Benefits of Visiting a Chiropractor
To the uninitiated, chiropractic care is a means of alleviating back pain. This it will certainly do, but there are so many more benefits to be had from receiving a spinal adjustment. One significant benefit is that chiropractic care relies on the body’s natural ability to heal itself without the aid of potentially harmful drugs, or risky surgery.
The Association of Chiropractic Colleges defines the discipline as focusing on the relationship between structure and function, so that if the structure is perfectly aligned, then it will function optimally. This is why chiropractic care is not restricted to the spine, but can also involve other joints or soft tissue. The aim is to get the entire body to function as it should. When this is achieved, then a myriad of other health problems will cease.
Getting Personal
The first visit to a chiropractor in Cardiff will generally include a complete medical history, as well as tests such as blood pressure, reflexes, respiration and muscle tone. There will also be specific tests to determine the range of motion in the areas where the patient experiences the most pain or joint dysfunction. Once the physical condition of a patient has been established and problem areas isolated, the chiropractor will discuss personalised treatment methods that aim to achieve a better quality of life for that particular patient.
Re-aligning your Health
Chiropractic care can be the solution to pain experienced in the back, neck, hips, shoulders and knees, as well as any soft body tissue. It is also very effective in the treatment of headaches, as these are generally associated with malalignment of the spine. The nerves that travel through and extend from the spinal canal control most organs and cells in the body, so that if a passage becomes blocked or otherwise inhibited, pain will be experienced in the areas controlled by the obstructed nerve. It is thus easy to understand how a faulty musculoskeletal structure can impact the smooth functioning of any organ or body part, and the impact manifests in various ways. In a case documented by David D Palmer, the founder of chiropractic care it has even been known to rob a patient of his hearing, which was subsequently restored after a spinal adjustment.
Stressing the Point
Stress is a known side-effect of maladjustment of the spine or joints and stress puts a huge amount of pressure on the body’s immune system. This, of course, means that the body has far weaker resources with which to fight illness or disease. Bringing the spine into alignment allows energy to flow freely, which positively affects the immune system, while also allowing the patient to move more freely and to think more clearly. Evidence also shows a normalising of blood pressure, the relief of gastro-intestinal problems and significant pain relief in most patients.
Is Chiropractic Care for Everyone
A spinal adjustment is a safe alternative to risky surgery and harsh medications. Restoring the body’s natural balance has many run-off effects that, for some patients, may mean being able to stop taking chronic medications permanently. With the body’s energy resources flowing freely to every muscle and cell, any inflammation is quickly tackled, which is why many athletes rely on chiropractic care to help keep them fit and healthy. Blood flow is another beneficiary of a perfectly aligned skeletal structure and research is still being done on the therapeutic effects that an increased blood flow to the brain may have on patients suffering from neurological disorders such as MS. All this by simply making an appointment to have a chiropractor help to straighten you out.
