All the Ways a Chiropractor Can Benefit Your Health

Chiropractors have your back. Literally! But they’re so much more than just someone you see when your back is on the fritz or you’ve got a pain in your neck! While chiropractors are trained in musculoskeletal and neurological conditions, especially those which have to do with the spine, they also take a holistic approach to healthcare and can help you with everything from that sore joint to your diet!

Back-breaking work! Chiropractors study for at least four years postgraduate at chiropractic colleges (the same length as medical doctors) and are required to take continuing education courses each year to maintain their license, making learning ongoing and current.

Chiropractic does a body good!

Back to basics: Did you know that chiropractic treatment has better results than medication or surgery for back pain in long-term studies?

Pain in the neck: Research shows that chiropractic treatments are more effective than medication for both acute and chronic neck conditions including neck pain, headaches, and migraines.

Weak in the knees: Chiropractors are not restricted to the spine and can treat any joint in the body!

Back it up! The spine houses the entire spinal cord which sends messages both to and from the brain and to and from muscles and organs in the body through nerves, making caring for your back good for your whole body!

Chiropractors possess a myriad of skills and broad expertise that’s easily accessed. Here’s the lowdown on how they can help you and your family achieve optimal wellness:

Doctor’s orders. Chiropractors are recognized as doctors because they can diagnose conditions and either provide you with appropriate treatment or refer you to someone who specializes in that condition. They can also be seen directly without a referral from a medical doctor. In Ontario, chiropractors can even refer you for x-rays, virtually eliminating the long wait that often occurs when trying to schedule x-ray referral appointments with your family doctor.

Comprehensive care. An initial assessment with your chiropractor is thorough, lasting about 45–60 minutes, which gives you plenty of time to ask probing questions about your concerns. These assessments can be quite thorough, allowing you to learn a lot about your body, get a much more specific diagnosis, and receive a customized treatment plan for your specific needs. Follow-up appointments are around 30 minutes whereas the average follow-up with a family doctor is only a few minutes long.

Customized treatments. Chiropractors want to treat the root cause of pain by taking a deeper look at the problem to help both with pain reduction and pain management. Chiropractors offer individualized plans that are specific and customized just for you and your needs. They consist of a combination of manual chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work similar to a massage, implementing various tools (such as fascial scraping, acupressure, and adjustment tools), ultrasound, electric stimulation, exercises and stretches, mobility work, kinesio/sports taping, orthotics, home care (ice, heat, muscle creams), supplements, braces, and so much more.

Lifestyle coaching. More than just adjustment advocates, chiropractors make the time to address the whole picture and can give advice on improving your nutrition and lifestyle. They can provide you with exercises to do at home so you can strengthen the area(s) in question; offer advice about ergonomic solutions; and can counsel you on implementing diet changes, including supplementation, that may help alleviate the pain you’re experiencing.

No matter how old (or young!) you are, you can benefit from visiting a chiropractor and there is so much more to chiropractic treatments than the traditional cracking of joints! The next time you feel pain, don’t wait: book a visit with your friendly neighbourhood chiropractor for a wellness check-up and get a whole lot more healthcare than you imagined!