14 Benefits of Using a Chiropractor

Getting a chiropractic adjustment has become a respected, drug-free remedy that millions of people use for pain relief everyday. It is also a therapy that can keep your body and most importantly your immune system “tuned up” to avoid illness.

Yet, some people still consider chiropractic medicine a sham and refuse to acknowledge the many observational and scientific studies that prove otherwise. Others are concerned about the “cracking” noise associated with skeletal adjustments thinking that it is a potentially damaging process. Nothing can be further from the truth.

These 14 benefits of using a chiropractor show how correcting your body’s alignment safely relieves pain and allows the body to tap into its powerful ability to heal itself at the same time. Like any alternative remedy that does not utilize the lucrative, Big Pharma machine, chiropractic medicine offers you a way to improve your health without side-effects or invasive procedures.

A Quick History

Chiropractic medicine has a long history that dates back to its originator, Daniel David Palmer. Palmer performed the first spinal manipulation in 1895 on a 17 year deaf janitor claiming that his hearing was significantly improved after the adjustment.

The word ‘chiropractic’ comes from the Greek words cheir (meaning ‘hand’) and praktos (meaning ‘done’) which is translated as “done by hand”. The first licensing program was developed in 1913 and by 1931, 39 states gave chiropractors legal recognition.

Today, chiropractic medicine is worldwide with over 70,000 active licenses in the US alone.

A word on the cracking noise.

According to Harvard Medical School this noise that sounds like bones moving is explained,

“That distinctive noise is believed to be caused by the breaking of a vacuum or the release of a bubble into the synovial fluid, the clear, thick fluid that lubricates the spinal and other joints.”

Back Pain

Most people go to a chiropractor for back pain, namely low back challenges as this is one of the top most common reasons for a conventional doctor visit. However, instead of receiving strong pharmaceutical muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, pain killers and in some cases even anti-anxiety meds, a chiropractic adjustment may be all you need.

The Palmer College of Chiropractic reported of a 2017 JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) study which concluded that,

“The review examined randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and other published research since 2011 to determine the effectiveness and safety of SMT [spinal manipulative therapy] for low back pain patients. Researchers found that spinal manipulation was associated with statistically significant improvements in pain and function for up to six weeks with no serious adverse side effects.”

Headaches

Suffering from a headache can really be a painful challenge. From a minor nag to an all out migraine, reaching for medicine is all there seems to be for relief. However, for many people headaches are relieved and future flare-ups minimized after a chiropractic treatment protocol.

Migraine reported that,

“A group trial found that 22 percent of people who had chiropractic treatment saw the number of attacks drop by 90 percent. In that same study, 49 percent said they had a significant reduction in pain intensity. Compared to most medical treatments, few interventions can initiate headache relief naturally, without the risks of taking drugs long-term, like chiropractic adjustments can.”

Neck Pain

Sometimes your neck may seem tight or in some cases completely stiff. Maybe it was the way you slept or it could be a change in your cervical spine. Either way, a series of chiropractic adjustments have been shown to relieve neck pain and reduce further episodes.

As reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine,

“For pain, SMT had a statistically significant advantage over medication after 8, 12, 26, and 52 weeks, and HEA was superior to medication at 26 weeks…For participants with acute and subacute neck pain, SMT was more effective than medication in both the short and long term.”

Sciatica

The sciatica nerve is a large branch that runs through your groin and down the back of both legs. When this large nerve becomes impinged you may suffer with the condition known as sciatica. The pain can go from minor to severe with little relief from strong pain and/or anti-inflammatory medications. Chiropractic adjustments have shown excellent results in relieving sciatica with many reporting that the pain did not return.

A 2006 study titled, ‘Chiropractic manipulation in the treatment of acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion: a randomized double-blind clinical trial of active and simulated spinal manipulations’ published in Spine Journal concluded that,

“Active manipulations have more effect than simulated manipulations on pain relief for acute back pain and sciatica with disc protrusion.”

The List Goes On

More and more ailments are being treated by chiropractic medicine with continued studies showing its unwavering effectiveness. Other health conditions that may benefit from a chiropractic protocol include:

• Asthma
• Disc herniation
• Frozen shoulder
• Healthy pregnancy
• Surgery prevention
• Cognitive challenges
• Blood pressure control
• Neurological conditions
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Colic, acid reflux and ear infections in children

 

Many ailments that were once thought of as only being able to be treated by medicine or surgery have good evidence through chiropractic care first. These 14 benefits of using a chiropractor show the tip of the iceberg of the many ways it could maintain optimal health for you.