About 80% of adults suffer from some kind of back pain. With so many of us struggling with pain in our daily lives, there are many things that we have heard about resolving back pain. Some measures include maintaining a healthy weight and a proper diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting regular exercise. Sometimes, however, that isn’t enough. We might take a bad fall and get hurt, injure ourselves on the job, get in an accident, or just sleep wrong and end up with an aching back.

Luckily, there are professionals who can help us deal with those issues when we suffer from an injury. We might not always think of going to a chiropractor when we get hurt, especially if we are not familiar with back pain. However, it’s important to note that injuries aren’t always something we can “walk off”. Ignoring an injury can often make it worse, and we must get proper care for back, neck, and hip pain, just as we would seek medical attention for any illness. There is no use in prolonging suffering if there are doctors who can help you get better sooner, especially when many insurance companies cover chiropractic care. So, what are the benefits of chiropractic care?

Pain Management

Pain management is the most commonly cited reason for visiting a chiropractor. A chiropractor can easily help that ache in your low back from sitting in a budget office chair all day. Pain in the neck, shoulders, and hips can also be addressed through an adjustment. Your chiropractor can often help you to identify what exactly is causing your pain, such as repetitive movements, poor posture, or even an uneven gait. Pain prevention is really the goal. By helping pinpoint the origin of your pain, they can help you avoid the same issue in the future.

Mobility

Along with a decrease in pain, chiropractics can also help with mobility. An unfortunate side effect of pain is that it often prevents us from utilizing our full range of motion. When a chiropractor is able to make an adjustment, it helps to free up joints that may have been locked into a limited range of motion or stuck in a painful position. Relieving the tension that is built up in your joints will allow you to regain your full range of motion.

Drug and Surgery Free

While the option of pharmaceutical intervention and surgical intervention might be necessary for an injury, chiropractic care is an excellent way to try and treat pain and injuries without either of those things. Sometimes we just need time and proper care for our bodies to heal. Chiropractors are able to help us on that journey and can provide pain relief as well as stretches and exercises to assist in recovery from injury or chronic pain. It is important to remember to consult your health care professionals before seeking any treatment, including chiropractic treatment.

Improved Mood

If you have dealt with chronic pain, you have probably noticed that your mood is worse when your pain is at its worst. It can be difficult to put on a brave face and act like nothing is wrong when your back is constantly sore. You might notice that you are more easily irritated when you are in pain. A surprising benefit of the pain relief that chiropractic can offer is that you may experience an improvement in your mood.

Improved Blood Pressure

Studies have shown that chiropractic adjustments can help improve blood flow, which in turn can help to reduce blood pressure. A reduction in blood pressure is good for your long term health and can help you to avoid complications like a heart attack. This is, of course, is to be used in conjunction with your previously prescribed treatment and you should never stop treatment without consulting with your doctor.

Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation and swelling are both symptoms of underlying conditions such as arthritis and autoimmune diseases. It can lead to a reduced range of motion in the affected joints, along with stiffness and pain. Chiropractic adjustments can help to reduce inflammation by reducing the tension in the affected joints. Consistent treatment can also help with the pain associated with inflammation and reduce muscle tension in your body.

Headache Reduction

One of the worst things about having chronic pain in the neck is that it can lead to severe tension headaches. If you often hunch over while you sit, such as when typing or working on a detailed project, you probably have a lot of tension in your neck and shoulders. You might also notice that when your neck is tense, your head hurts. It’s an unfortunate complication, but one that can be addressed by your chiropractor. A simple neck and shoulder adjustment can help to reduce the tension in the muscles and joints that help support your head. When this tension is relieved, you may just find that you have fewer headaches. Your chiropractor can also provide you with stretches and exercises to help to mitigate pain in the future and prevent your headaches from coming back.

Chiropractic care can have many unexpected benefits. If you have found that your body is often in pain and you frequently have trouble keeping up with daily activities because of it, a chiropractor may be able to help. Many chiropractic offices also offer massage therapy, which is not only a nice way to spend an hour but can also help to release tension in your muscles before your chiropractor attempts an adjustment. They also can offer some basic exercises and stretches to aid in your recovery and prevent future injury, and most will advise you on when to see a physical therapist for further treatment. If you are hesitant about resorting to pharmaceuticals or surgery, chiropractic may be a great place to start. It can sometimes be hard to ask for help when we are in pain. Many of us have been told to simply brush it off and keep going. In reality, the healthier attitude is to know that it is okay to seek treatment for pain, as it will not only improve your quality of life but may also help to prevent or even identify health issues lying beneath the surface.