TOP 9 CHIROPRACTIC BENEFITS
About 4.5 million Canadians visit a Chiropractor each year. The most common reasons that people visit a Chiropractor is to treat headaches and reduce pain in the neck and back. However there are many benefits of chiropractic care that you may not be aware of. This article goes over some of the top benefits of Chiropractic care. Of course number 1 on the list isn’t a surprise!
1. Back pain & Neck pain
The most commonly known benefit of Chiropractic care is of course pain relief. Numerous studies have shown that Chiropractic is one of the most effective treatments for back and neck pain beating out other treatment options. A recent study published on neck pain showed that people receiving Chiropractic adjustments had faster recovery times then those receiving care from a physiotherapist or a family doctor. Similarly studies done on back pain have consistently show that Chiropractic patients have better outcomes in pain, disability and overall satisfaction than those patients receiving another types of care. The reason that Chiropractic adjustments are so effective in removing pain is because they target the root of problem. Frequently spinal pain is caused by improper movement of the spine. This improper movement in the spine leads to nerve irritation, inflammation, an increase in stress hormones and muscle spasm. By correcting the alignment and movement in the spine Chiropractic adjustments will overtime correct nerve irritation, decrease inflammation & stress hormones in the body and allow muscles to function properly.
2. Headaches
90% of the headaches that people experience are either tension headaches or migraine headaches. Both of which can be treated successfully with adjustments by a Chiropractor. There are very few types of treatments that can initiate the relief of headaches without the use of medications like Chiropractic can. Headaches are possibly one of the most researched conditions when it comes to Chiropractic. With over 200 peer reviewed articles examining Chiropractic adjustments and headache treatment, Chiropractic has been shown to significantly reduce the onset and pain intensity of both migraines and tensions type headaches.
3. Improved Posture
In today’s technology driven world it is common not only for adults but also for kids and teenagers to be sitting or sedentary for the majority of the day. This has many negative implications not only for posture but for overall health which is why sitting is often referred to as “ the new smoking”. The good new is that postural changes can be corrected and future changes can be prevented with care and advice from a Chiropractor. There are a few case studies that show significant improvement in “slouchy posture” after a chiropractic treatment plan that involves both Chiropractic adjustments and specific postural exercises. These postural improvements also correspond with improvement in gait and running patterns. Chiropractic adjustments can improve posture because adjustments improve joint mobility, spinal alignment and help restore normal reflexes in the spine.
4. Healthy Pregnancy
Chiropractic care not only reduces aches and pains during pregnancy it also creates a state of balance in the pelvic bones, ligaments and muscles. Evidence shows that this state of balance makes pregnancy and labor easier. Creating this balance also offers your baby more room to move into the best possible position for birth. For example chiropractic adjustments can encourage a breech baby to move into a head down position. In addition chiropractic care reduces interference in your nervous system giving you more power and stamina during the labor process. This generally decreases the need for intervention. After your baby is born Chiropractic care can help speed recovery, relieve postpartum pains and prevent the occurrence of pain in the future.
5. Improved Athletic Performance
Because Chiropractic adjustments help to eliminate back and neck pain, improve posture, gait and running patterns they can also improve athletic performance. Chiropractic adjustments have also been shown to reduce recovery times , enhance pulmonary function, relieve muscle tension and boost the immune system. It is a combination of all these things that can help improve athletic performance. This is why many professional athletes turn to Chiropractic.
6. Children: Ear Infections & Colic
Ear Infections
Results of a study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics showed that close to 80% of children with chronic ear infections did not experience another ear infection for 6 months following their initial visit with a Chiropractor. Other studies have also shown a correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. Chiropractic adjustments are thought to improve middle ear drainage by improving the function of muscles within the ear. Ear infections are common when there is fluid accumulation in the middle ear that results in bacterial growth.
Colic
Over 26 articles have found that chiropractic adjustments helped greatly to reduce colic symptoms. One thought as to why Chiropractic adjustments help with colic symptoms is that babies may be crying because they are having pain that it originating from the spine.
7. Neurological conditions
There is some evidence that suggests Chiropractic care can help with conditions related to the central nervous system ( brain & spinal cord ). These conditions include; multiple sclerosis & epilepsy. The benefits are thought to be attributed to increased cerebral spinal fluid and blood flow to the brain after Chiropractic neck adjustments as show on MRI scans.
8. Improved Immune function
Chiropractic adjustments on the spine help to remove nerve or nervous system irritation allowing the nervous system to function better. The nervous system and the immune system are very interconnected. Therefore it is thought that by adjusting the spine and improving the function of the nervous system the function of the immune system is also improved. Therefore immune related conditions such as allergies & asthma as well as a person’s ability to fend off or recover from an infection may also be improved. The research is preliminary but does show that after an adjustment there is a reduction in the amount of pro-inflammatory markers and an increase in immune cells that help the immune system fight off viruses and bacteria. In addition long term studies show that the Chiropractic patients under regular care take less sick days, less medications and live longer than those that are not under Chiropractic care.
9. Arthritis and degenerative disc disease
Chiropractic care is very effective at managing the symptoms/pain related to arthritis and degenerative disc disease. In addition Chiropractic adjustments can help prevent these types of degenerative changes in the spine from progressing any further. This is because adjustments help to promote proper joint movement. Proper joint movement will reduce the amount of friction in a joint as well is improving the flow of nutrition to the joint surface.
There are many other specific conditions that can be helped with Chiropractic. If you have any questions or are curious about Chiropractic please contact the clinic and we will be more than happy to help you!