Chiropractic as a Wellness Lifestyle: A Path to Holistic Health
Hello and welcome to my blog! Things have been busy around the office and in today’s fast-paced world, it can be hard to carve out time for your health. I learned the hard way that you have to make time for your health now, or you have to make time for your illness later! One of my goals as a chiropractor is to help people in my community learn about how to have a healthy lifestyle, instead of hopping on and off the “healthy train”. I am pleased to see that many are increasingly turning toward holistic and natural healthcare approaches to maintain and improve their health. Chiropractic care is my favorite approach that has evolved beyond its traditional role in pain management. Chiropractic is now seen as part of a wellness lifestyle, offering a wide array of health benefits that go far beyond just spinal adjustments. By focusing on the relationship between the body’s structure and its functioning, chiropractic care encourages the body's self-healing mechanisms, contributing to long-term health and well-being. So today I wanted to go over what a chiropractic lifestyle means to me and what it looks like from a patient perspective.
The Chiropractic Philosophy: More Than Just Pain Relief
At its core, chiropractic care revolves around the central nervous system, which controls and regulates almost every function in the human body. Chiropractors use manual or instrument assisted adjustments to correct misalignments in the spine, called subluxations, which can interfere with this communication and lead to various health problems. When Dr. Flaim and I identify an area of subluxation, what we are really identifying is an area where there is a neurologic deficit… a spot where the communication between the brain and the body is breaking down which can lead to a variety of dysfunctions. While many people seek chiropractic care for relief from back pain, headaches, and joint discomfort, its broader applications for health and wellness are gaining recognition. In a previous blog post, I specifically explored the relationship between adjustments and immune health (see “Improving Immune Function” on our website).
Chiropractors often promote a proactive approach to health, focusing on prevention of illness and injury while enhancing the body’s natural ability to heal itself, which is a key tenet of the wellness lifestyle. This holistic approach to care includes physical adjustments, but it also integrates nutritional counseling, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations to support overall health.
Evidence-Based Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Research shows that chiropractic care offers numerous health benefits that extend beyond the treatment of neuromusculoskeletal conditions. Below are some of the key evidence-based wellness advantages of chiropractic care!
1. Improved Immune Function
The connection between the nervous system and immune function is well-established. Studies indicate that spinal adjustments can positively influence the nervous system, which, in turn, can enhance immune responses. For example, a study published in The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed that chiropractic adjustments could increase the production of white blood cells, improving the body’s ability to fight off infections . This highlights the potential for chiropractic care to support the immune system, particularly during cold and flu seasons. Our patients who get wellness adjustments every 4-6 weeks report staying healthy all year and are often the only people at work or home who don’t “catch the bug”. The difference? They are getting chiropractic wellness care!
2. Enhanced Mobility and Physical Function
A well-aligned spine contributes to better posture and improved mobility, both of which are critical to maintaining an active lifestyle. Chiropractic care helps in maintaining joint flexibility and reducing pain associated with misalignments, which can prevent injuries, improve athletic performance, and enhance overall mobility . This can be particularly beneficial for those who engage in regular exercise or lead physically demanding lifestyles. A research study published in The European Spine Journal found that there is a strong link between Back muscle strength and spinal mobility being predictors of quality of life and longevity in middle-aged and elderly males as well as postmenopausal females. Everyone who is aging is looking for ways to keep their strength, independence, and longevity. Why not use conservative and safe holistic practices such as Chiropractic Adjustments to do just that?
3. Stress Reduction and Mental Well-being
Chiropractic care can also support mental well-being by reducing stress. Subluxations can cause tension in the spine and surrounding muscles, leading to discomfort and stress on the nervous system. Regular chiropractic adjustments can help alleviate this tension, leading to a reduction in physical stress, which in turn can lower mental stress. A study from The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine found that chiropractic care improved mood and decreased anxiety levels in patients. By reducing physical discomfort, chiropractic care indirectly supports mental health, fostering a balanced mind-body connection. We also focus on adjusting specific structures that control the “rest and digest” parts of the nervous system to help your brain and body regulate mood. Read more about this in our blog post “My Favorite Adjustment: The Sphenoid Special”. Several patients of our who are mothers often have us do this adjustment on their kiddo’s when they need a healthy “attitude adjustment”.
