Pain relief doesn’t just come in the form of a pill. Each year, nearly 22 million Americans visit chiropractors to treat their pain instead of taking medication.1 Though chiropractic care is a proven natural pain relief method, the benefits go far beyond that.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is focused on diagnosing, treating and preventing neuromusculoskeletal disorders and the negative effects they have on quality of life and overall health.2
Chiropractic care fundamentally embraces the body’s innate ability to heal itself, and it’s the chiropractor’s job to take actions that promote and facilitate this natural healing process.
Chiropractors must earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree, pass an exam and obtain a license before they begin practicing in the field.3 Some chiropractors go into general practice, while others choose specialties like pediatrics or sports injuries.
A chiropractor may combine hands-on spinal manipulation with complementary wellness treatments, such as acupuncture, deep tissue massage, nutritional counseling and physical therapy.
Why Get a Chiropractic Adjustment?
A healthy body requires a healthy spine. If something is out of alignment within the nervous or musculoskeletal systems, it can throw your health off balance, causing illness and pain.
A chiropractor can help fix imbalances caused by:
- Inflammation
- Joint damage
- Osteoporosis and other forms of bone degeneration
- Spinal misalignment from poor posture
- Vertebral misalignment due to injury
Chiropractic Care Risks
Chiropractic care is safe when performed by a licensed chiropractor. Serious complications from chiropractic adjustments are rare, but may include:
- Herniated disk
- Nerve compression
- Vertebral artery dissection (stroke)
You’re more likely to experience complications if you have serious health conditions, such as cancer, limb numbness or severe osteoporosis.4
Chiropractic Care Benefits
Chiropractic adjustments aren’t just for people suffering from back or neck pain. They’ve been linked to improvements in:
- Athletic performance – What do NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and tennis great
Venus Williams have in common? They’re among the estimated 90 percent of world-class athletes who use chiropractic adjustments to prevent injuries and increase performance.5 Chiropractic care can boost the immune system, enhance pulmonary function, relieve muscle tension and increase energy levels – all important advantages for athletes.6 - Blood pressure – Chiropractic care has been shown to improve both high and low blood pressure. A study in the Human Journal of Hypertension showed one adjustment had the same effect as two blood pressure-lowering drugs, and the results lasted more than six months.7 Similar improvements have been seen in patients with low blood pressure.
- Headaches – Chiropractic care is often a preferred method of headache relief for patients who don’t want to take medicine long term. There are dozens of studies highlighting the beneficial effects of chiropractic adjustments on headaches and migraines. One study showed that chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy reduced migraine frequency 33 percent from baseline to post-treatment, as compared to 22 percent in patients taking a nerve pain medication.8
- Surgery prevention – Chiropractic care is considered a natural alternative to back surgery for certain patients. One article in the Journal of the American Medical Association recommended chiropractic adjustments among other non-surgical options before resorting to surgery.9
Preparing for Chiropractic Care
No special preparation is required before your first chiropractic adjustment. During your visit, your chiropractor will ask about your health history, perform a physical exam and may recommend other exams, such as an X-ray.
During the adjustment, you will be placed in different positions to treat targeted problem areas. You will likely lay face down on a padded table, and your chiropractor will use their hands to apply force to a joint. Don’t be alarmed if you hear popping or cracking – your joints may make those sounds as they’re being adjusted.
Be prepared to fit chiropractic adjustments into your schedule. Depending on the severity of the condition your chiropractor is treating, you may need multiple adjustments per week over a few months, with visits becoming less frequent as symptoms improve.10
Compassionate Chiropractic Care in Sarasota, FL
Chiropractic treatment can be a natural long-term solution to optimize spinal health and overall quality of life. The team at Dees Integrative Health has the experience to help you improve your health through compassionate, non-invasive chiropractic care. We offer customized programs designed to treat the whole you. Call 941.552.6686 today to schedule your appointment.
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Important Links –
1 https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/chiropractic-pain-relief#1
2 http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/traditional/Chiro-Guidelines.pdf
3 https://study.com/become_a_chiropractor.html
4 https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/chiropractic-adjustment/about/pac-20393513
5 https://allamericanhealthcare.net/5-ways-athletes-benefit-from-chiropractic-care/
6 https://draxe.com/10-researched-benefits-chiropractic-adjustments/
8 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10194-011-0296-6#Tab3
9 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1681414
10 https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-often-do-i-need-chiropractic-adjustments.htm