More than Just Lower Back Pain Relief:
FEATURE
How Alaskans are Benefitting from Chiropractic Care
Brent Wells
DC
Most people associate a good chiropractor with the cracks and pops they experience during a spinal adjustment. They envision the relief they feel when their spine is properly aligned after an appointment. Lower back pain relief is one of the most common conditions that chiropractors treat, but you could be experiencing more than just this one benefit. Alaskan patients are already experiencing the multitude of advantages that chiropractic care offers for their overall wellbeing.
An experienced chiropractor knows that caring for a patient holistically provides more than just relief from back pain. Consider a few of these perks that come along with chiropractic care.
Reduced Inflammation
The majority of patients seen in chiropractic clinics across the country have some degree of inflammation. A patient may complain of pain, swelling, or a loss of function in a particular part of the body. As a chiropractor, it is important to address the causes of inflammation and work to reduce them in order to alleviate symptoms.
A study conducted in 2010 demonstrated how chiropractic treatments could reduce levels of inflammation. Researchers looked at more than 20 participants, dividing them into two groups. One group received no treatment while the other patients received nine chiropractic appointments. At the end of the study, it was determined that the patients who received treatment had fewer inflammatory markers in their blood samples than the control group.
Spinal adjustments can help reduce inflammation for patients, but chiropractic care also looks at a patient’s diet. More than 80% of chiropractors also include basic nutrition as part of their treatment plan. They typically recommend that patients consume more foods like:
• Leafy green vegetables
• Lean proteins
• Fatty fishes
• Berries and other fruits
• Nuts
• Olive oil
When you combine healthy eating habits with spinal adjustments, you can significantly reduce the overall inflammation in the body. In turn, this reduces the amount of pain you experience.
Relief from Headaches or Migraines
Headache disorders were responsible for close to 120 million lost workdays last year. Patients who suffer from chronic headaches or frequent migraines also may benefit from chiropractic treatment. Sometimes, misalignment of the spine and neck causes these issues.
This type of pain could be a key indicator that your neck muscles and vertebrae are misaligned. Over time, the muscles and nerves both become inflamed and can result in the severe headaches that many people experience. If you don’t resolve the issue promptly, it can result in pinched nerves that translate into chronic headaches.
One case study demonstrated that chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment could help with migraine reduction. The researchers followed one 52-year-old woman with chronic migraines through a series of chiropractic treatments. Six months after her treatment ended, she returned for a follow-up appointment. At this time, she had not had a single migraine occurrence since her treatment. This would suggest that correcting the alignment of the spine and neck could dramatically reduce the frequency of severe headaches.
Improved Immune System
Chiropractic care can do more than just eliminate the source of your pain. It can also support other body systems, including your immune system. The nervous system is in control of every aspect of your body from your red and white blood cells to the beating of your heart. When the spine is misaligned, it could interfere with the spinal cord and its ability to communicate with the rest of the body. This disrupted communication can result in a lowered immune system.
An experienced chiropractor can realign the spine and correct this nervous system disruption. This improves the nervous system’s ability to communicate with the immune system to ward off colds, viruses, and other diseases.
One of the leading studies in this area took a closer look at how the immune system could benefit from spinal adjustments. Researchers found that there was an increased respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) after a chiropractic adjustment. After reviewing the evidence of this study and several others, scientists have concluded that it may be possible for chiropractic care to extend your lifespan.
Lowers Blood Pressure
Chiropractic care is one of many natural ways to lower blood pressure. A special study looking at atlas adjustment found that this chiropractic treatment modality had the effect of two blood pressure medications given to patients in combination. It had fewer side effects than medications as well.
When used in combination with other natural treatments, patients may be able to control high blood pressure naturally. You can also lower blood pressure through other natural means, including:
• Drinking green tea
• Meditation
• Restricting sodium intake
• Consuming less alcohol
• Reducing caffeine intake
• Losing weight
A 2001 study demonstrated that chiropractic adjustments resulted in a temporary drop of the systolic blood pressure. It is believed that this drop in blood pressure is due to the stimulation received during treatments, as well as the elimination of the effects of the pressor reflex. While the drop is relatively minimal, it could be a significant treatment option for someone with chronically high systolic blood pressure.
More than Just Low Back Relief
Chiropractic care can influence almost every aspect of your health. It goes far beyond just relief of a patient’s lower back pain. It can impact health even at a cellular level for improved wellbeing that lasts. Experienced chiropractors know that their job is to treat a patient holistically so that they can experience all of these lasting benefits.
Keep in mind all of the advantages of chiropractic care so that you know where to turn for holistic health. A thorough chiropractor knows how to integrate multiple treatment modalities into a patient’s care plan so that treatment can improve the health of the entire body. It can do wonders for your back and neck pain, as well as other body systems. This one simple treatment could have a major impact on your overall health for years to come.
Serving Anchorage, Wasilla, Juneau, and the surrounding communities, Brent Wells, DC, offers patient-centered, personalized, and innovative chiropractic care. A California native, Dr. Wells earned a bachelor's of science degree from the University of Nevada. He then attended Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon. In 1998, he and his wife Coni moved to Alaska and opened Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab. He is a proud member of the American Chiropractic Association and the American Academy of Spine Physicians.
