10 Researched Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Finding a chiropractor is crucial to correcting the harm brought on by years of injury or bad posture, and it is also important for everyone wanting to have a proactive approach to protecting their health.
Curious about what a chiropractic regime could do for you? Below, you will find evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of chiropractic.
- Sciatica
Compared to most medical treatments, few interventions may initiate back pain relief and recovery like chiropractic adjustments can. The European Spine Journal published findings from a clinical trial discovering how adjustments led to a 72 percent success rate. This may be compared from a 50 percent success rate from injections, and treatment with physical therapy.
Another randomized, double-blind trial published in the Spine Journal comparing active versus simulated chiropractic manipulations on patients with sciatic nerve pain that were residing in rehab medical centers found that active manipulations had more impact than mimicked manipulations. Manipulations reduced the amount of times patients experienced moderate or severe pain and sciatica symptoms that were other, and also caused no adverse effects.
- Low Back Pain and Neck Pain
One study between chiropractic patients with neck pain found that 96 percent of respondents indicated that they were either “Very satisfied” or “Satisfied” with the chiropractic care they received, and that 98 percent stated that they “Definitely would” or were “Very likely” to choose chiropractic care again if they experienced a similar issue.
In a 2003 study published in the British Medical Journal, 183 patients with neck pain were randomly allocated to receive either manual therapy (spinal mobilization), physiotherapy (mostly exercise) or general practitioner care (counseling, education and drugs) within the course of a 52-week period. The outcome measures showed that adjustments resulted in recovery compared to general and physiotherapy practitioner care. Moreover expenses of the patients were about one-third of the costs of general or physiotherapy practitioner care.
Another study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found patients with chronic low-back pain treated by physicians showed greater satisfaction and improvement one month after treatment compared to patients treated by family doctors. Satisfaction scores were higher for chiropractic patients, as a greater percentage of psychiatric patients (56 percent vs. 13 percent in the physician group) reported that their low-back pain was better or much better. Nearly one-third of patients reported their pain was much worse or worse after treatment. Similar results have been shown by other studies: bulk of acute and chronic patients experience improved results in pain, satisfaction after treatment and functional disability.
In a study funded by NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, conducted to check the efficacy of different approaches for treating neck pain, 272 participants were split into three classes: those who received either spinal manipulative treatment from a doctor of chiropractic (DC), those who received pain medications (over-the-counter pain relievers, narcotics and muscle relaxants), and those just following at-home exercise recommendations. After 12 weeks, about 57 percent of people who met with DCs, and about 48 percent of those who exercised, reported at least a 75 percent reduction. As a contrast, 33 percent of those men and women in the medication group reported pain. After one year, roughly 53 percent of both drug-free groups (exercise and chiropractic) continued to report at least a 75 percent decrease in pain, compared to an average of just 38 percent pain reduction among people who just took medication.
- Headaches (Tension and Migraine)
A group trial found that 22 percent of individuals who had chiropractic therapy saw the amount of headaches drop by 90 percent. In that study, 49 percent said they had a decrease in pain intensity. In comparison to most treatments, headache relief can be initiated by few interventions without the dangers of taking medication long-term, like adjustments can.
- Colic, Acid Reflux and Ear Infections in Children
A 2011 systematic review published in the journal Explore—that included an overview of 26 posts in total, including three clinical trials and four cohort studies—found that chiropractic adjustments helped significantly decrease colic symptoms. According to the authors of this review, “Our review revealed that chiropractic care is a viable alternative to the care of infantile colic and congruent with evidence-based practice, particularly when one considers that medical care options are no better than placebo or have been associated with adverse events.”
Although very few randomized control trials are conducted describing other clinical effects of chiropractic care on children, many case studies have been reported that describe how kids suffering from ailments such as otitis media (or ear infections) or acid reflux have undergone complete to near-complete resolution after only a few visits with a chiropractor. 1 study found that in children with acid reflux, “Notable improvement in the patient’s symptoms was observed within four visits and total resolution of symptoms within three months of care.”
