It seems like a recurring theme in these blog articles.  Chiropractic works.  Chiropractic can decrease your pain.  Chiropractic can increase your range of motion.  Chiropractic can help you sleep better.  Chiropractic can help you become more active with less pain.  Chiropractic can improve your quality of life.

This recurring theme is actually a result of more studies and research that have been performed on chiropractic care.  For years there were virtually no studies to validate chiropractic care.  Over the past ten years there has been a lot of research, clinical trials, case studies and patient satisfaction surveys.  Remember the Gallup Poll that rated chiropractors as some of the most effective and trusted doctors for musculoskeletal pain?  I of course wrote a blog article about it that you can find on my website too.

This article is just another example of how chiropractic helps patients on a daily basis with decreasing their pain level.  The study states the typical response is one point on a visual analog scale.  To be honest I think this is a gross under statement.  The article then goes on to say that patients that had spinal manipulation have increased range of motion, are able to move faster, can be more active and sleep better.  Seems like a lot of changes for just one point in pain reduction.  But hey, let’s not split hairs.

There is one part I need to help out on in the article.  The one doctor states they are not sure how chiropractic works at this point.  Let me teach you how chiropractic works.

When you get adjusted, this article calls it a manipulation, it decreases the pressure on the nerve roots that exit your spine. It decreases swelling in your facet joints, reduces disc bulging and herniations, and even decreases muscle spasms and tension.

A chiropractic adjustment is also different than having your back cracked at the massage therapist, a physical therapist manipulation and even an osteopathic manipulation.  A chiropractic adjustment is very specific.  We focus on moving one bone to alleviate the pressure on that specific nerve root.

A gross manipulation like you would receive at physical therapy or your osteopathic doctor is simply a stretching movement to increase range of motion and decrease joint fixation in the spine.

Incidental cracking you hear while getting a massage is just the releasing of the facet joints in the spine.  Much like cracking your knuckles.  A chiropractic adjustments has a specific line of drive to correct the subluxation.  

The ONLY doctor that spends their entire career and training to adjust/manipulate your spine is a chiropractor.  

Who do you want to do your heart surgery?  A cardiologist that spends his entire life doing it or your family doctor that had cardiology classes in school?

Trust the experts!

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/04/11/523388406/spinal-manipulation-can-alleviate-back-pain-study-concludes