Over 20 million people visit chiropractors every year to deal with a variety of health issues. Chiropractic care is one of the most common ways for people to find relief from back pain, and it has a lot of other benefits. If you’re suffering from any type of pain or health problems related to your joints or muscles, you might be able to find relief by visiting a chiropractor.
Chiropractors manipulate the body’s muscle and skeletal structure with hands-on therapeutic techniques. They usually receive their training at a four-year chiropractic school, and the initials “DC” identify them as licensed chiropractors.
One of the theories in chiropractic science is that the body is more capable of healing itself when the bones and muscles are in proper alignment, and this is especially true when the spine is involved. This type of therapy offers a natural, non-invasive solution without the drawbacks of pain medications and surgeries.
Chiropractors can enable the body to heal joints that have lost their function because of injuries, repetitive stress on the job or poor posture. These therapies provide pain relief for aching joints, muscles and connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. In some cases, patients also use medications along with their chiropractic treatments to completely relieve pain.
Benefits of chiropractic care
The most well-known benefit of chiropractic treatment is relief from neck and lower back pain. Around 80 percent of Americans suffer from this pain at some point in their lives. Surgical procedures for this type of problem comes with risks, and medications can be addictive and have other side effects. Chiropractors offer a more natural remedy with fewer risks.
Another common pain problem is sciatica which is a pain that radiates from the lower back down through the legs along the sciatic nerve. Sciatica is usually caused by an abnormal curvature of the spine, and it can lead to problems in motion, posture and sometimes even breathing difficulties. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to successfully treat this problem.
People who suffer from frequent headaches can often find relief with chiropractic care. Headaches are the second-most common ailment that chiropractors treat. Migraines and tension headaches often result from spinal issues and misalignment problems in the back. Chiropractors can solve back problems to prevent muscle tension that occurs in the back and spreads upward to cause headaches. Hundreds of studies provide evidence that chiropractic therapy provides relief for headaches.
A lot of muscle and joint pains are caused by inflammation when tissues become irritated to the point where motion is painful. Prolonged inflammation can also develop into worse problems such as heart disease or even cancer. By fixing alignment problems, chiropractors can reduce inflammation that is caused by anomalies of the back or other joints.
A less-known benefit of chiropractic care is relief from high blood pressure. Recent research has shown that these treatments can provide benefits that are similar to some medications for treating hypertension, and results last for several months after treatments. Blood pressure medications tend to have side effects such as dizziness, nausea, and anxiety, so drug-free chiropractic treatment is a good alternative for patients.
Another common problem that chiropractors treat is scoliosis. This disease often occurs in older people, and it is an abnormal curvature of the spine that causes problems such as poor posture, limited motion, pain and breathing problems. Chiropractic care is one of the only effective types of treatment for this disorder. A combination of chiropractic and physical therapy can halt the progression of scoliosis in some cases.
Neurological problems can also be treated by chiropractors. When back and neck problems decrease blood flow to the brain, it’s possible for some people to develop neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis or epilepsy. Treatments for spinal misalignment could possibly treat or prevent some of these conditions.
Another benefit of chiropractic care is for athletes who are looking to regain their peak performance. Sports often result in injuries to muscles and joints. Chiropractors can relieve pain and inflammation from these injuries and help athletes perform at their best.
Some people with dizziness and vertigo problems can be helped by a chiropractor. Head or neck injuries can lead to these symptoms. When a chiropractor fixes these problems, the symptoms often disappear.
Before you commit to surgery or a prescription for pain medication, consider a more natural risk-free solution without side effects. Chiropractic treatments can relieve your health problems and provide better performance and health as extra benefits. If you would like to speak with us about how our chiropractors can help you, call Integrative Chiropractic today at 205-637-1363.