Why are chiropractic adjustments helpful in such situations? The reasons for this change, but there’s one common theme: nerves found in mind and the gut are sensitive to insult caused by subluxations. By reducing pressure on put on nerves and realigning the spine, the link is improved. This works exactly the same way in both adults and children. A healthier, “happier” gut at any age can help increase immune function, reduce inflammation and decrease pain in different areas of the body.
- Neurological Conditions
Exciting research is presently being conducted via vertical MRI scans demonstrating how upper cervical adjustments affect various brain-based problems. What we have seen so far is impressive. Not only are MRI scans demonstrating that cerebral spinal fluid and blood circulation are markedly improved after a chiropractic adjustment, researchers are observing that cerebellar invagination (when the cerebellum drops down below the skull point) has been reversed and mind plaquing (common in multiple sclerosis patients) is evaporating! 1 example is Montel Williams, the TV host, who had been interviewed about his experience as a MS patient under care. Take a look here to see how his life changed.
Additionally, there is evidence supporting the use of chiropractic therapy to help to correct vertebral subluxation that leads to epilepsy and seizures. 1 study found that when 15 patients were treated with cervical care outcomes were reported by all patients. The conclusion of the research was that “Chiropractic care may represent a non-pharmaceutical health care approach for pediatric epileptic patients.”
- Blood Pressure
In 2007, George Bakris, the world expert on hypertension, published a study using a group of researchers at the Human Journal of Hypertension demonstrating that one upper cervical chiropractic adjustment had exactly the exact same impact as two blood pressure-lowering drugs. Even more intriguing, one adjustment’s effects lasted!
Compared to this placebo-treated patients, people who got the actual procedure saw a typical 14 mm Hg greater fall in systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure count) and a typical 8 mm Hg greater fall in diastolic blood pressure (the lowest blood pressure number).
Other studies show similar findings with hypotensive patients, and their low blood pressure was increased to normal levels after chiropractic care. This is exciting as it highlights the human body’s ability to make a surroundings that is balanced once subluxations are eliminated.
- Surgery Prevention
Chiropractic has long been heralded by natural medical care providers as a natural system to stop back surgery. In actuality, the Journal of the American Medical Association recently released its back pain guidelines and suggested that individuals suffering from back pain attempt before resorting to surgery, chiropractic.
- Frozen Shoulder
In 2016, a clinical trial was published describing how patients suffering from the painful condition frozen shoulder reacted to chiropractic care. Of the 50 patients: 16 resolved entirely; 25 revealed 75 percent to 90 percent increase; eight revealed 50 percent to 75 percent increase; and one revealed 0 percent to 50 percent improvement. With a range of 7 to 10 the patients reported a median pain score of 9 before therapy. But the score fell down to 2.
- Scoliosis
There’s evidence demonstrating that certain chiropractic adjustments, coupled with muscle rehabilitation methods, may help stop the development of scoliosis. Organizations like the nonprofit Clear Institute, founded by Dr. Dennis Woggon, have set out to empower healthcare professionals with an effective chiropractic system so as to help treat people with scoliosis.
Doctors in the Clear Institute have worked really difficult to perfect a model for treating scoliosis and have found that it’s possible to efficiently manage the condition without using restrictive braces or harmful surgeries. In most case studies, participants have seen a 10 to 30 percent reduction in their scoliosis curvatures. You can read about some of the instances here. In the event that you or a family member suffer from scoliosis, I strongly advise reaching out to a physician certified by the Clear Institute to determine if they can help you!
- Athletic Performance
There’s good reason why for many years professional athletes—such as Michael Phelps, Jerry Rice and Joe Montana—have decided to regularly be treated by chiropractors. In actuality, over 50 percent of NFL teams have a chiropractor on staff, this way the players have access exercises and stretches when required. Among the most overlooked aspects of care is athletic performance, and that it enhances in everyday life since it’s so effective at conditions. Studies have shown that when it comes to supporting recovery and enhancing physical performance, chiropractic is useful because it:
- Reduces inflammatory cytokines
- Boosts the immune system
- Enhances pulmonary function
- Decreases psychological and cognitive stress
- Relieves muscle tension
- And can naturally increase energy levels