The Advantages of Long-term Chiropractic Care
By Sara Butler
Many people find themselves on a chiropractor’s table due to back or neck pain. Chiropractors may be experts when it comes to problems of the spine, but there are benefits to long-term chiropractic beyond the health of your spine. Here are some of the reasons you may want to get on the chiropractic care bandwagon for the long haul.
When the Pain Subsides
If you’re seeing a chiropractor for a specific problem it can be easy to quit going once the pain is gone. Keeping your body in alignment over the long term can have a positive impact on other aspects of your health, including:
- Reaction time
- Visual acuity
- Cardiovascular health
- Lung capacity
- Balance
These are just a few of the benefits you can reap from long-term care.
How Proper Alignment Helps Your Body
There are several ways in which keeping your body in alignment and your spine free of interference can have a positive impact on your overall health. Chiropractic care can:
- Support organ health – Since adjustments have a direct impact on your nervous system and each spinal nerve has a direct line of communication to specific organ systems, a properly aligned spine will help your organs to function at their very best. This can decrease your chances of suffering from illness and chronic disease.
- Improve immune system health – If your nervous system is able to send and receive messages free from interference caused by subluxations, it means your immune system will be functioning at its best. This can help you stay healthy all year long.
- Improved range of motion – Your chiropractor doesn’t simply adjust your spine; they also help to keep the soft tissue surrounding your spinal joints free of restriction. This can result in a better range of motion and increased flexibility, which helps to keep pain at bay and reduces your chance of injury.
- Increased lung capacity – This may not be one of the first things you think of when you think of chiropractic care, but the truth is studies have found chiropractic care can help to increase lung capacity. This reduces your risk of heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular issues that may be life threatening.
If you began seeing your chiropractor for a specific problem, you might be tempted to discontinue care once the pain has subsided. That plan may be something you want to reconsider. Once you are free of pain your chiropractor will begin maintenance care, a plan that you can see has many benefits beyond keeping you free from pain.