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Originally Posted On: https://louisvillemedcenter.org/chiropractic-care/10-benefits-to-regularly-seeing-a-chiropractor/

 

These 10 benefits of seeing a chiropractor regularly will convince you that it’s time to book an appointment with a chiropractor near Boulder.

Should you wait to see a chiropractor until you’re already in pain? While a chiropractor can certainly help with reactive care for pain, many patients find that being proactive about preventing musculoskeletal dysfunction is the best way to stay feeling vibrant and flexible. Pain is never normal. That’s why the team at Louisville Medical Center in Louisville, CO is so passionate about helping people to keep pain away using routine chiropractic visits.

Why should I see a chiropractor? It’s a question we hear often from people who are curious about the benefits of chiropractic care. Seeing a chiropractor regularly is about more than just living a pain-free life. Many people discover that they are able to function better, reach peak performance, and prevent common workplace strains by supporting their musculoskeletal and central nervous systems with routine chiropractic care. A new world opens up when you discover that chiropractors do more than just treat a “bad back.”

Yes, you’ve probably heard several people in your life share that they were able to get over back pain with help from a chiropractor. What you may not realize is that treating back pain is just one of the many services offered by chiropractors. In fact, chiropractors treat more than 35 million Americans seeking wellness and rehabilitation annually. That includes both adults and children. While chiropractic intervention can be an integral part of recovery from a back injury, the truth is that chiropractors support the proper function of bones, cartilage, connective tissue, joints, and muscles. Take a look at 10 benefits to regularly seeing a chiropractor that many people throughout the Boulder area are already enjoying!

1. Support for Neck Pain

“Screen time” may just be the single most detrimental thing to ever happen to necks. Millions of Americans suffer from neck pain and strain tied to staring at screens throughout the day. Unfortunately, “screen time” promotes poor posture that can trigger a chain effect that goes from the neck and spine to the rest of the musculoskeletal system.

The prevalence of neck issues stemming from screen time is so extreme that medical professionals have a special name to describe the phenomenon of neck pain and dysfunction happening today. “Text neck” is a term used to describe the posture that’s formed by leaning forward for prolonged periods of time while texting, watching screens, or doing work on a computer. Unfortunately, text neck is linked with a variety of symptoms that can include neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches, and thoracic hyperkyphosis (spinal curvature). What is especially troubling about “text neck” is that it’s impacting children and teens. Many young adults are already at stages of neck pain that are common in people who are over 50 before they even graduate from college. Earlier chiropractic intervention may help to correct alignment issues caused by screen time before they develop into chronic conditions.

Screens aren’t going anywhere. That means we have to readjust the way we view spinal health in light of heavy screen usage being part of our lives for work, school, and everything else. In studies, chiropractic care has been shown to be an effective treatment for neck pain. A study from 2012 found spinal manipulation to be more effective at treating neck pain than medication.

2. Improved Digestion

It turns out that chiropractic care may be useful for anyone suffering from mysterious digestive issues. It’s possible that heartburn, acid reflux, gas, and other common digestive disturbances could be caused by misalignments in the vertebrae. Few people know that spinal misalignments can actually send signals to the nerves for more acid. This can leave people feeling bloated and inflamed. While they may be trying to solve the issue within the gut, it actually originates in the spine. Better digestion means better nutrient absorption, more energy, and a more comfortable way of being!

3. Headache Relief

“Evidence suggests that chiropractic care, including spinal manipulation, improves migraine and cervicogenic headaches,” according to a paper published on evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with headaches. With close to 90% of chiropractors reporting that they treat patients with head disorders, many people suffering from chronic headaches find sweet relief after seeking out chiropractic care following failed attempts with other forms of medicine. It’s often difficult to pinpoint the cause of chronic headaches. However, some headaches are actually tension headaches that originate due to pressure in the neck.

4. Better Posture

So many people are walking around with slumped, crooked posture that makes them look and feel terrible. We often don’t realize just how “down” we are until we experience what correct form is supposed to feel like! Working with a chiropractor allows you to correct your posture using a combination of adjustments and exercises. The benefits of having good posture expand to so many different areas of our lives. People who learn how to maintain proper posture experience:

• Better, healthier breathing.
• Self-confidence.
• Improved appearance.
• A stronger core.
• Injury reduction/prevention.
• Reductions in headaches.
• Back relief.
• Optimal digestion.
• Improved mood.

There’s a real posture crisis going on right now. Long hours spent sitting at desks are causing many people to suffer from chronic posture issues that are impacting their health. In fact, a condition called hyperkyphosis which can be described as “hunchback” posture is causing many people to sit and stand in permanent states of spinal dysfunction simply because they’ve grown used to sitting incorrectly.

