Chiropractic care is one of the most effective and safest forms of health care to treat pain due to spinal related conditions. (It’s so safe that children are encouraged to be seen by a Chiropractor to avoid future problems) Chiropractic is so effective because most causes of spinal disorders are related to abnormalities of the spine and the surrounding soft tissue structures. Doctors of Chiropractic are specifically trained to identify and treat subluxations (misalignments of the vertebrae) and their subsequent effect on the central nervous system. Anti-inflammatory medication and pain relievers merely mask the symptoms and have many undesirable side effects.
Back Pain
Get Up and Move!
Get up and move. As muscles tire, slouching, slumping, and other poor postures become more likely; this in turn puts extra pressure on the neck and back. In order to maintain a relaxed yet supported posture, change positions frequently. One way is to take a break from sitting in an office chair every half hour for two minutes in order to stretch, stand, or walk.
Myths and the Chiropractic Lifestyle
Like other types of doctors, chiropractors meet stringent licensing requirements, follow a strict code of ethics, and are approved by government agencies. Chiropractic is scientific. Specific technique protocols are used to locate malfunctioning areas of the spine. As sophisticated diagnostic equipment becomes more available, researchers are affirming what chiropractic doctors have known all along – chiropractic works!
Chiropractic adjustments make sense. Like lifting a heavy rock off your toe, most patients report their chiropractic adjustment feel good. When the bones of the spine return to a more normal motion and position, nervous system function can be restored, symptoms relieved, and the natural healing process can proceed.
Chiropractic is safe. Safer than back surgery, muscle relaxers, aspirin or ibuprofen. Even newborns and children can receive chiropractic care.
Continue as long as you want. Like regular dental checkups, once patients experience the value of chiropractic, many choose to continue. How long you decide to benefit from chiropractic care is always up to you. The truth is, chiropractic is a conservative, drug-free approach to better health that has helped millions of people since 1895.
Myths vs. Truth
Because of philosophical differences, misunderstandings and economic competition, countless myths have circulated about chiropractic. Chiropractic doctors are well educated. Based on contemporary research findings, improved technology and educational standards, more people are choosing chiropractic care every day.
The Chiropractic Lifestyle
Chiropractors are experts in the care of the bones, nerves, muscles and connective tissues that make up about 60% of you body. All of the joints in the body are part of this musculo-skeletal system and its optimal function is necessary for overall good health. Ask us for more information about a care program that may include specific spinal adjustments, exercise recommendations, nutritional advice or other conservative methods of care based on your health history, age current condition and lifestyle.
Chiropractic Care for Pregnancy
There are several benefits of chiropractic care for pregnant women. Visiting your chiropractor can help with some of the discomforts of pregnancy. The physical changes of pregnancy cause stress to the spine, and this contributes to back pain.
As labor approaches, the baby moves down into the pelvis. This can result in pain in the pelvic bone or at the bottom of the spine. Pelvic adjustments help bring the hips back into proper alignment, which relieves the pain. Many women are sent to the chiropractor by their health care provider if the baby is in a breech presentation. Chiropractic techniques can put the hips and pelvis in proper alignment, allowing the baby to turn. This can help women prevent a c section birth.
Does Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain Work?
Back pain is perhaps the most common reason for seeking chiropractic adjustment.
- For short-term back pain, some studies have shown that it can be as effective as or more effective than conventional treatment.
- For long-term back pain, a 2004 analysis published by the respected Cochrane Collaboration found that chiropractic adjustments were as good as other treatments like physical therapy, exercise or pain medication.
How Can Chiropractors Benefit Your Health?
Back and neck pain are the chief complaints for which patients seek chiropractic help. Through manual spinal manipulation, chiropractic care is a holistic therapy that focuses on maintaining healthy musculoskeletal and nervous systems to ensure overall wellness.
Effectiveness
The research about chiropractic care is growing. According to the Annals of Internal Medicine, recent studies show that spinal manipulative therapy performed by a chiropractor, along with exercise, relieve neck pain more effectively than medication.
Furthermore, the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported that an integrated approach to health care — including chiropractic care — results in a 51.8 percent reduction in pharmaceutical costs and 43 percent fewer hospital admissions.
You should consider seeing a chiropractor if you experience frequent pain in your back, neck or joints, as well as headaches. This is especially so if intense soreness follows accidents, household chores or prolonged periods of poor posture.