Chiropractic care is utilized by patients for various reasons. The majority of people initially seeking chiropractic treatment are generally looking for relief of neck pain and lower back pain. However, once pain relief has been achieved many find that there are additional benefits to be received through chiropractic health care. This article will discuss what I call the “three P’s” of chiropractic; namely, pain relief, prevention and performance.
Pain relief. As stated earlier, a large percentage of patients discover chiropractic because they suffer from neck or back pain. Chiropractic has been recognized as the gold standard for relief of spinal pain. Doctors of chiropractic specialize in diagnosing and treating the most common cause of spine pain, which is misalignments and improper movement of the joints of the vertebral column. By correcting improper movement of abnormal alignment of spinal vertebrae most patients get relief of spine pain without the use of drugs or surgery.
Prevention. Once pain relief has been achieved many users of chiropractic care find it is best to continue on with some type of preventative maintenance and supportive care. Usually, during the pain relief phase, chiropractors will introduce their patients to preventative stretching and strengthening exercises. Additionally, the doctor of chiropractic will counsel patients individually as to lifestyle advice such as posture and ergonomics. A number of patients also return for periodic maintenance chiropractic “tuneup’s” to keep their spine moving properly and in good alignment.
Performance. By keeping the spine in good alignment and allowing for proper movement patients discover that their life is enhanced overall. Because they are not in pain, they generally, feel better. Examples are: an improvement of energy, sleeping better, able to exercise vigorously and regularly. Many athletes and people involved in competitive sports find that regular chiropractic treatments give them a competitive edge in their particular sport. They also find that utilizing chiropractic for superior performance helps them to avoid injury or return from injury more quickly.
Performance also extends to women during pregnancy delivery of their babies. Most women who receive chiropractic care during their pregnancy tend to have less lower back and pelvic pain. Additionally, research studies show that women receiving chiropractic care throughout the pregnancy have quicker and less painful deliveries at the time of birth.
For nearly 125 years patients have found that chiropractic care helps with neck and back pain relief, prevention of recurring injuries and improved lifestyle performance.