With preventive and maintenance care, the goals are to prevent future problems from developing or at least to minimize their magnitude. For example, chiropractic care can prevent spinal degeneration and atrophy of body parts. Preventive care can prevent microtraumas from accumulating and can minimize future damage from injury. Other goals of chiropractic care are to educate people about natural ways of taking care of themselves, teaching them good health habits, and referring them to other health care practitioners when appropriate. Chiropractors aim to enhance the health of the whole person, not just specific symptoms or conditions.
Chiropractic adjustments reverse all three causes of pain.
In addition, hot and cold packs and massage facilitate pain relief. Herbs, food supplements and homeopathic remedies help decrease inflammation and swelling, thereby alleviating pain. Often, when first injured, people apply heat, which feels good but aggravates their condition. When in doubt, apply ice for two days. When we talk about joint function, we mean being able to move a body part freely in all directions, with no pain or stiffness or other adverse symptoms.