A popular opinion: Chiropractors can help relieve neck and back pain – and nothing else.
A counteractive fact: They are great for neck and back pain BUT that’s not all they can do.
While proactive chiropractic mainly focuses on treating disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems – and their effect on the entire body, they can help with a variety of symptoms and health problems.
What many people do not realize is most chiropractors have received postgraduate training and board certification in areas such as neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, clinical nutrition, acupuncture, physical rehabilitation, and sports injury.
The bottom line is chiropractors learn about the whole body and thus, proactive chiropractic may help you with the following health concerns.
Lower Back Pain
Chiropractors are highly skilled at manipulating the sacroiliac joint – the one joining the pelvic region to the lowest region of the spine. Hence, they are able to relieve back pain to a significant extent.
Some chiropractors even have certification in the Active Release Technique (ART), which involves the removal of scar tissue from muscles to alleviate pain and discomfort.
If you are suffering from lower back pain – and even if you are not aware of the cause, you may benefit from proactive chiropractic who combines ART and spinal manipulation technique.
Digestive Problems
You may probably know digestion and the nerves in the thoracic region of your spine are closely linked.
A study published in the journal called International Surgery showed 66% of the people who were suffering from chronic abdominal pain had a thoracic disc herniation. This condition refers to a problem in the area between the spinal bones. Additionally, it was also seen that people who did have a herniated disc had previously been diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
With that being said, thoracic disc herniation is not the only spinal issue potentially leading to stomach problems. Misaligned thoracic vertebrae may cause the nerves to start sending erratic signals to the stomach and intestines and this can further result in digestive problems, including gas, bloating, and heartburn.
Thus, proactive chiropractic may help promote optimal functioning and healing of the digestive system by preventing or treating any nerve interference in the chest and abdomen region.
Neck Pain
Chiropractors may also help relieve neck pain by spinal manipulations. Research shows this technique may be far more effective at easing neck pain than contemporary medications and may promote flexibility and range of motion.
If you visit a chiropractor with the complaint of neck pain, they may first assess your movements to see if the pain is really stemming from the neck or the shoulders. Once they identify the root cause of the issue, they can help alleviate your pain better.
Headaches
For headaches triggered by the neck or upper back pain, chiropractors can use the manipulation-massage technique to loosen up the muscles to ease your pain.
Pregnancy Pain
During pregnancy, pelvic misalignment can cause lower back pain and sciatica. While medications and surgery pose an alarming risk of harm to the growing fetus, chiropractors can use the Webster technique to adjust the sacrum and sacroiliac joint to rebalance the pelvis.
If you have any other questions about what Chiropractors can do, we are happy to help!