Over 22 million Americans visited chiropractors last year. Of these, about 7.7 million were seeking relief from back pain from accidents, sports injuries, and muscle strains. Others were seeking relief from pain they were experiencing in the neck, arms, legs, in addition to headaches.
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation is a generic term used for any kind of therapeutic movement of the spine. Most often it involves the application of quick but strong pressure on a joint between two vertebrae of the spine. Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support. Chiropractic care may also include other treatments, including manual or manipulative therapies, postural and exercise education, and ergonomic training, such as how to walk, sit, and stand to limit back strain. Chiropractors today often work in conjunction with primary care doctors, pain experts, and surgeons to treat patients with pain. The ultimate goal of chiropractic is to help relieve pain and help patients better manage their conditions at home.
At the heart of chiropractic is an understanding that the alignment of the spine affects the nervous system in a big way. The spine houses the spinal cord, and nerves extend from the brain to the body and back. Therefore it is crucial that this flow is uninhibited and able to carry messages that affect how we function. For this reason, chiropractic care can improve a variety of conditions and disorders including anything from migraines to foot pain.
In a recent study chiropractic was shown to greatly improve blood pressure in patients with hypertension. This amazing finding points to something chiropractors have known for a long time – proper alignment of the spine impacts everything we do, and its role in cardiovascular health should be recognized and emphasized more often.
The study involved 50 participants who were in the early phases of high blood pressure. Half of the group received cervical spine chiropractic adjustments, while the other half received fake adjustment techniques. After 8 weeks, those participants who had received legitimate chiropractic adjustments experienced a significant drop in blood pressure, as compared to the placebo adjustment group who saw no changes.
This is just one of the many studies that have shown chiropractic’s benefits in overall health and wellness. While chiropractic is most often recognized for its treatment of neck and back pain, it should also be noted that chiropractic care influences all of the body systems and therefore a huge variety of disorders. Chiropractic is an important part of any wellness routine, just like working out and eating right. Consistency is key here, because it can treat problems before they lead to more serious issues, and it can prevent problems from developing in the first place. So whether you need an injury or accident treated, have a specific body problem (such as back pain or a spinal condition), need pain relief, or just want to improve your overall health, Dr. Lee Hudson at Advanced Chiropractic Center can provide a solution for you through chiropractic care. Call 406-315-3037 to schedule an appointment or go online to chiropractoringreatfalls.com and get relief from your pain.