Just as it is less common for patients to know that chiropractors treat the arms and hands, it is equally common for people to miss that the hip, knee, ankle and foot also fall under chiropractic care. In a recent study published in 2009 by Brantingham et al., 2009, the authors reviewed all the research to date that was relevant to chiropractic and treatment of the hips, knee, ankle and foot. The research is growing at an incredible rate and is an important part of chiropractic's role in healthcare.

The authors reported "The data demonstrate that most chiropractors, based upon their professional training, routinely diagnose and treat extremity conditions" (p54). They also state "Extremity treatment is the second most frequently applied procedure within the chiropractic profession, with 76.1% reportedly using spinal and extremity procedures as compared with 18.7% who limit their practice to the spine only". (p54).

The following chart will help you to see what conditions fell under the review of this research paper and how many studies there were related to a specific condition.

When it comes to your health, nothing is more important than your nervous system. That is why doctors of chiropractic will always screen your spine for evidence of Vertebral Subluxation while they are attending to problems in other areas of your body. If you are suffering with problems in your hips, knees, ankles or feet, chiropractic care has been shown to have positive effects on Symptoms and function. Consult with a local doctor of chiropractic today, you'll be glad you did.

Reference

James W. Brantingham, DC, PhD, Gary Globe, DG, MBA, PhD, Henry Pollard, DG, Marian Hicks, MSLS, Gharmaine Korporaal, MTech:Chiropractic and Wayne Hoskins, BGhSc, MGhiro MANIPULATIVE THERAPY FOR LOWER EXTREMITY CONDITIONS: EXPANSION OF LITERATURE REVIEW.J. Manipulative Physiol Ther 2009;32:53-71.