If you’re like many people, you might have the impression that chiropractic care involves aggressive, dangerous treatments. After all, we’ve all seen the videos online of chiropractors “cracking” necks and backs. That can’t be safe, right?
But chiropractic care has been around for hundreds of years, and the treatments used are arguably thousands of years old. Many people swear by these treatments and claim that chiropractic adjustments are the only modalities that can alleviate their symptoms at all.
So, what is the truth about this matter? Is chiropractic care safe, or is it a hyped-up treatment that has little efficacy and a lot of anecdotal reports? Let’s take a look!
Chiropractic Care Throughout History
Chiropractic medicine, as a discipline, began in 1895. During that time, it was discovered that manipulating certain areas of the spine could lead to profound health effects. For instance, pushing a spinal segment in the neck back into place could relieve arm pain or other issues throughout the body.
Since that time, the treatments, diagnostic procedures, and other components of the practice have been refined to reflect our current understanding of health research.
Today, chiropractors utilize x-ray machines and a variety of other tools to deliver the best care possible. But they have never strayed from the original principles inherent in the practice.
Chiropractic Care for All People
One interesting question about chiropractic care is whether or not the treatment is appropriate for certain populations. For instance, should a newborn baby receive chiropractic care? What about pregnant women? How about the elderly?
Over the years, the answer to all of these questions has been a resounding “yes!” No matter what age a person is, or what conditions they have, chiropractic care seems to provide significant health benefits. For example, a newborn may become much calmer after chiropractic treatments, achieving a near-instantaneous state of relaxation due to the action of the chiropractor’s hands.
On the other hand, an older adult with osteoporosis could also benefit from chiropractic treatment. While the chiropractor may have to slightly adjust his or her approach when treating each of these individuals, the principles remain the same: vertebrae that are out of position need to be realigned.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
So, what are the specific benefits inherent in chiropractic care?
As you might imagine, the most common patient after chiropractic treatments is that their pain is drastically reduced. However, this is far from the only benefit these patients experience with regular chiropractic care. Below is a list of some of the most frequently cited beneficial outcomes from chiropractic care.
- Reduced Headaches.
- Improved Balance.
- Better Range of Motion and Mobility.
- Decreased Inflammation.
To be honest, we could go on and on about the benefits patients experience as a result of chiropractic care. However, we’ve got other topics to cover!
Chiropractic Care Risks
It would be silly and misleading to say that any treatment is completely risk-free. Of course, there is a risk with literally anything we do in life. Even walking outside of the house poses a risk to our health and safety!
But we always aim to balance the risks of a treatment or action with the potential benefits/rewards.
In the previous section, we discussed the many benefits of chiropractic care. Now, let’s cover some of the risks of chiropractic treatments.
Occasionally, patients may experience some bruising and muscle soreness as a result of chiropractic treatments. These issues usually clear up in a matter of a few days.
Very rarely, patients may have a vascular anomaly which poses a risk for certain types of chiropractic treatments. However, this is an exceedingly rare complication, and chiropractors always thoroughly screen patients to ensure that they are not in any danger during treatment.
Is chiropractic care right for you? Set up your appointment with the professionals at At Last Chiropractic in Lithia, FL today to find out! Book your session now!
