervical traction devices use mechanical or motorized traction. This therapy is frequently used for neck pain, cervical radiculopathy, herniated discs, and degenerative disc degeneration. However, before utilizing a cervical traction device, contact with a healthcare practitioner, as inappropriate use might result in severe injury or suffering.
6. Chiropractic equipment
Many chiropractic practitioners rely on electrotherapy in order to provide relief to patients. Through electropathy, the signals are used to tell the body to send the signal of reducing pain to the brain by releasing endorphins.
Chiropractors use chiropractic tools such as ultrasounds, cold lasers, and electromyography. The type of treatment and adjustments that chiropractors choose depend on the population of their patients and their own personal preferences which become their specialty after some time.
Commonly used equipment in electrotherapy includes,
1. Cold Laser
Due to some reasons, heat can be damaging for certain injuries and it can only make the injuries worse. Unlike normal lasers, cold lasers are effective in chiropractic treatment as they produce light without providing heat.
This is why a cold laser has become one of the important chiropractic tools that not only encourages cell function and helps them heal but treats injured areas effectively.
However, to get the ultimate pain relieved in the spinal cord, a patient has to take several sittings for chiropractic therapy sessions. But this is one of the appealing treatments for those who don’t want to go for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief or for those who are reluctant to take OTC medicines.
2. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)
With Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation therapy, a belt-like strap having electrodes is placed around the waist or the affected spinal area. TENS vary in size and stimulation capacity. They are operated through batteries and can be worn at work and home easily to reduce back pain. The device enables patients to keep the pain stimulation in control and reduce the pain episodes when they are at work.
3. Interferential Current
Interferential Current – IFC resembles TENS therapy greatly. In IFC, high-frequency electrical impulses are used to diminish and eliminate pain episodes. This is a great therapy option for sensitive skin patients because high frequency shows less resistance in relieving pain as compared to TENS.
In addition, IFC therapies are used for treating acute spinal pain, on the other hand, TENS therapies are more likely performed for chronic pain relief.
4. Electromyography (EMG)
MyoVision is an EMG device that is used to measure muscle contraction. It is a quick process that takes only 90 seconds for a chiropractor if the nervous system and the spine are working efficiently.
5. Therapeutic ultrasound
You might be thinking that ultrasounds are only performed for diagnosis, but surprisingly, it also has therapeutic benefits. An ultrasound heat can evenly provide a soothing massage to the affected spine area, immediately reduces stiffness and pain.
Ultrasound can also help in blood flow which eventually stimulates nutrients from the blood to reach the affected area and provide relief in pain. The increased blood flow reduces swelling and inflammation and muscle subside spasms.
7. Spinal Decompression Tables
Spinal decompression tables are specialized pieces of medical equipment that are used in spinal decompression therapy. This non-surgical, traction-based treatment seeks to relieve back pain and other related problems. The tables are meant to stretch the spine gently and create negative pressure in the intervertebral discs, which can help relieve nerve pressure and pain. Spinal decompression tables exist in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all use either motorized or manual traction to decompress the spine. This technique is frequently used to treat herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease.
Take Away
A wide range of chiropractic tools and equipment are being used by chiropractors nowadays and they have their go-to equipment at their fingertips for the provision of pain relief. Chiropractic tables, TENS and EMG therapies, cold lasers, and digital tools integration like EHR can play an important part in patient care and management practices efficiently.
If you are a chiropractor, streamline your practice by integrating such tools into your practice office. Many tools will not only help you in practice but significantly affect your revenue cycle management positively so you will not need to hire a chiropractic billing service agency or outsource a service.