This type of chiropractic is a controversial topic. Some people love it, and some people hate it. People who have negative reactions may be expecting too much from chiropractic treatments that they are not able to achieve through this branch of chiropractic alone.
A chiropractor will adjust the spine, but that may not be enough to meet all of the goals that you have set for yourself. In this article, we will go more into detail on what integrative chiropractic is, how this type of chiropractic differs from regular chiropractic, what benefits people who are trying to be more healthy through integrative chiropractic, and the risks that this type of chiropractic might have.
What is an Integrative Chiropractic?
Integrative chiropractic is a branch of chiropractic that focuses on treating the whole person rather than only back pain. It is characterized as a more holistic approach to healthcare. To give you an idea of what holistic means, it can be defined as “whole; being complete or composed of many parts.”
The emphasis in integrative injections is to keep the body in balance. The treatment will include adjustments with gentle stretching, a form of massage that is performed on the joints and the soft tissue of the body. Some other treatments will include other forms of manual therapy, dietary and nutritional counseling, lifestyle modification, and exercise interventions.
There are many types of integrative chiropractic treatments that can help treat vertigo, depression, migraines, and stress-related problems. Because this form of chiropractic is a more holistic approach, it is stated that an integrative approach focuses on treating the underlying cause.
How This Type of Chiropractic Differs from Regular Chiropractic
Regular chiropractic focuses only on the spinal joint and neck. However, integrative chiropractic focuses on the whole wellness of the patient. Integrative chiropractic is focused on treating any pain that the patient might experience other than back pain.
Another main focus is to treat the spine and treat the body as a whole. In addition, integrative chiropractic focuses on helping with healthy living. Integrative doctors of chiropractic will work with patients and create a treatment plan that helps the patient achieve their goals to be more healthy.
This mainly entails proper exercise, nutrition, and a positive outlook on life. They want the patient to feel good about themselves and not let stress or self-esteem issues negatively impact their health. What Benefits can Patients gain from Integrative Chiropractic? Research has shown that not only does chiropractic help the spine but that it may also help relieve other problems.
The patient can gain many benefits from integrative chiropractic, such as better mental health and overall health. Integrative chiropractors believe that they are treating the cause of the problem and not just fixing a symptom or having pain. They are committed to helping individuals live a healthy lifestyle and accomplish their goals at all levels of wellness.
Common Additional Benefits that are associated with integrative chiropractic include:
- Decrease in pain and stiffness
- Increase in mobility and improving balance
- Better quality of life
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Reduced risk of back pain due to spinal manipulation/adjustments.
Risks that are associated with Integrative Chiropractic Does integrative chiropractic help or harm the patient? There are both short and long-term risks that are associated with applying manipulation to your spine. These risks include:
- Spinal subluxations can occur if you apply too much force or use improper alignment. Some people say that chiropractors may be more likely to cause these subluxations by applying less force.
- If you have a viral infection, you may be susceptible to cat scratch disease or even rabies.
- Some patients apply the wrong force, and it may cause injury to the soft tissue of the neck instead of just correcting the subluxation in your spine.
- You may experience muscle soreness when you first start having chiropractic treatments.
- You may also have difficulty getting pregnant after chiropractic treatment for infertility issues.
Again, this can occur because applying too much force can cause a uterine rupture. For the most part, chiropractic adjustments are considered safe and be helpful. They may seem scary because they are not commonly performed, but they have been proven effective, and you can trust that your doctor of chiropractic will do everything in their power to help you achieve your wellness goals.
The bottom line is that integrative chiropractic focuses on working with the whole body and helping achieve the patient’s goals at all levels of health. It is a safe, simple way to achieve health and well-being. To get more information about integrative chiropractic, contact us today at 205-637-1363.
