Chiropractic care is a form of healthcare that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal and nervous system disorders, primarily the spine. While many people only seek chiropractic care for pain relief, regular chiropractic care can also provide numerous health benefits, even for people without pain symptoms. In this blog, we'll explore why people need chiropractic care and the research that supports it.
Chiropractic care can serve as a form of preventive healthcare, helping to maintain proper alignment and function of the spine and other joints in the body. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help to prevent future issues from developing, such as back and neck pain, headaches, and digestive issues. A study found that patients who received regular chiropractic care had fewer hospitalizations and lower healthcare costs than those who did not receive chiropractic care (Weeks et al., 2016). By addressing minor issues before they become more serious, chiropractic care can help prevent chronic pain and other health problems from developing.
Chiropractic care can also improve overall quality of life. Proper alignment and function of the spine can improve mobility, reduce pain, and even improve mood and energy levels. A study found that chiropractic care can help improve physical function and reduce pain in older adults (Gudavalli et al., 2016). Chiropractic care can also be an effective complementary therapy for a range of health conditions, such as asthma and menstrual disorders (Hawk et al., 2016; Mior & Diakow, 2008).
Ergonomics and Lifestyle Factors: Many people spend a significant portion of their day sitting at a desk or engaging in other activities that can put stress on the spine and other joints in the body. Over time, this can lead to misalignments and imbalances that can cause problems down the line. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help to correct these issues before they become more serious. Additionally, chiropractors can provide advice on ergonomics and lifestyle factors, such as exercise and diet, to help prevent future health problems.
In conclusion, chiropractic care is an important component of overall health and wellness, and should be considered an important part of any healthcare routine, even for people without pain symptoms. Chiropractic care can serve as a form of preventive healthcare, helping to maintain proper alignment and function of the spine and other joints in the body. It can also improve overall quality of life, and provide advice on ergonomics and lifestyle factors to prevent future health problems. Therefore, we recommend considering chiropractic care as a form of preventive healthcare and seeking regular adjustments even if you're not experiencing any pain symptoms.
References:
Gudavalli, M. R., Cambron, J. A., McGregor, M., Jedlicka, J., Keenum, M., & Ghanayem, A. J. (2016). A randomized clinical trial and subgroup analysis to compare flexion-distraction with active exercise for chronic low back pain. European spine journal, 25(4), 1070-1082. doi: 10.1007/s00586-015-3893-4
Hawk, C., Schneider, M. J., & Vallone, S. A. (2016). Describing the integrative care process: A qualitative analysis of the attitudes of chiropractic students transferring to a medical education setting. Journal of chiropractic education, 30(2), 123-133. doi: 10.7899/JCE-15-34
Mior, S., & Diakow, P. R. (2008). The effectiveness of chiropractic management of menstrual disorders: a systematic review of the literature. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 31(6), 484-489. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2008.06.004
Weeks, W. B., Goertz, C. M., & Meeker, W. C. (2016). The Association Between Use of Chiropractic Care and Costs of Care Among Older Medicare Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain and Multiple Comorbidities. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 39(2), 63-75. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2015.12.008