Chiropractic on the rise
People appreciate chiropractic adjustments because they are nonsurgical and all-natural. The increasing popularity of this type of care is evident in the general numbers, with more than 164,000 professionals in a $15 billion field.
Research on chiropractic care
Dr. Josh Axe notes that many people are skeptical about getting adjustments, but he has personally been receiving treatments for more than a decade. Part of what convinced Axe to start going to a chiropractor is the impressive body of research backing its safety and effectiveness.
Here are a few studies that show why chiropractic is trusted as a preventative for neuromuscular conditions and as a natural pain reliever:
#1 – Sciatica
One of the best ways to determine how well this treatment works is to compare it in a clinical setting to other treatments. Researchers found that sciatica benefited more from chiropractic than from corticosteroid injections or physical therapy. The success rates from their study, featured in the European Spine Journal, were as follows:
· Physical therapy – 20%
· Corticosterone injections – 50%
· Chiropractic manipulation – 72%.
#2 – Neck pain
A British Medical Journal study analyzed more than 180 people suffering from neck pain over the course of a year. Participants “were randomly allocated to manual therapy (spinal mobilization), physiotherapy (mainly exercise) or general practitioner care (counseling, education and drugs),” says Axe. “The clinical outcome measures showed that chiropractic adjustments resulted in faster recovery” than either of the traditional approaches. Additionally, people using the other methods spent three times more than those treated with the natural pain reliever of chiropractic adjustment.
#3 – Low back pain
Research that appeared in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed similar results for back pain patients as for those with sciatica and neck pain. The study authors found that those with low back pain reported higher degrees of recovery than those treated with other methods.
“A higher proportion of chiropractic patients (56 percent vs. 13 percent) reported that their low-back pain was better or much better,” says Axe, “whereas nearly one-third of medical patients reported their low-back pain was worse or much worse.”
Choosing the right chiropractor
As you can see, the research on chiropractic care is quite compelling. Beyond that, it’s a matter of selecting a concerned and competent doctor. At Advanced Wellness & Rehab, we have a genuine concern for your well-being and long-term health. See our New Patient Offer, or call us at (316) 942-5335.
