10 Researched Benefits of Chiropractic

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chiropractic

10 Researched Benefits of Chiropractic 

According to the World Health Organization, chiropractic care is “a health care profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.” In other words, chiropractic adjustments not only alleviate pain as it relates to the central nervous system and muscles, it also treats and prevents systemic problems from impacting your quality of life.  The research on benefits of chiropractic care is growing.

Chiropractic care is the most sought after form of natural (non-medical) health care in the world.  A large percentage of cancer survivors alone seek chiropractic procedures to improve their quality of life from alleviating pain, mood, stress and improving sleep habits (1).  Here are some of the top benefits of chiropractic people experience everyday.

chiropractic

1. Improves Sports Performance

Doctors of Chiropractic can effectively treat common sports related injuries such as muscle strains, tennis elbow, pelvic sprains, and even diagnosis concussions (2). Sports specific chiropractors focus on relieving pressure in the joints, soft tissue and typical spinal adjusting techniques to prevent injuries and increasing recovery times comparable to strength training.

All athletes and non-athletes alike can learn from chiropractors the proper technique for playing a game of basketball and minimizing muscle fatigue for example or how to exercise with limited unnecessary pressure on the body. (3)

Whether you have a child participating in gymnastics or you are an avid runner or a participant in the Olympics, chiropractic care improves sports performance by increasing mobilization, eye-hand coordination, dexterity and balance.  Chiropractic also reduces both the number of injuries during a game, the severity of injuries and the rehabilitation period.

chiropractic

2. Chiropractic Alleviates Headaches

Headache disorders not only adversely affect our health but they also impact our society by influencing our ability to concentrate and work effectively. Chronic headaches can result from the abnormal positioning of the head and can be worsened from neck pressure and movement. Chiropractic treatment removes obstructing structures whether it may be from the distant tightening of knots in the back causing strain on spine or an anatomical abnormality such as abnormal curvature to the spinal cord. (4)

Chiropractic treatment can reduce the duration of headaches, lower their intensity when they do occur and limit the frequency of their occurrence all together.

3. Stimulates the Immune System

The nervous system is in direct function with the immune system and our overall health. Ideally, the pathways of nerves from the central nervous system require open communication with the immune system to help the body heal and repair itself properly. Chiropractic care removes any roadblocks which obstruct the lines of communication so that the body can grow and develop and be positively influenced from an optimal immune system (5).

Although mostly anecdotal evidence suggests, it is reported that children who have chiropractic treatment regularly have fewer infections and are less stricken with the common cold or flu. Down to the DNA level, chiropractic care boost immunity by enabling the body to function at its maximum potential without any foreign assistance from medications and surgery.

chiropractic

4. Chiropractic For Wellness and Prevention

Chiropractors seek to treat conditions and diseases to improve the major symptoms of concern as well as to treat underlying problems and other systemic complications which may arise. Decompression techniques and spinal care can alleviate these concerns with no known side effects and also improve the hours which an individual is able to sleep (5).

Gastrointestinal Issues: Many illnesses and diseases affect our quality of life by influencing our dependence for medications, our obesity rates and longevity. Some of the most common conditions and diseases which negatively affect all ages within our society today are gastrointestinal complaints.

Colic, chronic constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and heartburn may be detected in infants to older adults and has likely affected you at some point in your life. The most prevalent condition worldwide is irritable bowel syndrome. (2, 5)

Cancer: Cancer patients seek chiropractic care for improved wellness care and prevention through education. One of the first signs of undiagnosed cancer is musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction as well as headaches and overall wellness and improved immunity.

Chiropractic care helps to reduce stress on the body and improves the immune system function.  Some cancer patients have also shown to respond better to natural treatments like chiropractic care as opposed to conventional therapies and medication. (6)

chiropractic

5. Reduces Allergies and Asthma

Although much greater documentation and studies are required to support the benefits of chiropractic treatment in improving allergies and allergy related conditions such as asthma, chiropractors and parents alike believe that children can benefit from chiropractic treatment.

In what limited studies do exist, chiropractic treatment improved symptoms of asthma including the use of medication, fewer asthma attacks and an increased quality of life due to the lessening of overall symptoms reported by patients (2).

6. Chiropractic and Pregnancy

Chiropractic care may be used to assist in making a woman’s pregnancy as comfortable as possible and increasing the likelihood of an uncomplicated labor and delivery. Throughout pregnancy, women experience back pain resulting from the changing weight distribution on the pelvis and joints. This results in pain, muscle spasms and also increases the possibility which severe back pain will affect the woman during labor.

A chiropractor’s primary focus during pregnancy is to balance the pelvis, muscles and ligaments and relieve pressure on the uterus. As a result, chiropractic care assists the fetus in being born in a preferable position and reduces the chances of a needed cesarean section. Reportedly, 72% of women report relief from pain during pregnancy and labor when receiving chiropractic treatments. (7)

Women learn how to regularly follow an exercise routine suitable for her abilities which limits weight gain, relieves stress hormones, better enables her to sleep more comfortably and possibly enjoy a faster recovery time following pregnancy.

