The Unexpected Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care is a form of complementary medicine based on the ideas that your body should be aligned correctly and that the correct alignment of your body can result in natural healing pathways. This form of therapy consists of hands-on manipulations from trained professionals. 

These types of manipulations help realign your joints and they can potentially lead to pain relief. Chiropractic treatment might help relieve pain from conditions that affect the following:

• Bones
• Cartilage 
• Connective tissue 
• Joints
• Muscles 

Chiropractic treatment typically focuses on your spine but they may also focus on other parts of your body depending on the issue you have. Chiropractic treatment has some similarities to physical therapy and some conditions might benefit from being treated with these types of therapy. The difference between chiropractors and physical therapists is that chiropractors are more likely to use hands-on manipulations while physical therapists put more emphasis on rehabilitating injuries with stretches and exercises.

Continue reading to learn more about the unexpected benefits of chiropractic care. 

Chiropractic Care Improves the Quality of Your Life 

Chiropractic care isn’t only about your spine. It also involves the nervous system and every other part of your body. The overall goal of chiropractic care is to improve your musculoskeletal health, which impacts your daily function and quality of life. When a chiropractor improves your body’s biomechanical dysfunctions, you can improve your overall quality of life in the following ways: 

Improved Immune Function 

Healthy immune systems help your body fight off viral and bacterial infections. Your nervous system regulates cell functions. Misalignments can interrupt this process, causing a ripple effect that impinges on your body’s ability to fight off viruses. Chiropractic care restores function to your nerves and ensures your cells operate in the correct way. 

Increased Energy

When your body experiences soreness and joints and muscles tense, you quickly become inflamed. Tension builds within the body and it gets in the way of your well-being. With chiropractic care, you can reduce joint and muscle discomfort while improving your vitality 

Asthma Control 

If you find yourself using your rescue inhaler more often than you would like, chiropractic care might be the answer to your problems. Those with asthma have reported a reduction in symptoms after visiting a chiropractor. When your spine is misaligned, nerve impulses can be disrupted that control lung function. Realigning your vertebrae lets your nerves function correctly. 

Lowered Blood Pressure

Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments can target the nerves in your upper neck, which can be as effective as taking blood pressure medication. 

Improved Digestion

Your spinal nerves control how your stomach functions. If your vertebrae are misaligned, your nerves can signal for more acid, potentially causing acid reflux, gas, and heartburn. Chiropractic care can realign your thoracic nerves and ease stomach problems.

Improved Breathing

The lungs rely on nerve functioning and when there is a misalignment, your cervical and thoracic regions can impinge on normal breathing patterns. Chiropractic correction can reduce lung inflammation and ease your breathing patterns. 

Better Balance

As we age, balance and proprioception become a problem. Balance exercises and yoga can improve your core strength and make balance easier, but chiropractic care can also improve your balance. 

Healthy Pregnancy 

Chiropractic care can assist with healthier pregnancies and easier deliveries. Women’s bodies go through an immense amount of change throughout pregnancy and these changes affect the nervous system in many different ways. As women gain weight in their core, ligaments are stressed and their pelvic tilt gets affected. This places pressure on the spine. Regular chiropractic sessions ensure both a healthy mother and baby.

Improved Sleeping Patterns

Pain and tension from misaligned spines will likely result in symptoms resembling insomnia. Chiropractic care can reduce the pain and tension, aid relaxation, and help you enjoy a more peaceful round of sleep. 

Improved Range of Motion

Regular chiropractic care ensures full mobility in all of your joints, which helps you move around better and perform all of your daily activities with ease. 

Why Is a Chiropractic Adjustment Done?

Chiropractic adjustments focus on alleviating any symptoms that affect the musculoskeletal system. It can treat aches and pain, muscle stiffness, and chronic conditions. If people want to choose to get a chiropractic adjustment if they want an alternative form of treatment that doesn’t involve drugs or surgery. 

Who Is Eligible for Chiropractic Adjustments?

Chiropractic adjustments can be effective for people of all ages, including children and adults. The most common age range for someone to seek chiropractic is between 45 and 64 years old. You should receive a screening before a chiropractic adjustment. This will ensure you are a suitable candidate for chiropractic care. If chiropractic care is not suitable for your condition, your chiropractor should refer you to a healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment program.

What Are Some of the Details for Chiropractic Adjustments?

When you go to your first visit at the chiropractor’s office, they will discuss your medical history and perform a physical exam. If they need to, they will order a diagnostic imaging test so they can understand your musculoskeletal system. This test will include the following:

• X-Rays 
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. 

After you learn more about your symptoms and why they might cause discomfort, your chiropractor will develop a tailored treatment plan based on exam findings and the results of your tests.

What Happens During a Chiropractic Adjustment?

During a chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor will be able to offer treatment unique to your needs. Lying face down on a chiropractic table, the chiropractor will be able to identify points of your body that are particularly sensitive to pressure and need realignment. The chiropractor will use their hands or small instruments to apply a quick, controlled force to your joint. This applied force will stretch your joints beyond their normal range of motion. This force will help align the spine if they are slightly off-center. 

Bottom Line

Chiropractic care has many benefits and can be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy to promote your overall health.