According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 20% of Americans suffer from pain. That’s 50 million people with back pain, headaches, and more.
Pain relief is at an all-time demand. While most find it in pain relievers, some don’t, and some can’t. Fortunately, there are alternatives to pain relievers like chiropractic care. Without needing surgery or medication, chiropractors can provide pain relief and address the root cause of their pain. Their treatments also offer other benefits that you might be unaware of.
What Is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a noninvasive treatment option involving musculoskeletal manipulations and adjustments. It is based on the belief that the human body can heal itself with the help of manipulations from licensed professional chiropractors.
While it mostly focuses on the spine, chiropractic care can also help relieve other conditions affecting muscles, connective tissues, joints, bones, and more.
There are similarities between chiropractic treatment and physical therapy. Some conditions even benefit from both.
Many think that chiropractic adjustments are painful, but they’re not. The pain you may experience is similar to what you may feel after a workout. Chiropractors use controlled amounts of pressure to adjust your joints, which can release the air trapped between your joints with a popping or cracking sound.
What Are the Benefits of Chiropractic Care?
Here are some chiropractic benefits you may enjoy if you try chiropractic care.
Neck Pain Relief
Poor posture and prolonged sitting, standing, and looking down when using gadgets are some of the most common causes of neck pain. Chiropractors can relieve this pain by adjusting to your spine and easing tense neck muscles.
Research shows that multiple chiropractic adjustment sessions provide better pain relief than some medications. A 2019 study also showed that cervical spine manipulations reduce neck pain by altering neuropeptide levels in your blood. Neuropeptides are proteins in the nervous system that function as hormones or neurotransmitters.
Relieves Back Pain
Chiropractic care is one of the best alternatives to invasive procedures and injections for back pain.
Experts from the American College of Physicians suggest that doctors encourage patients with chronic low back pain to explore non-medication treatments before prescribing medications. Aside from chiropractic care, experts also recommend acupuncture, yoga, meditation, tai chi, exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation.
Reduces Dependence on Opioid Pain Relievers
People with chronic pain often believe that taking painkillers is their only choice. Unfortunately, relying on pain relievers too much will build tolerance for them, reducing their effect. Sometimes, they also cause unpleasant side effects. You won’t need to rely on prescription drugs too much if you have a licensed chiropractor helping you.
A 2020 study shows that chiropractic care helps you rely on pain relievers less. The study compared opioid pain relief prescriptions for adults who only saw their doctor and those who saw their doctor and a chiropractor. It found that adults who visited a chiropractor aside from their doctor were less likely to refill their prescriptions than those who only saw a doctor.
Enhances Posture
Bad posture results from many factors, including muscle weakness, genetics, injuries, and bad habits. While some of its causes are often beyond control, patients can still do things to improve on causes that they can still control.
A 2017 case report investigated the effects of chiropractic treatment on a 27-year-old woman with back pain, neck pain, and headaches caused by hunched back. She saw marked improvements in her posture after 30 treatments that lasted six months.
Relieves Scoliosis Symptoms
Scoliosis is a condition that affects the spine’s sideways curvature, and its treatment options are either braces or surgery. Fortunately, scoliosis patients can also benefit from chiropractic care.
In scoliosis, the Cobb angle measures the severity of the spine’s sideways curvature. In a 2016 study, researchers found that children with scoliosis who underwent chiropractic treatment for eight weeks showed noticeable improvements in their Cobb angle measurements after four weeks.
Improves Athletic Performance
Chiropractic care is known to improve flexibility and range of motion. This makes it popular among athletes and people who live highly-active lives.
Exercise and sports can sometimes put unnecessary pressure on your joints and muscles. This pressure can lead to spinal misalignments that cause discomfort and pain.
By relieving pain and discomfort, removing the tension in muscles, and reducing restrictions, chiropractic care can help improve athletic performance. However, this still needs further study.
When used to treat pain from an injury, chiro adjustments can be very effective.
Relieves Headaches
Headaches happen for various reasons. Sometimes, they happen due to stress or tense neck, shoulders, or back muscles.
Fortunately, chiropractic care can address these causes. A 2016 study showed cervical and upper-thoracic spine manipulations were more effective than exercise and movement for relieving chronic headaches.
Affordability
Affordability is another chiropractic advantage that makes it an excellent alternative to pain medications and invasive treatments.
A 2016 study examined the financial benefits of chiropractic care for Medicare beneficiaries with chronic back pain. The researchers found that chiropractic care was more affordable than conventional medical treatment and reduced treatment duration.
Who Can Enjoy the Benefits of Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic adjustments are an effective treatment option for all ages, including children and older adults. The most common age range of people seeking chiropractic care is between 45 and 64.
Most patients need to undergo screening to ensure that they are suitable candidates for chiropractic care. Your chiropractor can refer you to another provider if chiropractic care is not right for you.
Key Takeaway
Chiropractic care is beneficial in many ways. Aside from relieving neck and back pain, it also eases headaches, scoliosis symptoms, and other symptoms caused by conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system. It also enhances posture and athletic performance. It is also an affordable pain relief for many since it helps reduce treatment duration and dependence on pain medications.
Experience a pain-free life with Advanced Chiropractors Group.
Our affiliate chiropractors in Largo, FL, provide the best chiropractic services and other modalities like acupuncture and massage therapy for pain relief.
You don’t have to live with pain when you can make it go away. Contact us today, and we’ll connect you to the best chiropractors in your area as soon as possible.
