The Fringe Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic treatment is probably best known for treating musculoskeletal complaints, whether it be a sprain/strain, headache, sciatica etc. When a new patient comes in to see me, I perform a standard history and orthopaedic exam on the person. On most patients, I also perform a postural check and I assess the motion of the spinal joints.

Why is this important?

Structure and function go hand in hand. If we allow the day-to-day stresses of our jobs and lifestyles to build, they can create problems, from minor to severe. Being that the spine is central to our structure and also happens to be the ‘relay station’ of our central and peripheral nervous systems, it becomes important to address issues that arise there. This may manifest as restriction and pain in one or more regions of the spine and pelvis. These restrictions in the spinal joint are often referred to as subluxation complexes.

On the other side of the equation, if there are problems with the organs or with other tissues that are supplied by these same nerves, this may manifest as a problem at the corresponding spinal level (at the relay station).  The main goal here is to restore the motion in these restricted segments and thereby also reducing irritation to the nervous system. Keeping in mind that this is ‘high-traffic’ area of the nervous system, performing chiropractic adjustments sets off a cascade of events like; reduction of muscle spasms, a release of endorphins, and a decrease in local inflammation – just to name a few.  I often compare chiropractic adjustments to hitting the ‘re-boot’ on your computer.

I will give an example of a scenario that I often see. Jane comes in with chronic pain in her mid-back, between her shoulder blades. She has a stressful job, drinks a lot of coffee, and her diet is not the best. During her history, I also learn that she has symptoms of gastric reflux, which she is taking medication for. Upon examination, I notice several levels of spinal restriction and pain in her mid-back. As part of the treatment, I perform a chiropractic manipulation on this area. During her follow-up visit she says that her back feels a lot better, and oddly enough, her reflux symptoms are much improved as well.

So what could have happened here? The area of her chief complaint in her back also happens to be the same area that gives nerve supply to the stomach region, therefore it is possible that by helping reduce the irritation to the nerves in that area, that other areas supplied by those nerves may have also benefited. I have seen these ‘fringe benefits’ of chiropractic care happen countless times in my office.

Why not make an appointment for your chiropractic adjustment and reap the ‘fringe benefits’? Just give us a call at 519-258-8544.