A 2012 report from the National Institute of Health rated chiropractic as one of the top two natural health therapies used by Americans, ahead of massage therapy. Why is chiropractic so popular? Here are some of its benefits.
A full-body approach
Many patients will initially go to a chiropractor because of a specific condition, such as sciatica, neck or back pain, migraine, or whiplash.
A chiropractor will target their therapies toward specific areas to treat the source of pain. However, part of the reason the treatments are effective and that chiropractic has long-term benefits is that the body is considered holistically – as a whole interconnected entity rather than a collection of parts. Your chiropractor will act as an expert guide to help you recover from injury while also achieving wellness.
Chiropractic prompts our innate healing mechanisms
Chiropractors are fundamentally concerned with helping the body to utilize its own healing capacity. “Chiropractors recognize that many factors affect your health, including exercise, nutrition, sleep, environment and heredity,” explains Palmer College of Chiropractic (PCC). “Chiropractic focuses on maintaining your health naturally to help your body resist disease, rather than simply treating the symptoms of disease.”
Comprehensive assessment
Another reason that chiropractic is effective is that your physical status will be comprehensively assessed prior to any treatments. To fully evaluate your situation, chiropractors will consult with you; review your records and experience; examine you physically; and sometimes incorporate X-rays and lab work.
The physical examination will be a conscientious effort to gauge your structural alignment.
Nonsurgical and drug-free
Chiropractors use various strategies to determine where spinal vertebrae are out of alignment – which are called subluxations –and to gently improve those areas. Techniques include manual manipulation, massage, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation.
For those looking to reduce prescription medication, it’s notable that pharmaceuticals and surgery are not part of chiropractic. “Chiropractic is a natural method of healing that stimulates the body’s communication system to work more effectively to initiate, control and coordinate the various functions … of the body,” says PCC.
Collaboration/referral
Although chiropractic is its own healthcare field with its own philosophy, it is by no means disconnected from other branches of medicine. If you need help from another type of healthcare practitioner, chiropractors will refer you as appropriate.
Heal your pain without surgery
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