In the process of pursuing your resolutions, don’t forget the basics. You may be focusing on moving more, increasing your protein, or eating more vegetables. These goals are great, but they will not have the results you want without a solid foundation.
Make sure you are getting enough hydration, reducing your stress, and sleeping well. And be sure to keep chiropractic care in your routine, because there are many benefits to regular adjustments even if you are not in pain.
Let’s look at some of the benefits of chiropractic care and why it is especially important this time of year.
What is Chiropractic Care
Traditional Chiropractic care involves adjusting or mobilizing joints in the body. This can be done in the spine, neck, and other joints such as the hips, wrists, and feet. It is done to help correct biomechanical imbalances, alleviate pain, and restore normal body function.
Along with traditional adjustments, I utilize the Active Release Technique (ART). It is a therapy that treats soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, and nerves. Its main purpose is to break up scar tissue, adhesions, trigger points, or “knots”. It can also successfully improve circulation, release entrapped nerves, and improve the flexibility of the muscle and surrounding fascia.
While chiropractic care is highly beneficial for pain relief, there are many other reasons that it is valuable for everybody. The positive impact it has on the immune system might be the most compelling reason to prioritize chiropractic care this time of year.
Regular Chiropractic Care & the Immune System
Since the early 1900s, there has been evidence that regular chiropractic care has a positive effect on the immune system. It is believed that this is because of the link between the nervous system and the immune system.
One of the early studies, done by researchers in Davenport, Iowa, looked at death rates during the Spanish Flu epidemic. The findings were astounding. Out of 93,590 patients treated by traditional medical doctors, 6116 died. Simply put, that is one out of every fifteen patients. However, out of the 1635 patients at the Palmer School of Chiropractic, there was only one death.
A study published in 1987 found those who had regular chiropractic care for five years had 200% greater immune competence than the general population. This study was led by Dr. Pero, Ph.D., chief of cancer prevention research at New York’s Preventive Medicine Institute and professor of medicine at New York University.
When discussing these findings Pero stated, “When applied in a clinical framework, I have never seen a group other than this chiropractic group to experience a 200% increase over the normal patients. This is why it is so dramatically important. We have never seen such an improvement in a group.”
Other Benefits
In addition to the impact on the immune system, researchers are looking at many other factors. Some of the following benefits may surprise you and cause you to think of a loved one who is suffering from one of the ailments.
- Sciatica Pain - a randomized double-blind trial compared active and simulated manipulations at the Sapienza University of Rome. They found that 28% of participants treated by a chiropractor reported being pain-free at the end of the trial. In addition, a significant reduction in the use of painkillers was found, and 55% of patients reported no further sciatica symptoms.
- Migraines - A systematic review of randomized clinical trials found evidence that chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (CSMT) helped manage the intensity, frequency, and duration of migraines. It was also noted that “over-the-counter medication was reduced from baseline to 4 weeks post-treatment with 55% in the CSMT group."
- Blood Pressure - The authors of a study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension showed that a specific spinal adjustment can significantly reduce blood pressure in those with hypertension who have a misalignment of the Atlas of the spine. The results were seen after one adjustment and lasted up to eight weeks.
- Nervous system - A study looking at the effects of chiropractic adjustments on depression found that “Chiropractic care and spinal manipulation regulate the autonomic nervous system... In particular, they may activate the parasympathetic system to counterbalance the activity of the sympathetic system.” Being in a parasympathetic state allows your body to rest, digest, and restore itself.
- Chronic Pain - A pragmatic, randomized, controlled trial compared patients treated with chiropractic care and those treated at a pain clinic. Outcomes were measured with the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. The chiropractic care patients had a decrease in disability by 5.9 points compared to .36 points for the pain clinic group. In addition, the mean reduction in pain intensity was about 1.8 points greater for the chiropractic group than the pain clinic group at eight weeks.
- Depression - In a literature review, researchers found evidence that major depressive disorder (MDD) may be a symptom of autonomic imbalance. Since chiropractic manipulation, spinal manipulative therapy, and vagal nerve stimulation elicit sympathetic and parasympathetic responses, they may improve autonomic imbalance and the symptoms of MDD.
There are numerous benefits to regular chiropractic care. While more research is needed, many believe that chiropractic care supports detox pathways, aids digestion, reduces asthma symptoms, improves sleep, and boosts athletic performance.
Remember, even when you feel great, chiropractic care can support your body and help it work at its best! So, give me a call, make an appointment online, or send a friend my way.
Dr. Jamie