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Reasons to Go to a Chiropractor

Chiropractic care is a branch of medicine that focuses on manipulating the bones and joints of the human body, specifically the bones and joints of the spine. The theory behind chiropractic medicine is that proper alignment of the spine facilitates proper alignment and function of other body tissues and organs. Not everyone needs to go to a chiropractor, but those who do go typically have at least one of three major reasons for visiting a chiropractic clinic.

  1. Athletics/Flexibility

    • The health and position of the bones and joints of the body determine the range and type of motion of which a person is capable. If the spine is extremely tight, or if it is misaligned, then a person cannot twist, bend, or reach to the extent they could if the spine were loose and properly positioned. This is because all of the bones of the spine are connected to other body tissues--if the spinal bones don't move as they should, these tissues can't move as well, either, limiting mobility. Some people therefore go to chiropractors to improve their flexibility. This improves athletic potential and indirectly supports the health of the muscles and tendons connected to the spine by ensuring that a person can work them fully.

    Money

    • The Edgerton Chiropractic & Wellness Center and Watts Chiropractic both assert that people go to chiropractors because the treatment is cheaper in some cases than other spinal treatments (e.g., surgery). However, this must be put into perspective--the cost factor comes into play only for conditions that are not severe or which have not progressed to the point of needing more than simple manipulation. In this way, chiropractic care really is preventive medicine, as Dr. Ryan Marshall of Marshall Chiropractic emphasizes.

    Pain

    • By far, a reduction in or prevention of pain is the number one reason people go to chiropractors. Marshall explains that people do not need to have pain solely in the neck or spine to go to a chiropractor. Because the spine is like a central roadway for the nervous system of the human body, problems such as migraines or tingling in the hands and feet can occur when spinal misalignment compresses nerves that link to these areas, even if the back and neck themselves are pain-free. Chiropractic care may help both chronic pain (e.g., disc degeneration pain) and acute pain (e.g., pain from misalignment from a car accident).

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