The World Federation of Chiropractic defines chiropractic as ‘a health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal adjustment and other joint and soft-tissue manipulation.’ [1] Below are a few reasons why you should visit a chiropractor near you.
1. Improved wellbeing.
Periodic chiropractic treatment may improve wellbeing, i.e. less pain, less muscle and joint tension, better variety of motion, and body function. Periodic care is sometimes referred to as maintenance care where patients continue with treatment even though they may have reached optimal care. [2]
2. Reduce headaches
Neck pressure and movement can help cause headaches due to abnormal head positioning, e.g. sitting at a PC. Thus, our results suggest manual-therapy might be a safe treatment option for participants with cervicogenic headache [4]
3. Reduce low back pain.
One study over 5 years reported and an 80% satisfaction rating. [4]
4. Improve mental health
Historically, the Chiropractic approach has been grounded in what is often referred to as, the biopsychosocial (BPS) model, i.e. the inter-relationship between biological, sociological and psychological wellbeing. It is presumed, the BPS model may support chiropractic pain management. [5]
The biopsychosocial
(BPS) model
5. Improve poor posture
A study revealed a link between poor posture poor health and that this can be positively impacted with chiropractic treatment and ‘multimodal’ rehabilitation programs. It is suggested postural correction for those patients with musculo-skeletal pain is a viable approach. [6]
6. Support for symptoms of allergies and Asthma
The Chiropractor treats musculo-skeletal conditions. With such treatment, other conditions that fall outside the scope of chiropractic treatment may improve. This may include allergies and asthma, although it should be the primary reason to consult a chiropractor. A general practitioner must primarily manage these conditions.One study demonstrated ‘chiropractic management of a patient with asthma where a ‘quick and ‘drastic’ reduction in symptoms was observed.
‘The patient responded favourably to chiropractic care, which resulted in almost complete reduction of his asthma symptoms. [7]
7. Enhance sport performance
Spinal manipulative therapy may be a promising approach for performance enhancement although more research is needed. [8]
8. Support during pregnancy
This patient with pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain improved in pain and function after chiropractic treatment and usual obstetric management. [9]
9. Mitigate chronic pain
A research study suggested chiropractic care improves function and reduces pain for chronic pain patients. [10]
10. Alleviate neck pain
‘Over 90% reported high satisfaction with their care, few used narcotics, and avoiding surgery was the most important reason they chose chiropractic care.’ [11]
References:
[1] Hartvigsen, J, French, S, So, what is chiropractic? Summary and reflections on a series of papers in Chiropractic and Manual Therapies, Chiropractic & Manual Therapies’, volume 28, Article number: 4 (2020), Published: 30 January 2020, https://chiromt.biomedcentral.com/
[2] Axen I, Hestbaek L, Leboeuf-Yde C, Chiropractic maintenance care – what’s new? A systematic review of the literature, Chiropractic & Manual Therapies volume 27, Article number: 63 (2019), https://chiromt.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12998-019-0283-6
[3] Bishop P, Jeffrey DC, Quon A, Bradley W, Yee D, Arthur B, Fedder P, Forbes J, Lee E, Lopes A, Maylin-Lee A, Morton P, Vipond M, McDonnell C, Chiropractors treating patients with acute lower back pain in a spine treatment pathway model: a five-year prospective cohort study, The Spine Journal, Volume 19, Issue 9, Supplement, September 2019, Page S69, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2019.05.157
[4] Chaibi A, Knackstedt H, Tuchin P, Russell M, Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, placebo, randomised controlled trial, published: 24 July 2017, BMC Research Notes volume 10, Article number: 310 (2017), https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-017-2651-4#article-info
[5] Gliedt J, Schneider M, Evans M, King J, Eubanks J, The biopsychosocial model and chiropractic: a commentary with recommendations for the chiropractic profession, Chiropractic & Manual Therapies volume 25, Article number: 16 (2017), published: 07 June 2017, https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12998-017-0147-x
[6] Fortner M, Oakley P, Harrison D, Case Study, Treating ‘slouchy’ (hyperkyphosis) posture with chiropractic biophysics®: a case report utilising a multimodal mirror image® rehabilitation program, Journal of physical therapy science, 2017, p. 1475-1480, https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.29.1475
[7] Brozovich, T, THE REDUCTION OF ASTHMA SYMPTOMS AND MEDICATION AFTER CHIROPRACTIC CARE, Chiropractic Journal of Australia . 2017, Vol. 45 Issue 2, p138-143. 6p.
[8] Botelho M, Bruno A, Alvarenga P, Nicolly D, Ribas M, Abrahao F, Baptista P, Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Sports Performance Enhancement: A Systematic Review, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 40, Issue 7, September 2017, Pages 535-543, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2017.03.014
[9] Bernard M, Tuchin P, Chiropractic Management of Pregnancy-Related Lumbopelvic Pain: A Case Study, Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, Volume 15, Issue 2, June 2016, Pages 129-133, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcm.2016.04.003
[10] Haavik H, KhanNiazi I, Holt K, Murphy B, Effects of 12 Weeks of Chiropractic Care on Central Integration of Dual Somatosensory Input in Chronic Pain Patients: A Preliminary Study, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 40, Issue 3, March–April 2017, Pages 127-138, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2016.10.002
[11] Herman P, Kommareddi M, Sorbero M, Rutter C, Hays R, Hilton G, Ryan W, Coulter I, Characteristics of Chiropractic Patients Being Treated for Chronic Low Back and Neck Pain, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 41, Issue 6, July–August 2018, Pages 445-455, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.02.001