It is a common misconception that chiropractic adjustments are only needed when a patient is suffering from back or neck pain.
However, there is much more to a table adjustment, and understanding these key points can help you and your family reach optimum health.
1. Table adjustments are great preventatives as well as treatments.
Most people think about going to the chiropractor only when they experience back or neck pain, or some other type of condition that chiropractic is known to help. However, chiropractic adjustments can help protect your health, as well. By keeping your spinal column aligned, your central nervous system is able to effectively support communications between your brain and all other areas of your body.
So, just like you should go to the dentist twice annually to have healthy teeth and gums, and you should get a physical once a year to ensure that your test results are in the healthy range, you should also engage in regular chiropractic visits to best keep your spinal column aligned and able to support your body’s communication efforts.
Additionally, most chiropractors help with other non-adjustment types of issues. For instance, one study published in Chiropractic & Manual Therapies in March of 2015 found that, out of 509 chiropractors surveyed, 82.3 percent helped their patients with stress, 74.1 percent assisted with nutrition, and 72.9 percent addressed their patients’ sleep issues. Dealing with issues like these can certainly help prevent other major health-related issues.1
2. Table adjustments help everyone in the family.
While it is common to think of the typical chiropractic client as someone in their early to mid-adult years, the reality is that table adjustments can help everyone in the family. For example, research has determined that chiropractic can help children with asthma. One study, which was published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics and involved 36 children, found that after three months of chiropractic, the kids “rated their quality of life substantially higher and their asthma severity substantially lower.”2 It has also been found to help with issues like allergies, colic, and more.
Chiropractic table adjustments can be just as beneficial to older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences published a study that stated 80 percent of seniors who used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) such as chiropractic “reported that they had received substantial benefit from their use of CAM.”3
3. Table adjustments cannot compensate for habit.
While chiropractors certainly do whatever they can in an effort to help ease your condition, the reality is that their actions are only part of the health equation. To fully heal from any injury or condition, and to potentially prevent problems, takes some action on your part, as well.
A lot of pain and aggravation can be completely avoided by lifting properly, moving carefully, and avoiding activities that your body is not fit enough to handle. So when a chiropractor suggests you change your diet or exercise route, listen—they are making suggestions so you can help yourself in the long run.
References
1 Edlund K, Fikar P, Newell D. Current preventative and health promotional care offered to patients by chiropractors in the United Kingdom: a survey. Chiropr Man Therap. 2015;23(10).
2 Bronfort G, Evans RL, Filkin P, Kubic P. Chronic pediatric asthma and chiropractic spinal manipulation: a prospective clinical series and randomized clinical pilot study. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2001;24(6):369–377.
3 Astin JA, Haskell WL, Marie A, Pelletier KR. Complementary and alternative medicine use among elderly persons: one-year analysis of a Blue Shield Medicare supplement. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2000;55(1):M4–9.
