Globally, millions of individuals have benefitted from chiropractic. It’s one of the most sought-after alternative therapies that promises so much to the patients. For one, chiropractic promises a non-invasive treatment. Unlike surgery, there are neither cuts nor injections in chiropractic. Two, chiropractic is drug-free. This means that you don’t have to deal with drug reactions and side effects.
Doctors of Chiropractic, otherwise known as chiropractors, use hands techniques to treat you. Through hand-on techniques, your body is manipulated and this helps to treat issues like body ache, stress, and internal injuries. So you are guaranteed to heal naturally. Chiropractors also do preventive therapies to avoid serious musculoskeletal (MSK) issues from arising. The experts can diagnose and treat them in their initial stages.
So many health issues have been associated with chiropractic and here are the top 11:
1. Back Pain
An estimated 80% of people experience varied forms of backache at one point with lower back pain being the most predominant. For most of them, drugs and surgeries are their primary considerations. Though the two can be effective against back pain, they are costly and have serious risks. Chiropractic, conversely, is affordable and suffers fewer risks. When treating back pain, the back plus the spine are adjusted to clear misalignments and compressions (subluxations). In addition to treating back pain, chiropractic prevents it.
2. Sciatica
The longest nerve in the body is called the sciatic nerve and it runs from the lower back to the knees and legs. When this nerve is compressed, it results in severe pain, a condition we call sciatica. The pain is highly felt in one leg and may make it difficult for you to lift the leg or walk. A chiropractor treats sciatica by decompressing the affected nerve. Through chiropractic adjustments, the sciatic nerve is manipulated to realign itself as it should. In the end, the compression clears and so does the pain. Research shows that chiropractic has a 72% effectiveness rate against sciatica.
3. Whiplash
Whiplash refers to a physical injury that occurs on the neck following a car crash. In this case, the neck is suddenly whipped resulting in a painful injury. The good news is that it can be treated by chiropractic. A 2003 study that compares chiropractic with physical therapy and other manual therapies shows that recovery from whiplash and other neck injuries is quicker with chiropractic.
4. Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation has been linked to serious conditions like cancer and heart diseases over the years. The condition is widely treated by medications but it can still be fixed by chiropractic. Via body manipulation, chiropractic helps to reduce inflammation resulting in pain relief, muscle relaxation, and healing. It’s also important to note that by treating inflammation, you reduce the chances of cancer, heart diseases, and other conditions linked to chronic inflammation.
5. Stress
Stress is mostly associated with emotional instability. However, it can also be due to a bodily issue or an environmental concern. The cause aside, stress interferes with your quality of life. You can’t eat well, concentrate or sleep properly. This makes you unreliable and unproductive to some extent. Fortunately, it can be managed by chiropractic. A chiropractor will manipulate your muscles to relieve you from any kind of tension that might be the reason behind the stress.
6. Headaches
Whether its tension headaches or migraines, chiropractic claims to relieve them all. This is according to one study where more than 90% of respondents argue that chiropractic reduces headaches by an extensive margin. These patients prefer chiropractic over pain relievers since it addresses the source of the headache and doesn’t just treat the symptoms. It’s also argued that chiropractic can prevent headaches just as much as it can treat them.
7. Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders may manifest in different ways. Some people can’t concentrate on their sleep and so they end up waking up in the middle of the night. For others, their sleep is filled with nightmares and bed wetting. Whatever the case, you can find reliable help in chiropractic. Through chiropractic body adjustments, your sleep patterns get to improve. Chiropractors argue that the reason you can’t sleep well is that of stress, fatigue, and body ache. The adjustments are done to address these issues.
8. Scoliosis
The spine is generally flexible and this makes it delicate. It tends to curve whenever your back curves. However, if too much force is applied, the spine may curve excessively resulting in an abnormal curvature, a condition called scoliosis. It’s characterized by an abnormal posture, difficulty in breathing, and body pain. Luckily, testimonials show that it can be fixed by chiropractic. This has seen Clear Institute and other nonprofits advocate chiropractic for scoliosis.
9. TMJ Dysfunction
When the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the joint between the skull and the jawbone, sustains a physical injury, it can be painful. It normally becomes harder to chew since jaw movement is restricted. Sometimes it can cause toothache and headache. Since a TMJ dysfunction signified a problem with the jawbone, a chiropractor can help to release tension in the jawbone and to restore motion in the TMJ. In the end, pains are reduced and you can chew seamless.
10. Hypertension
George Bakris, a distinguished hypertension expert, did a study on chiropractic versus high blood pressure and documented his findings in a 2007 journal. According to Bakris, chiropractic adjustments have the same treatment effect as a double dose of blood pressure drugs. He argues that chiropractic can regulate blood pressure to avoid a surge. Most hypertension experts advocate for management practices. So, if you are looking not to rely on hypertension drugs, then you should go for chiropractic.
11. Fibromyalgia
When the whole MSK system is rendered sensitive by an underlying condition, the resultant disorder is called fibromyalgia. It’s characterized by widespread pain. In this case, every joint and muscle ache. Sadly, this is not the only concern. The disorder may also affect your sleep, bowel evacuation, and general wellbeing. Fibromyalgia is so serious in the sense that no one knows what causes it. What the experts know is that the symptoms can be reduced by chiropractic. By relieving pain experienced throughout the MSK system, chiropractic manages the issue.
Closing Thought:
Chiropractic has proven to work over the years and there are research-centered proofs to back it. It’s generally a great alternative to medical therapies. Chiropractic adjustments are administered by licensed and experienced professionals who understand the musculoskeletal system better than anyone. So, you should try it.
