Foundations Final Chiropractic Exam Questions with 100% Correct Solutions

What is a doctor of chiropractic? - doctors of chiropractic are the health care professionals for the diagnosis, care, and prevention of disorders of the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system. What is the focus of the doctor of chiropractic? - the doctor of chiropractic focuses on maintaining proper spinal function and its relationship to the nervous system and patient health and well being What is the connection between the spine and the nervous system? - -chiropractic is based on the premise that the NS functions to control and coordinates all organs and structures o the body, and relates the individual to the enviroment -the spinal column protects the spinal cord, which is an extension of the brain and is part of the CNS -because of the close relationship between the spine and the NS, abnormal or dysfunctional spinal can adversely impact nerve function affecting the communication between the brain and the body -as a result, inaccurate or incomplete messages may be delivered to the brain patients typically visit a doctor of chiropractic for musculoskeletal conditions. explain this - chiropractic services are used most often to care for musculoskeletal compaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches what are the major causes of musculoskeletal conditions? - these musculoskeletal conditions are increasingly the result of poor posture, workplace and sports-related injuries, motor vehicle accidents or simply sedentary lifestyles. explain the objective of the specialized chiropractic exam - the doctor of chiropractic examines for disturbed spinal biomechanics and restricted joint motion and will examine these joints whether they are painful or not. Joints can have disturbed biomechanics and restricted motion with or without the symptoms of pain explain the effects of restricted spinal motion or disturbed joint mechanics - joints can have disturbed biomechanics and restricted motion resulting in... -reduce optimal performance -alter load distribution -increase risk of injury -accelerate degeneration these effects of disturbed joint mechanics may be present with or without the symptoms of pain explain relationship of disturbed spinal motion and the concept of subluxation - doctors of chiropractic often refer to this restricted or disturbed spinal joint mechanics and its associated characteristics as subluxation or vertebral subluxation complex. Subluxation is described as a loss of vertebral joint motion or position that may adversely affect proper nerve function. What is the chiropractic adjustment - the doctor of chiropractic seeks to address this condition of restricted or disturbed joint function through the chiropractic adjustment -an adjustment is when the chiropractor applies a specifically directed force to a joint to restore motion when the bodys own muscles cannot. Adjustments help relieve pain as well as, restore and maintain normal movement, biomechanics, and function. What are the clinical indicators for a chiropractic adjustive intervention? - -Pain or tenderness -Asymmetry or alignment -altered Range of motion -tissue changes in and around the affected area -special tests to include orthopedic, neurological testing or X-ray may also be required doctors of chiropractic.... - -identify dysfunctional joints through the examination of the spine and other parts of the musculoskeletal system -provide adjustments to help restore normal biomechanics and minimize the adverse effects on the NS function -seek to optimize joint function to reduce the risk of future problems or injuries Goals of chiropractic care? - the goal of care is to optimize health, to include pain relief, tissue healing, and restoration of joint function, and help people feel great and functioning at their optimal potential The Patient May Inquire: I am not having back or neck pain; why would I benefit from a visit to a chiropractor? - "Symptoms don't tell the whole story." A patient may have the characteristics of disturbed joint mechanics, that include reduced optional joint performance, accelerated Joint degeneration, that may bring an increased risk of joint injury, and the patient may not yet experience the subjective symptoms of pain." The Patient May Inquire Following the Report of Findings, "Why so many visits required?" How do you respond when the patient asks why the DC's case management plan calls for multiple visits? - "each individual patient is unique and the response to care may vary. -it may require a varying amount of time and repeated adjustments to restore function. -also, pain relief doesn't mean tissues have healed nor that function is restored as it.. -it often takes more time for tissues to fully heal than for pain relief to resolve -further, it may take more time to restore function than it takes for tissues to heal -for these reasons, we recommend beginning with a trial of chiropractic adjustments, with an evaluation following each visit to monitor the patient response to care. What is meant by restoring function in the context of chiropractic care? - restoring function means... -a return to perform everyday work and activities -improved range of motion, flexibility, stability, strength and coordination What are examples of the documented benefits of chiropractic care? - -relief from back and neck pain -relief from headaches -relief from pregnancy-related backache -correction of hip, gait, and foot problems -improved flexibility, stability, balance and coordination -prevention of work related muscle and joint injuries -improved function and ability to better perform the activities of daily living What evidence exists for demonstrating a role for chiropractic care outside the domain of neuromusculoskeletal conditions? restated: What does the science say regarding chiropractic care and non-musculoskeletal disorders? - reasearch studies have suggested that chiropractic adjustments can trigger changes in the body that area as varied as: -improved or altered visual acuity and visual field size -reduced joint position sense error -altered brain processing -changes in the way that our brain integrates sensory and motor information -altered spinal cord reflex excitability