Benefits of Chiropractic Care

 

 By Martin Hughes, D.C.

 

Photo Credit x ray doc image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com

According to a Sep. 9, 2009, article by Dr. Charles Masarsky in "Dynamic Chiropractic," the long-term health benefits of chiropractic care may include the following: retention of lung capacity, improved visual acuity, reaction time and balance, and enhanced cardiovascular health. Important short-term benefits of chiropractic care include pain reduction, improved joint range of motion and enhanced quality of life.

Pain Reduction

One of the principle benefits of chiropractic care--and chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT), in particular--is the reduction of symptomatic musculoskeletal complaints, including pain. According to a 1999 study published in "The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association," when CMT was applied to the side of neck pain versus manipulation on the side opposite the pain or to a placebo group, acute neck pain patients showed less pain intensity and a greater range of neck motion.
Chiropractic care is also effective at treating low back pain. A 1995 study published in the "British Medical Journal" states that, after three years of treatment, patients receiving chiropractic care for low back pain derived more benefit and long-term satisfaction than patients treated by hospital therapists. The researchers suggest that chiropractic care for low back pain may be more effective because chiropractic patients often receive more treatments over longer time periods.

 

Improved Joint Range of Motion

Chiropractic care emphasizes joint health and attempts to optimize patients' range of motion. In fact, the ability of a patient to move body segments--including the spine and extremities--through full, dynamic ranges of motion is an outcome marker most chiropractors use to determine a patient's progression toward optimal structural health and fitness.
When appropriate, chiropractors may use CMT to help improve a patient's segmental joint range of motion, but many chiropractors will also perform soft tissue work on muscles, ligaments and tendons surrounding a joint to augment or enhance the effects of CMT. Many chiropractors will prescribe specific range of motion exercises for their patients, which can be performed at home on a daily basis. According to the American Chiropractic Association, range of motion exercises help maintain normal joint movement, increase joint flexibility and improve a patients ability to perform their activities of daily living in a pain-free state.

Enhanced Quality of Life

Many patients who receive chiropractic care report an enhanced quality of life as one of the most significant benefits. According to a 2001 study published in the "Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics," chiropractic care is effective in managing cancer patients' pain and improving their quality of life. A holistic chiropractor utilizing multiple treatment modalities spends a significant amount of time with her patients, counsels patients on their diet and lifestyle, emphasizes home care and provides appropriate referrals to other local providers--both alternative and biomedical--based on the individual's presentation.
Patients' satisfaction with chiropractic care and their enhanced quality of life often is tied to the amount of time the chiropractor spends with them and the individualized care they receive. This is also true of patients receiving care from other health care professionals, such as naturopathic physicians, who search for and treat the root causes of illness.

 

References

• Dynamic Chiropractic;" The Long-Term Benefits of Chiropractic Care; Charles Masarsky, D.C.; Sep. 9, 2009
• "The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association;" The Effect of Spinal Manipulative Therapy on Pain Reduction and Range of Motion; John R. Pikula; June 1999
• "British Medical Journal;" Randomised Comparison of Chiropractic and Hospital Outpatient Management for Low Back Pain; T.W. Meade et al.; August 1995
• American Chiropractic Association: Don't Take Arthritis Lying Down
• "Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics;" The Chiropractor's Role in Pain Management for Oncology Patients; Jeffrey Schneider, D.C.; January 2001

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/144502-benefits-of-chiropractic-care/#ixzz1f7iD4oAf

Take Care of your Spinal Health TODAY! Call us at (864)987-5541

Heart rate changes in response to mild mechanical irritation of the high cervical spinal cord region in infants
-Forensic Science International
Volume 128, Issue 3, August 28, 2002, Pages 168-176
L. E. Koch, H. Koch, S. Graumann-Brunt, D. Stolle, J. M. Ramirez and K. S. Saternus

“In first world countries, sudden infant death (SID) is the most common cause of death during the first 12 months of postnatal life.”

In this study, infants between 1 and 12 months of age were given upper neck chiropractic adjustments if they were thought to be at risk of sudden infant syndrome, by noting “asymmetries in the horizontal and sagittal plane of body posture and motion.” [Postural and segmental chiropractic subluxation complexes]

Asymmetry in the atlanto-occipital-C2 region was determined by x-rays.

“For the chiropractic therapy the infants were positioned on their back while the chiropractor was sitting perpendicular to the child's head. Great care was taken that the infant was comfortable before the impulse [adjustment] was administered. The impulse [adjustment] was applied to the side of the asymmetry.”

“How safe is chiropractic treatment for young infants?”

“The chiropractic therapy has proven to be a successful technique which can be used to treat disorders, especially cerebral disturbances of motor patterns of various etiology (wryneck, c-scoliosis, irritation of the plexus brachialis), sensomotoric disturbances of integration ability (retardation of sensation and coordination), as well as pain related entities such as cry-babies with ‘3-month colic’ or hyperactivity with sleeplessness.”

“In older children disturbances of this kind are known as retardation of development in motor patterns as well as in sensory abilities.”

The epidemiological prevalence of such disturbances is as high as 17.8% of children.

“Chiropractic treatment seems to be the most successful therapy which helps to treat such disorders.”

“Therefore, chiropractic treatment and manual therapy have become increasingly popular over the past decade.”

“We can report more that 20,000 children treated without serious complications.”

“Thus, our findings are consistent with the possibility that a minor mechanical irritation of the cervical region may trigger the first step in the events that lead to SID.”

“Children with a disturbed symmetry of the atlanto-occipital region could be of higher risk for SID.”

http://danmurphydc.com/Koch.short.pdf