7. Reduces Chronic Pain

In the United States and Canada, low back pain is the most common occupational injury and affects more than 10% of the population globally. Low back pain is the number 6 ranked reason as it relates to medical cost in North America alone and this cost rises annually (8). Compared to conventional medical management procedures, chiropractic care is not only relatively low fee but improves the healing of the entire body.

Chiropractors do not only seek to remove the cause of the pain, but doctors of chiropractic also focus on education. Education is critical to limiting work related injuries, disability, cost of care, side effects and chiropractic treatment is also a patient preference in providing relief from chronic pain (8).

8. Behavioral and Learning Disabilities

The most common type of natural care received by pediatric patients is chiropractic. Chiropractic treatment can improve wellness and has been suggested to improve symptoms of hyperactivity and disruptive behavior linked to ADHD and learning disabilities associated with autism.  Additionally, because it boosts immune function, it helps prevent childhood illnesses, fevers, colds and flu’s.

Scientific evidence supports that chiropractic care relieves learning and behavioral problems by increasing a child’s ability to concentrate and it also treats irritability and mood swings. (9)

learning disorders, Chiropractic Improves Sensory & Learning Disorders

9. Reduces Dependence on Medication

Along with a rise in health care costs, there has also been a steady increase in patients seeking spinal related treatment by 65% over an 8 year period (10). An estimated 96% of individuals with chronic low back pain issues can be treated non-surgically.

Many symptoms of subluxation, or the misalignment of the spine which chiropractic focuses on adjusting, include headaches, migraines, mood disorders and chronic pain in all areas of our body. What is the first line of treatment which most individuals seek out to provide relief for these concerns? Over the counter and prescription medicine.

Unlike medicine, chiropractic treatment can treat all of these issues which we seek to hide with synthetic drugs. The U.S. FDA (Federal Drug Administration) reports serious injuries and deaths relating to drug use with terrifying annual statistics reaching tens of thousands (11).

Again, unlike chiropractic care, drugs have adverse side effects in young adults because most drugs have unintended consequences due to their lack of clinical testing. The Chief of Pediatrics at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Dr. Joseph Wiley, is quoted with saying “If you extrapolate from an adult dose to a pediatric dose, you may be right…you may be wrong.” (11)

10. Normalizes Blood Pressure

Hypertension affects one in every three Americans, the majority of which use medication to manage the condition. Various studies show that chiropractic care most significantly controls blood pressure in patients. Individuals in clinical trials have shown to have a drop in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings following a chiropractic adjustment (12).

Other studies show that chiropractic care has the same health benefits in regulating blood pressure as do two commonly prescribed medications have when used in combination. Patients with low blood pressure or hypotension have also shown to have their blood pressure reach normal range following chiropractic treatments.

Although the underlying mechanisms are not entirely certain, researchers postulate that the focus on the Atlas or top of the bone in the neck significantly impacts the regulation of blood pressure due to its proximity to the brain stem. (11)

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Sources for this Article Include:

1. Kang DH, McArdle T, and Suh Y. Changes in Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use Across Cancer Treatment and Relationship to Stress, Mood, and Quality of Life. J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Nov; 20(11): 853-859. PMCID: 4238248
2. Salehi A, et al. Chiropractic: Is it Efficient in Treatment of Diseases? Review of Systematic Reviews. Int J Community based Nurs Midwifery. 2015 Oct; 3(4): 244-254. PMCID: 4591574
3. Chris J, Hoskins W, and Vitiello AL. Sports chiropractic management at the World Ice Hockey Championships. Chiropr Osteopat. 2010; 18: 32. PMCID: 3003671
4. Chaibi A, et al. Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a study protocol of a single-blinded placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. PMCID: 4679711
5. Kanga I, and Steiman I. Chiropractic management of a patient with breast cancer metastases to the brain and spine: a case report. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2015 Sep;59(3):269-78. PMCID: 4486990
6. Angus, K, Asgharifar S, Gleberzon B. What effect does chiropractic treatment have on gastrointestinal (GI) disorders: a narrative review of the literature. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2015 Jun; 59(2):122-133. PMCID: 4593033
7. Borggren CL. Pregnancy and chiropractic: a narrative review of the literature. J Chiropr Med. 2007; 6(2): 70-74. PMCID: 2647084
8. Blanchette MA, et al. Effectiveness and economic evaluation of chiropractic care for the treatment of low back pain: a systematic review protocol. Syst Rev. 2015; 4:30. PMCID: 4369074
9. Karpouzis F, Bonello R, and Pollard H. Chiropractic care for pediatric and adolescent Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review. Chiropr Osteopat. 2010; 18:13. PMCID: 2891800
10. Whedon JM, et al. Beyond spinal manipulation: should Medicare expand coverage for chiropractic services? A review and commentary on the challenges for policy makers. J Chiropr Humanit. 2013 Dec; 20(1): 9-18. PMCID: 4111075
11. Dr. Tripp: Health & Wellness Article Library Link Here
12. McMasters KL, et al. Blood pressure changes in African American patients receiving chiropractic care in a teaching clinic: a preliminary study. J Chiropr Med. 2013 Jun; 12(2): 55-59. PMCID: 3730295

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  1. I didn’t realize how beneficial a chiropractor could because they don’t only seek to remove the pain but to educate their clients as well. There seems to be many benefits and it doesn’t look like a person has to wait for some traumatic injury to make an appointment. My husband has many co workers who have lots of back pains and I wonder if it would be good for them to go to a chiropractor.

