There are a lot of misconceptions about chiropractors. That’s partly because while we all visit doctors, not everybody goes to a chiropractor. It’s also because there’s still some effort on the part of the medical establishment to discredit chiropractors and other alternative caregivers.
One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you go to the chiropractor once, you’ll need to keep going on a regular basis. The truth is (of course) more complex than that. Chiropractic care can help you in acute, short-term situations and in the long-term to maintain proper alignment and protect your spine.
Short-Term Chiropractic Care
Let’s start with short-term care for acute injuries and problems. There are many circumstances that might create a need for the kind of immediate pain relief you can get from a chiropractor. These include:
- A sports-related injury
- An automobile accident
- Lifting a heavy object without taking the proper precautions
- A hard fall or awkward landing
When one of these things occurs, you may find that you have pain that can’t be resolved with over-the-counter medications or traditional medical treatments.
Getting a chiropractic adjustment (or several) over a short period can provide immediate relief and ultimately, resolve the issue without the need for addictive pain medications or invasive surgery. In many such cases, only a few adjustments are required to get the desired result.
If you’re experiencing acute pain or if you have received an injury that has impacted your ability to do the things you love, then seeing a chiropractor can help you get back to normal.
Long-Term Chiropractic Care
You don’t need to have experienced an acute injury to benefit from visiting a chiropractor and getting regular adjustments. The truth is that there are some people who make chiropractic adjustments part of their regular wellness regimen.
People who see a chiropractor regularly include professional athletes. They understand that their body’s performance is linked to keeping all bodily systems, including their skeletal, nervous, and respiratory systems, in good working order. The long-term ben fits of chiropractic care are well documented. The other group of people who can benefit from long-term chiropractic care are those who experience
chronic pain. Studies have shown that chiropractic care is one of the most effective ways of managing lower back pain. In fact, it can be more effective – and more cost-effective – than treatment by a physician.
Likewise, there have been studies that concluded that patients with fibromyalgia who received chiropractic adjustments experienced improved cervical and lumbar ranges of motion and decreased pain.
Protecting your spine is important to your overall health and long-term chiropractic care can minimize your chances of injury as you age.
The Bottom Line
If you want to be in good health, you must be sure to take preventive measures. You probably go to the doctor once a year for a check-up and to the dentist twice a year for cleanings. Getting regular chiropractic adjustments can be a good way to keep your spine healthy and your entire body in alignment.
