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According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, nearly one out of every five Americans (18 percent) has an anxiety disorder.
This makes this type of condition one of the most prominent mental health conditions that exist today. Fortunately for these individuals, many studies have found that chiropractic can often help reduce the feelings of unease and nervousness associated with anxiety-related disorders.
Chiropractic and reduced anxiety
For example, in one poll conducted by AnxietyCentre.com, more than half (52 percent) of the respondents reported that they “experienced little to great benefit” in their anxiety levels after engaging in chiropractic care. While they’re quick to state that chiropractic won’t necessarily take the cause of the anxiety away, AnxietyCentre.com shares that its benefit lies in the fact that it “can help to reduce the negative effects of stress caused by the anxiety.”
Another piece of research, this one conducted by Lauren Roth, Psy.D, of Alliant International University, found that four out of five of the subjects involved in the study said they would recommend chiropractic to someone suffering from anxiety. Perhaps this was because they felt better due to the reduced irritability levels, better sleep, and fewer digestive issues reported by the participants after engaging in chiropractic care—all factors which impact feelings of anxiety.
However, it’s not just manual chiropractic that helps effectively lower patient fear and angst. It is also chiropractic that involves the use of instruments to aid in the chiropractic adjustments.
Instrument-aided chiropractic and its effect on patient anxiety
John DeLuca, MD, DC, of Balance Health and Wellness Centers says that instrument adjusting has an even greater ability to reduce feelings of anxiety, “especially those fearful of the manual adjusting techniques because of pain, positioning, or the audible sounds being made.” In essence, it helps put patients at ease for a variety of issues which tend to raise their levels of angst.
DeLuca adds that, when an instrument is used, “The patients appreciate the comfort with which the chiropractic adjustment is applied. There is no fear of adverse reactions as the thrust necessary to successfully put the segments in motion is significantly less as the acceleration of the instrument is much greater than is possible with the hand.”
Other spinal health experts agree.
Less force is necessary with mechanical chiropractic
Spine-health explains how instrument-aided chiropractic adjusting provides a quick, low-force impulse at specific points. This provides two basic benefits.
One, the chiropractic instrument adjusts at such a rapid pace that it doesn’t give the patient’s muscles time to tense up and resist the treatment. Two, because the force of the treatment is limited to the affected area, it doesn’t adversely impact the joint.
Essentially, by better localizing the chiropractic adjustment and not giving the affected muscles time to fight the manipulation, it’s likely that the patient will have a more positive chiropractic session. This means that they will also likely experience less anxiety as a result.
Instruments provide a one-size-fits-all response
Another benefit of using instruments to adjust patients fearful of chiropractic is that it’s basically a one-size-fits-all treatment option. “I have used it with great results with massive bodybuilders, huge firemen, and osteoporotic little old ladies,” says DeLuca.
In addition to working for most any size client, chiropractic adjusting instruments also work effectively for a variety of different musculoskeletal issues, says DeLuca, who adds, “I find instruments particularly effective in extremity and sports injuries.”
As a final note, DeLuca says, “I am much more confident in referring to doctors I don’t personally know if they are trained, or better yet, certified with the particular instrument they are using.” But not just any instruments as he also adds that is preference is toward “instruments that are grounded in research.”
