Perhaps, it is time modern man came to terms with his lifestyle and turned to alternative therapies like Chiropractic or Homeopathy. This was the refrain of a practitioner of Chiropractic or ‘Practicose’ (technique) by the ‘chiro’ (hand) that believes ‘Everything can be controlled by correction of nervous system’.

Massage is not the main aspect of the therapy. Basically, a chiropractor may use his hand to give an impact to the special part (the patient’s body adjusts and is released from pain) or he may use his own body in a twisting manipulation to remove the subluxations. The period of treatment depends on the patient’s muscle tone and body weight, and may last from one sitting to over three weeks or even three months.

The age of the patient is also crucial. Therefore, a step by step trial method may be used,states Chiropractor Dr. Tae Hee, who has been practicing the therapy in Pune for a year now. He has been a Chiropractor for the last 25 years, and has a clinic in Korea too.

Is the human body custom built?
We must learn to respect our body, counsels Dr. Hee. Our body structure is naturally well–balanced. It is designed for walking and lying down, and not for sitting. Most people in cities suffer from occupational backache.

“While sitting on a chair, we tend to keep our right leg above the left leg which causes physical changes in the pelvis and the cervical region”, he points out, adding: “Such structural problems can be corrected without medicines”.

“Nowadays, people have backaches because we go against nature”, stresses Dr. Hee. Like other alternative therapies emphasize exercise and a proper diet, Chirotherapy does the same, but its foundation is in correcting the body’s equilibrium. That is why it is also known as manipulative therapy. Since every disease is connected to the vertebrae, informs Dr. Tae Hee, many diseases can be prevented by it.

The area of focus of Chiropractic therapy is the nervous system, but knowledge of yoga, acupuncture, food therapy and meditation is also beneficial, reveals Dr. Hee: “All alternative therapies are limited if we do not combine and use their plus points together with allopathic medicine”. Dr. Hee employs a combination of Chiropractic with Acupressure and Reiki meditation to treat his patients.

He laments, most Indians are not aware of what the therapy is all about. In the US, Chiropractors work side by side with allopathic doctors. “In India, in spite of a culture that is conducive to alternative therapy, doctors don’t offer patients a choice”, he bemoans.

Many obese people, diabetics, and people suffering from skin diseases come to us after a long time of suffering or after surgery, he divulges. The therapy is not applied to people who have already undergone surgery, he adds.


Using physiotherapy to relieve back pain
Although physiotherapy is considered a post–operative therapy, it could be used to relieve even common back pain through a range of physical methods. Generally, backache may persist due to nerve impingement. If we don’t heed our body’s warning signals, the condition could become severe and a part of our everyday life.

Physiotherapist Dr. Moushumi Kuvawala prefers to settle for natural therapy rather than use electrical modalities or prescribing pain killers to treat her patients. “Only if the patient has an acute inflammation of the foot, do I prescribe pain killers, or if he cannot stand or exercise, I use short–wave diathermy”, Dr. Kuvawala says.

Normally, manual therapy entails zeroing in on the area of tightness along the spine and mobilizing it. A regimen of physical exercises are prescribed to sustain the after–effects of manual therapy.

“All arthritic changes applying to the back are applicable to the neck as well”,
informs Dr. Kuvawala. Not all painful conditions are posture–related. In case of recurring radiation (pins and needles sensation), shooting pains or spasms, it is better to consult one’s doctor, she cautions.

The Roots Of Ill–health
A doctor must be a good listener, and query the patient about his daily routine. “The reasons behind the patient’s illness could be somatopsychic or psychosomatic”, states Homeopath Dr. Supriya More. Therapies differ from patient to patient. X–rays are essential in the evaluation and help in ascertaining whether pain is due to a thoracic change or a change in the position of the disc. It is after proper assessment that a “Constitutional remedy” is prescribed. According to Dr. More, a skillful homeopathic massage can work wonders where allopathic pain killers can’t.

Habits die hard
An important co–factor to fitness is proper dietary habits. “Eat simple food. Avoid finishing your dinner with desserts and ice creams everyday,” suggests Chiropractor Tu Kyong Wu. Excess food is poisonous as it weakens ligaments and muscles and if not digested properly, leads to obesity. Obesity can cause pain in joints.

Homeopath Dr. More insists people do exactly what they like. The downside is that many give up treatment half way, she asserts, something Chiropractor Tu Kyong Wu agrees with.

Physiotherapist Moushumi Kuvawala’s suggestions for a good posture

In the office

Try staying physically fit. The flabbier your abdominal muscles get, the more pressure it puts on your back Sit with a good back rest, with your thighs flat and well supported on the chair and feet flat on ground Keeping a very stiff/straight back is not advisable. Get up and walk around occasionally

At home

It is always advisable to change your posture to prevent recurrence of pain while doing the same activity While picking up something heavy, bring it closer to the body and lift it with slightly bent knees Rather than standing in a stooped position over the kitchen platform, try dividing your work, and use the dining table or kitchen table for cutting vegetables If you have to work at the kitchen platform continuously, take a break in between. This will take pressure off the strained muscle for some time and strengthen it