The most prevalent health condition among U.S. workers is pain. Recent studies show that more than 60 percent of adults over the age of 30 experience chronic pain. Furthermore, only 25 percent of patients seeking conventional help for back pain report a full recovery 12 months later, and 75 percent of acute low back pain patients continue to endure chronic pain much longer than customarily believed. A substantial number of acute, painful musculoskeletal injuries do not resolve quickly, thereby contributing to recurring healthcare costs without solving the problem. The value of chiropractic care in addressing chronic pain is in its ability to improve each patient’s quality of life without invasive, costly, and frankly, less effective methods like drugs and surgery. A chiropractor detects subluxations, or misalignments of the bones of the spine. By adjusting them to their proper positions, the nervous system, much of which is housed within the spinal cord, is free to function optimally, thus promoting good overall health while relieving both the causes and symptoms of pain. Chiropractic care as the principal method of treatment is frequently ideal for the resolution of chronic back and neck pain. More commonly recommended alternatives, including physical therapy and drugs (NSAID’s), are not as successful a remedy when used alone.
Without question, physical therapy is a critical piece to the puzzle of injury rehabilitation. Current research demonstrates that physical therapy, as an adjunct to chiropractic care, is associated with a better outcome. Such therapy may include specific activities that encourage a healthy spine, such as the bilaterally symmetrical activities of swimming, bicycling and walking, as well as strengthening exercises and flexibility routines such as yoga.
However, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDS, (most commonly aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen) are the ill-advised choice of millions of chronic pain sufferers because of the superficial relief they offer. These drugs are linked to a broad spectrum of uncomfortable and even life-threatening side effects, especially with prolonged use. An article in The New England Journal of Medicine labeled the deaths caused by complications from these drugs a “silent epidemic,” killing more than 16,000 people annually.
The science supporting the effectiveness of chiropractic in treating chronic pain is irrefutable. Numerous studies prove that chiropractic manipulation can return a patient to work in less time, with less cost, and less disability compared to traditional medical care. Chiropractic treatment is significantly more effective than conventional, stand-alone methods for relief of chronic and severe pain.
For more information, please call Dr. Jeff Willis at 661-295-5200 to make your appointment today. Also visit us at www.alignedhealthchiropractic.net .