Many people have back pain issues. Among the numbers, many seek the help of chiropractic adjustments. But are chiropractic adjustments actually beneficial or is it all just a hoax? Read on to learn about more of the well-researched benefits of chiropractic treatment and decide for yourself.
How do Chiropractic Treatments Work?
Many of the benefits of chiropractic treatments are related to the fact that chiropractic treatments are specialized and can help a person’s body to be placed back in proper position (or alignment) but then allow the body to heal itself.
Some people are concerned about the safety of chiropractic treatments but they are certainly safe and are a viable holistic and alternative approach to treatment for back pain and other bodily ailments, including reducing stress placed on the immune system and to prevent disease while maintaining homeostasis. While chiropractic is the “go to” for back pain treatment, it is not the only application for chiropractic treatment.
One of the major differences between chiropractic care and many other traditional treatment methods is that chiropractic aims to address and treat the entire body, enabling patients to better move, think and perform.
What the Research Says about the Benefits of Chiropractic Care
1. Chiropractic Care Treats Headaches
Along with back pain, tension headaches and migraine headaches are conditions that are commonly treated and managed by chiropractors. Hundreds of peer-reviewed articles support the ability that chiropractic care has to help treat, prevent and cure the burden of migraines and headaches in people worldwide.
2. Blood Pressure
A trusted scholar on the topic of hypertension, George Bakris, published one study in the Human Journal of Hypertension, displaying that a specific upper cervical chiropractic adjustment technique was proven to have the same effect as two different drugs that were commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure. Furthermore, the effects of one single chiropractic adjustment were proven to last over six months.
During the study, the patients who received the real adjustment procedure (compared to the placebo-treated patients) experienced an average of 14 mm HG greater drop in systolic blood pressure and 8 mm HG greater drop in diastolic blood pressure.
This is not the only study that has found such results with hypotensive patients. Other studies have revealed that patients with high blood pressure have been able to experience reduced levels after chiropractic treatment. This proves that the body is able to better get into a homeostatic balance after eliminating vertebral subluxations.
3. Athletic Performance
Many professional athletes make it a point to see a chiropractor regularly, including Michael Phelps, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice – and for good reason.
Due to the fact that chiropractic care is proven to be so effective at pain relief and treating pathological conditions, one of the most overlooked benefits of chiropractic care is that it has the ability to enhance everyday life as well as athletic performance. Studies have proven that when it comes to improving physical performance and supporting recovery, chiropractic treatment is beneficial because it:
- Enhances pulmonary function
- Reduces inflammation
- Boosts the immune system
- Relieves muscle tension
- Naturally increases energy levels
- Decreases oxidative and mental stress
Chiropractic care can also address sports injuries to parts of the body aside from the spine, including the hips, shoulder and more. It can help with many sports injuries, including strains, sprains, neck and back pain and tendonitis. Chiropractic care is proven to not only enhance joint function but also to reduce inflammation and pain. Seeing a chiropractor can also hoe p to improve one’s range of motion and reduce recovery time, all while enhancing athletic performance.