THE BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC

Why consult a chiropractor?

Patients choose to consult a chiropractor for a variety of reasons. Chiropractors can help with more than just back pain or a stiff neck. Other reasons for consulting a chiropractor include

  • Chiropractors offer safe, drug-free care
  • Chiropractors use safe and effective treatments, without the use of drugs or surgery. Using manual therapy and other natural approaches, they relieve pain without the need for over-the-counter or prescription painkillers. This reduces the risk of side effects, overdose, dependence or substance abuse. It can also help you avoid the high cost of certain drugs.
  • A chiropractor offers effective care Every year, around one in four people consult a chiropractor for neck or back pain. Chiropractic care, particularly spinal manipulation (adjustment), is an excellent first-line treatment for back pain. Three out of four patients who have consulted a chiropractor consider this care to be "very effective". For the treatment of back pain, chiropractors are the most highly rated healthcare professionals. Chiropractic care has also proved effective against headaches and various other ailments.
  • A chiropractor identifies the cause of your pain Pain comes in different stages and affects us all differently. Rather than simply treating symptoms, chiropractors look for the root cause of your pain. They propose strategies and treatments to first relieve the pain, then improve mobility and bodily functions-also reducing levels of inflammatory substances-to prevent the pain from returning.

Chiropractors are trained to diagnose and treat pain at all stages:

  • Acute pain: occurs suddenly and quickly reaches maximum intensity. It is often the result of an injury, but can also appear for no apparent reason.
  • Subacute pain: less intense than acute pain, it follows the acute stage and generally lasts from 4 weeks to 3 months.
  • Chronic pain: its intensity may be similar to or different from acute or sub-acute pain. Chronic pain is pain that persists beyond the normal healing time. It is generally defined as pain lasting more than 3 months, and may be continuous or intermittent.

Patients suffering from headaches, migraines, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, earaches or other painful conditions can also benefit from chiropractic care. Improving the nervous and musculoskeletal systems (bones and muscles) often relieves pain and corrects the dysfunction or imbalance at the root of the problem.

A chiropractor helps you move and stay mobile

If you wake up in the morning with stiffness, soreness or a feeling of having "slept badly", or if you feel tension from prolonged sitting or standing, consider consulting a chiropractor. They can assess your muscles and joints, then correct any imbalances or dysfunctions. These progressive adjustments will help your body regain optimal mobility and avoid stiffness and pain. Many chiropractors also teach exercises and stretches to do at home to maintain mobility between sessions. The combination of in-office care and gentle home exercises keeps patients active and fit on a daily basis.

A chiropractor accompanies the changes during pregnancy Pregnancy is accompanied by many physical changes, some of which create new tensions and pressures: changes in the curvature of the back, displacement of the pelvic bones, postural changes, and so on. Chiropractic care is safe during pregnancy, and chiropractors are trained in techniques adapted to pregnant women. In a small study (65 women) conducted by Dr. Joan Fallon at Yeshiva University, first-time pregnant women who received chiropractic care delivered 24 % more easily than the average. Those expecting their second or third child saw their labor time reduced by an average of 39 %. Ask any woman who's given birth: a reduction in labor time from 24 % to 39 % is huge!

A chiropractor assesses your posture and your risk of repetitive strain injuries.

Many people spend their days sitting at a desk, in front of a computer, or standing for long periods. Over time, these positions can lead to poor posture, causing pain and dysfunction. In addition to postural assessment, it's important to identify the risks of repetitive motion injuries. Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common form, but there are many others. Have you heard of Text Neck? Chiropractors are seeing more and more of this type of injury caused by prolonged posture with the head bent over a mobile device. Talk to your chiropractor about your work and screen habits to prevent these risks.

In summary There are many reasons to consult a chiropractor. Chiropractic care is an excellent first-line treatment for those who prefer a natural approach to regaining and maintaining their health. For overall well-being, regular visits to the chiropractor help your body function as it should, and play a key role in preventing future injury and pain.