Does Chiropractic Really Work?

Chiropractic has been around for over a hundred years, and has been used to help everyone from tiny babies to the elderly. Even top sports star and entertainers... like Tiger Woods, Emmitt Smith, Tony Robbins, Joe Montana, Lance Armstrong, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Mel Gibson. In fact, the U.S. government is so convinced chiropractic works they've been paying for it through the Medicare system for 30 years. All major insurance companies in the United states cover chiropractic care for short term relief of neck and back pain as numerous studies have proven the cost effectiveness of chiropractic care.In addition to that, here's what some of the top medical researchers had to say about chiropractic."Manipulation [chiropractic adjustments], with or without exercise, improved symptoms more than medical care did after both 3 and 12 months."- British Medical Journal.

Another study stated the following: "Chiropractor's manipulation of the spine was more helpful than any of the following: traction, massage, biofeedback, acupuncture, injection of steroids into the spine and back corsets, and ultrasound." -- Stanley Bigos, MD, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery. There's an endless list of health problems chiropractic can help with. For example, here's what a recent study on chiropractic and high blood pressure found. "This procedure has the effect of not one, but two blood-pressure medications given in combination... And it seems to be adverse-event free. We saw no side effects and no problems" said study leader George Bakris, MD, director of the University of Chicago hypertension center.

Why Suffer With Years Of Misery? The big myth about health problems is "maybe it will just go away on its own." A 1998 study in the British Medical Journal proved this myth false, showing that most back pain sufferers who do nothing will have pain 12 months later. That's no way to live, not when there could be an easy solution to your problem.

There are powerful formulas for helping conquer debilitating neck and back pain problems that can often get in the way of living a normal, productive life. This formula combines both chiropractic and exercise in moderation to eliminate back pain and prevent damage in the future. Back and neck pain are largely the product of inactivity and static posture. The goal of the chiropractor is to improve range of motion to the joints, decrease muscle spasms around the spinal joints and prescribe an easy to follow home exercise program that will help to maximize the results obtained form chiropractic care.

This latter part of a patient's care is referred to as active care. Chiropractic care moves in a progression from passive care (meaning the doctor does the work) to active care (meaning the patient does rehab exercises for muscle strength and flexibility). It is most beneficial to get patients started on active care as soon as possible for maximum results. In fact, most patients in our office are started on active care immediately unless they are in acute pain and cannot do so. This may simply include walking for 10-15 minutes a couple times a day and will progress as the patient improves.

Chiropractic and exercise are a powerful combination when implemented properly and can empower patients to a better pain free life.