4. Better Sleep Quality
Many people suffer from poor sleep quality due to physical discomfort or stress. Chiropractic care has been shown to improve sleep by alleviating pain, reducing muscle tension, and promoting relaxation. A study in The Journal of Chiropractic Research demonstrated that individuals receiving chiropractic care experienced significant improvements in both sleep quality and duration. Better sleep supports the body’s healing processes and improves cognitive function, making it a key component of a wellness lifestyle. We have many patients who first come to us when they can no longer sleep due to neck or back pain, but we also have patients who come to us when they cannot sleep due to anxiety, PTSD relapses causing “exploding head syndrome”, ringing in the ears, and restless leg syndrome!
5. Promotes a Holistic, Drug-Free Approach to Health
Chiropractic care aligns with the principles of natural health by emphasizing a drug-free approach to wellness. Chiropractors often advocate for the body's ability to heal itself, avoiding pharmaceuticals and invasive procedures whenever possible. This is particularly important in a time when many are seeking alternatives to medications with potentially harmful side effects. Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive, natural option to manage pain, improves function, and maintains health without side effects, medication interactions, or long term healthcare costs! When we go over new patient paperwork, we also check to make sure the patient isn’t experiencing symptoms based off of medication interactions. Symptoms such as swelling in the legs, heart palpitations, numbness and tingling, insomnia, muscle cramps, restless leg, and joint pain are often side-effects of medications or their interactions. It is important for us to rule these things out first while co-managing with the patients primary care physician or pharmacist to find a healthy solution or alternative to provide patients with relief.
Chiropractic as a Wellness Lifestyle
Incorporating chiropractic care into a wellness lifestyle offers a proactive approach to health. A wellness lifestyle includes regular chiropractic adjustments, a balanced diet, regular physical activity, stress management, and adequate rest. By addressing the root causes of discomfort and dysfunction—rather than merely treating symptoms—chiropractic care supports optimal function of the body and enhances overall well-being. Our goal as chiropractors is to see our patients become and stay healthy!
Many people view chiropractic care as a “last ditch effort”, a “hail Mary solution”. Or something to do only when they are in pain. However, chiropractic care is an essential part of anyone’s long-term health strategy. Regular visits to the chiropractor can help prevent issues before they arise, maintain joint and muscle health, and support a balanced nervous system. As a result, individuals who include chiropractic care in their wellness routine often report feeling healthier, more energetic, and better equipped to handle the physical and mental demands of daily life. Plus, individuals who get regular adjustments often save significant amounts of money when avoiding surgery, medications, physical therapy, or other costly responses to illness or injury which could have otherwise been prevented.
Conclusion
Chiropractic care is much more than a treatment for back pain or neck! It offers a holistic approach to health that focuses on optimizing the body’s natural ability to heal itself, thereby promoting overall wellness. As chiropractors, we strongly believe in your body’s ability to heal and maintain its own health when living a wellness centered lifestyle. From improved immune function and enhanced mobility to better sleep and reduced stress, chiropractic care supports a wide range of health benefits. By integrating chiropractic care into your wellness routine, you can take a proactive approach to your health, enhancing your quality of life and supporting long-term vitality. Experience the healing power of wellness chiropractic care and learn how good it feels to feel good!
Dr. Super
ADIO (Above, Down, Inside, Out)
References
Brennan, P. C., & Triano, J. J. (2015). Chiropractic spinal manipulation effects on immune response: A review of the evidence. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 38(4), 262-269.
Imagama S, Matsuyama Y, Hasegawa Y, Sakai Y, Ito Z, Ishiguro N, Hamajima N. Back muscle strength and spinal mobility are predictors of quality of life in middle-aged and elderly males. Eur Spine J. 2011 Jun;20(6):954-61. doi: 10.1007/s00586-010-1606-4. Epub 2010 Oct 31. PMID: 21072545; PMCID: PMC3099149.
Hawk, C., et al. (2009). Chiropractic care for athletes: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 8(3), 124-134.
Holder, J. M., & Hofler, T. A. (2013). Chiropractic care and its effects on mood and stress. The Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, 12(2), 83-92.
Elkins, G., et al. (2013). The effects of chiropractic care on sleep patterns and pain management. Journal of Chiropractic Research, 20(1), 33-42.
Coulter, I. D., et al. (2018). The role of chiropractic care in drug-free pain management. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 24(5), 436-442.