    1. Time and again I have seen so many people get help through chiropractic care with all kinds of ailments! I would highly encourage you to refer your husband’s coworkers to a good chiropractor in your area.

  2. I have recently moved and the completely new environment has caused me allergies. I have never thought that a chiropractor could help with my allergy issue. I will definitely have to consult with my chiropractor about this. Thank you so much for the insight.

  3. You wrote that when you get proper chiropractic care, it can help relieve neck pressure and alleviate headaches. I’ve been suffering with some rather annoying headaches, and have been looking for a way to deal with it. Being able to get rid of my headaches, and also getting my body better aligned could really improve the quality of my life overall. Thanks for the great ideas.

  4. I am currently 7 months pregnant, and although we are so excited to be having a baby, it has been a very difficult pregnancy. I am a very petite person, so gaining so much weight from the baby has really made me uncomfortable. It’s interesting how you point out that throughout pregnancy, women experience back pain due to the changing weight distribution on the pelvis and joints. That explains how I am feeling perfectly! I hadn’t even thought of visiting a chiropractor, but if they can help me feel relief I am totally open to seeing one.

    1. Jen,

      Yes this is something that can be overlooked sometimes! Carrying a child, although a beautiful and amazing act of life, can be strenuous on the body of the mother. Seeing a chiropractor can be helpful, especially one that is specialized in pediatric care!

  5. As an avid climber I always have different aches and pain within my shoulders and even back sometimes. After regular quarterly visits to my chiropractor I’ve gotten more mobility and feel stronger than ever! Regular visits are a must for really active people!

  6. I get migraines all the time, and I’m concerned about the amount of medicine I’m using to try to get rid of them. It’d be nice to find a more natural way of getting rid of them. So I like how you point out that chiropractic treatments can make them less intense and make them not last as long. I’ll have to find a chiropractor to go to and try that method to make my migraines more manageable.

  7. That is so awesome that visiting a chiropractor could help improve allergies and asthma. That is something I have been wanting to get rid of for years. If it can be improved by going to a chiropractor then I would love to schedule an appointment with one.

  8. I had no idea that you could use chiropractic services to normalize blood pressure. This is a great way to make sure that you are getting rid of low blood pressure or hypo-tension. My uncle would love knowing this as he looks for a chiropractic service that is similar.

  9. My sister has been facing a lot of back pain these past few months because of her pregnancy and the added weight to the front of her body. I am so glad that I found this article because I did not realize that a chiropractor will help her to balance this weight and decrease her pain. Also, the fact that this balancing will help the child be born in the right position would take a lot of stress off of my sister and give her peace of mind. I will make sure to share this information with her!

  10. If chiropractors can help treat or at least reduce my chronic back pain, I might be able to walk properly again. I do like that they can they can reduce allergies and asthma as you mentioned which means that I can breathe properly after an appointment with a chiropractor. Since you mentioned that their adjustments stimulate the immune system, I might consider going to a chiropractor for a session to treat my issues.

  11. I had no idea that chiropractic care can be really beneficial. It’s nice to know that a chiropractic treatment could help reduce the duration of headaches. This seems really important especially if you find yourself having a headache for hours or even days.

  12. Thanks for pointing out that chiropractic care may be used to assist in making a woman’s pregnancy as comfortable as possible and increasing the likelihood of an uncomplicated labor and delivery. My back has been killing me ever since I entered my third trimester and I think it might be smart to look into chiropractors near me to see who can help. I think it would help me keep living my life normally for a little bit longer and help me be more comfortable overall which would be nice.

  13. You made a great point about how misalignments can cause some problems when healing from an injury. As a bodybuilder, it’s been normal for me to regularly feel sore but there are days when I just feel like my soreness doesn’t feel typical. Maybe I should look into chiropractic care to see if there’s something that can be done.

  14. My sister has been suffering from chronic back pain. Because of that, she’d like to consider seeing a chiropractor for treatment. It’s good to know that chiropractic care improves the healing of the stressed body, which is exactly what my sister needs.

  15. My dad got into an accident last month, and this caused tremendous damage to his back, which is why we’re currently looking for chiropractic service. Well, it’s great to learn that this type of treatment is beneficial in terms of improving sleep habits. I also never knew that it can also help reduce the duration of the headache.

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