5. Improved Athletic Performance

Do you go hard on the field, in the gym, or on the pavement? Make sure you’re being smart about it. Spinal adjustments are linked with improved sports performance. While research is still emerging on why chiropractic care helps to support athletic performance, it’s likely that an adjustment’s influence on joint mobility, pain reduction, and reductions in tissue restriction are responsible. Chiropractic care also helps to ensure that oxygen is reaching tissue to provide “fuel.” Many people also find that the flexibility gained through regular chiropractic stretching helps them to move faster.

6. Reduced Reliance on Opioids for Pain Relief

People dealing with pain might be concerned about being prescribed opioid pain relievers due to the chances of becoming dependent. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 10 million people aged 12 or older misuse opioids annually. This is why this next piece of information is so important for anyone looking for a safe way to manage pain. According to researchers, people who use chiropractic care have a 64% lower chance of receiving an opioid prescription compared to non-chiropractic users. What’s more, the adjusted likelihood of filling a prescription for an opioid was 55% lower among people using chiropractic care.

7. Affordability

According to a 2016 study looking at the potential financial benefits of using chiropractic treatment for Medicare recipients with chronic back pain, researchers found that people who received chiropractic treatment had a lower overall treatment cost. What’s more, this study showed that treatment duration was shorter for chiropractic patients compared to patients seeking conventional medical treatment. This is great news for anyone concerned about paying high costs for longer periods of time due to ineffective treatments.

8. Improved Immune Function

The immune system is responsible for how we feel, look, and perform. Keeping the immune system as sharp as possible is the key to avoiding everything from viral and bacterial infections to autoimmune disorders and chronic illness at bay. Chiropractic care can help to support the immune system by helping to prevent dysfunction in the nervous system that triggers autoimmune reactions.

9. Better Sleep

A healthy sleep life is truly the foundation for a healthier life. According to the CDC, roughly 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems. Lack of sleep is associated with injuries, chronic diseases, mental illnesses, poor quality of life, lost productivity, and higher costs for medical care. What’s more, poor sleep is also linked with serious chronic conditions that range from obesity to depression.

Chiropractic care can help to improve the quality of sleep in a number of ways. First, chronic pain is one of the top things keeping people up at night. It can be impossible to get a full night of rest when pain constantly wakes you up. Some people develop insomnia when living with pain simply because they are unable to get comfortable enough to fall asleep at night. Getting help for pain from a chiropractor may help you to finally get comfortable enough to fall asleep without disruption. What’s more, treating pain allows you to stay asleep after falling asleep instead of being constantly disturbed by pain.

Mood issues, depression, and anxiety caused by imbalances in the nervous system can prevent some people from falling asleep. This is where having a spinal misalignment identified by a chiropractor becomes so important. Studies show that chiropractic care can help to provide long-term improvement for depression. Other studies have shown reductions in anxiety when patients are treated by chiropractors. Some people are disrupted constantly during the night due to sleep apnea. If sleep apnea is caused by misalignment or subluxation in the spine, the condition might be able to be resolved through chiropractic care.

10. Lowered Blood Pressure

Yes, there is a strong link between chiropractic care and lowered blood pressure. If you’re concerned about the health risks for heart attack and stroke associated with having high blood pressure, this news is important to hear! A study of 50 individuals with a misaligned Atlas vertebra and high blood pressure showed significant decreases in blood pressure following a one-time specialized chiropractic adjustment. The results were equal to taking two blood-pressure drugs at once.

 

There’s More to Learn About the Benefits of Chiropractic Care

This list of the 10 benefits of regularly seeing a chiropractor barely scratches the surface. The truth is that making chiropractic care a part of your life can offer benefits for better breathing, better cognitive function, faster recovery, better balance, increased energy, and improved range of motion. There’s even evidence to suggest that seeing a chiropractor can result in a healthier pregnancy.

Many people throughout Colorado are finding that they can live healthier lives by not waiting until something goes wrong to see a chiropractor. Of course, it’s not too late to begin tapping into the regenerative benefits of chiropractic treatments if pain has already become a part of your life. In fact, getting into a routine with a chiropractor may help you to avoid an invasive option like surgery down the road if you are struggling with pain, reduced range of motion, or hindered mobility.

The Louisville Medical Center team is excited to help you discover the perks of working with a Colorado chiropractor for yourself! That’s why we make it so easy to get acquainted with our friendly office located just outside of Boulder in Louisville, Colorado. Request your free online consultation or call (970) 344-9551 today!