Chiropractic Treatment and Musculoskeletal Pain
By Gary Picariello
Chiropractic care is a safe and effective way to treat musculoskeletal ailments like back pain, neck pain, or sciatica. At least that is what the results of a variety of new studies are concluding. The most recent of which compared the benefits of chiropractic treatment with more conventional medical care for the most common types of pain issues affecting adults of different ages.
Over 300 Users Can't be Wrong
Researchers examined the findings from patients who suffered from spinal, hip and/or shoulder pain. Of the control group, 403 patients saw a medical doctor for relief, and 316 people saw a chiropractor. The results after four months of treatment from each leaned toward the benefits of chiropractic treatement, in particular spinal manipulation.
Chiropractic to the Rescue
Spinal manipulation describes any type of therapeutic movement of the spine, specifically applying pressure on a joint between two vertebrae. Most research on chiropractic treatment has focused on spinal manipulation for back pain. And with good reason as that is the most common problem facing adults as they age.
That said, chiropractic treatment can help resolve many other issues including headaches, asthma, and even carpal tunnel syndrome. The medical community is no longer reticent to conclude that chiropractic spinal manipulation may be helpful for back pain, migraine, neck pain, and even whiplash.
Twist and Shout?
Done correctly, spinal manipulation often restores the proper position of the vertebral joints that protect the nerves in the spine which in turn gives the body its ability to address and heal the source of the pain. For example, the body's natural response to pain is often a muscle spasm especially if the pain is related to muscles or ligments. So, treat the source and eliminate the pain.
Restoring proper communication via the nerves along the nervous system allows the body to perform the natural its healing process as efficiently as possible. By putting pressure on the nerves chiropractic adjustments can restore proper position and range of motion which in turn can reduce or eliminate the source of the pain directly.
The chiropractor restores the proper position of the spinal vertebra, through the chiropractic adjustment and maintains that correction long enough for the body to heal.
Speedy Recovery
Over 300 patients enjoyed a positive outcome: It was proved that different types of manual therapy can be used to treat people with spinal alignment problems. For some acute musculoskeletal pain, spinal manipulation has been shown to speed recovery.