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Chiropractic care is a form of alternative medicine. It involves hands-on manipulation that triggers your body’s self-healing process.
Manual healing techniques have been used since ancient times. However, the chiropractic profession was introduced in the late 19th century. Chiropractors comprise the third largest group of healthcare professionals in the United States. Chiropractic care is strictly regulated in all 50 States of the U.S., and a 2019 review in the journal Chiropractic & Manual Therapies shows that chiropractic care is practiced in over 90 countries globally.
I’m sure you may have heard someone or a group of people say that chiropractic isn’t natural science.
There’s no doubt that healthcare professionals always disagree about the role of chiropractic care in specific health conditions, citing the absence of scientific evidence.
With more evidence supporting chiropractic care for specific types of pain, primarily back pain, more medical doctors are starting to recommend it alongside other healthcare treatments.
Keep on reading to discover more about the science behind chiropractic care and other information about its benefits and uses.
In what way can chiropractic treatment help?
People consult chiropractors to treat some of their injuries and health conditions. Examples of health conditions treated by chiropractors include:
- Neck pain
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Whiplash
- Migraine and headaches
- Scoliosis
- Osteoarthritis
Medical researchers and experts have continued to study chiropractic care’s underlying risks and benefits for the conditions listed above.
It is important to note that although not every existing claim regarding the benefits of chiropractic care is backed by science, there is evidence that people generally derive high levels of satisfaction when they undergo chiropractic care.
Some evidence-based benefits of chiropractic care include the following:
- Drastically reducing the need for opioid treatment
- Chiropractic care for chronic back pain is more affordable than conventional medical treatment.
- A 2017 case study has shown that chiropractic care can help improve posture.
- 2019 research published in the BMJ reported that chiropractic care might relieve chronic pain. In addition, 2021 research suggests that reduced pain can help ease depression since chronic pain and depression often occur alongside each other.
It is worth noting that people respond differently to chiropractic treatment. Therefore, what works for one person may not necessarily work for another.
Dr. Brett in the office
What about the myths?
Several myths and misconceptions have been peddled about chiropractic care. As a result, many people consider chiropractic to be a pseudoscience.
Let’s look at a few common ones:
Myth 1: Chiropractors don’t need a degree to practice.
Yes, chiropractors do not hold an M.D.; they’re not medical doctors. But they have a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and practice with a license.
To become a chiropractor, you need to:
- Study a 4-year degree
- Do 3–5 years at an accredited chiropractic college
- Undertake a clinical internship
Myth 2: Chiropractors do nothing but crack your back
Chiropractors treat all health issues affecting the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Chiropractors adjust and realign your joints:
They also offer the following:
- Postural testing and analysis
- Soft tissue therapy
- Electronic stimulation
- Counseling on nutrition and exercise
- Ultrasound
- Low-level laser therapy
Myth 3: Medical doctors disapprove of chiropractic treatment.
I agree that not all experts agree on the role of chiropractic care in managing certain health conditions due to inadequate research. Nevertheless, chiropractic care is widely accepted as a complementary back and neck pain treatment.
Mainstream medical journals have published many studies on the health benefits of chiropractic care. In addition, guidelines from the American College of Physicians approve spinal manipulation as a first-line treatment for low back pain.
What does the research say?
So, what do experts have to say about chiropractic care?
Here’s what the current evidence has to say:
Low back pain
Studies suggest that chiropractic care can improve low back pain. For example, according to a 2017 study review, spinal manipulation caused a modest improvement in people who had acute low back pain.
According to a 2018 study that involved 750 active-duty military personnel, half of the participants were randomly assigned to a 6-week chiropractic treatment:
- Improved function and less pain intensity
- Less disability
- A reduced need for pain medication
- Had a higher satisfaction with treatment
Neck pain
In a 2021 review published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine, the researchers found that spinal manipulation was effective for treating acute neck pain.
In a 2019 study published in the Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, researchers found that chiropractic care for neck pain may be effective because chiropractic care increases the level of neurotensin, oxytocin, and other pain-relieving hormones in the body.
Osteoarthritis
The rubbing of joint bones against each other causes the pain of osteoarthritis. In osteoarthritis, the cartilage in the joints degenerates, leaving the bones without a “cushion.” Certain chiropractic adjustments may help reduce the pain of osteoarthritis by reducing the contact between bones. More research on the benefits of chiropractic care for osteoarthritis is underway.
Headaches
Many migraine and headache patients consult chiropractors for help. In addition, some scientific studies suggest spinal manipulation relieves some types of headaches.
According to a 2017 study published in the European Journal of Neurology, spinal manipulation seemed to have a therapeutic effect on migraine patients.
The participants in this study were divided into three groups: sham spinal manipulation, pharmacologic treatment, and spinal manipulation. All the groups reported some form of relief from migraine after 17 weeks. The relieving effect lasted through the follow-up period for those who received the spinal manipulation.
Takeaway
Chiropractic is not pseudoscience. Research into its potential uses is ongoing, but current evidence supports its benefits in managing pain and other conditions.
At Foundation Chiropractic, we utilize Upper Cervical Chiropractic care to fix the primary cause of various secondary conditions (symptoms). You can call our office at 813–578–5889 to schedule a complimentary consultation.
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