7 Surprising Chiropractic Fixes

February 24, 2020Dr. Grant Radermacher

7 Things You Didn’t Know Chiropractic Could Help!

It’s no secret that back pain and neck pain are (by far) the most common reasons patients come into Ascent Chiropractic. But whether you’re an elite athlete or just looking to live your best life, research has shown there’s a wealth of additional health benefits you probably didn’t know about from getting adjusted regularly.

1. Chiropractic Improves Immune Function

In a 2010 study, researchers found that key natural antibodies were significantly boosted following chiropractic adjustments. The authors of the study suggested that adjustments “prime” the immune system, making it more prepared to fight off infections and disease.

2. Chiropractic Reduces Inflammation

A 2011 JMPT study demonstrated that circulating levels of an important inflammatory cytokine, known as TNF-α, were dramatically reduced in low back pain patients following chiropractic care. High levels of TNF-α have been linked to stroke and cancer as well as inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriasis.

3. Chiropractic Reduces High Blood Pressure

More than 30% of American adults deal with high blood pressure – hypertension is one of the biggest public health issues in the US. A 2007 study from the Journal of Human Hypertension found that a single adjustment to the C1 vertebra significantly improved blood pressure in 85% of the hypertensive patients for up to eight weeks.

The decrease in blood pressure was so dramatic that the researchers remarked that the improvement was “similar to that seen by giving two different anti-hypertensive agents simultaneously.”

4. Chiropractic Reduces Stress

A 2011 study examining the benefits of chiropractic treatment for neck pain sufferers found that patients treated by a chiropractor had reduced cortisol levels (indicating decreased stress) as well as altered activity in the areas of the brain responsible for processing pain and stress seen on PET scan imaging. That’s in addition to lower pain scores and a better reported quality of life.

5. Chiropractic Improves Balance

It’s no secret that as we age we become more vulnerable to trips and falls. A 2009 study from the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine demonstrated that regular chiropractic care restores the normal, healthy function of your spine and pelvis, and can therefore dramatically improve balance and reduce dizziness.

A separate 2015 review of research from the Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association suggested that chiropractic care is an effective, natural way to help prevent falls in seniors.

6. Chiropractic Reduces Colic Symptoms in Babies

In 2012, JMPT researchers studied the benefits of pediatric chiropractic care on 104 colicky infants. The babies were divided into three groups. One group was treated with chiropractic adjustments with the parents aware of the treatment; the second group was treated with the parents unaware of the treatment; and the third group of infants acted as the control – they were untreated with the parents unaware.

The authors found that the parents reported a dramatic decrease in crying in the infants who were treated by a chiropractor compared to the infants who didn’t receive treatment. Whether the parents knew that their infant had been adjusted or not had no effect on the improvement.

7. Chiropractic Improves Breathing in Patients With Asthma and COPD

A 2013 study from JMPT reported that chiropractic adjustments were effective at increasing lung function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and recent research shows that chiropractic care can help reduce the symptoms of asthma in children.

The Ascent Chiropractic Difference

At Ascent Chiropractic we’re committed to not just relieving symptoms but to correcting their cause and optimizing your body to function better than it ever has before. Our unique, low-force, evidence-based approach to chiropractic care combined with the best of physical rehabilitation therapies allows us to get unmatched, long-term results.

Discover the difference personalized, comprehensive care at Ascent Chiropractic makes. To schedule an appointment, call us at 262-345-4166 or use our online scheduling app.

Sources:
Teodorczyk-Injeyan JA, McGregor M, Ruegg R, Injeyan HS. Interleukin 2-regulated in vitro antibody production following a single spinal manipulative treatment in normal subjects. Chiropractic & Osteopathy 2010;(18)26.
Teodorczyk-Injeyan JA, Triano JJ, McGregor M, Woodhouse L, Injeyan HS. Elevated production of inflammatory mediators including nociceptive chemokines in patients with neck pain: a cross-sectional evaluation. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2011;34(8):498-505.
Bakris G, Dickholtz M Sr, Meyer PM, Kravitz G, Avery E, Miller M, Brown J, Woodfield C, Bell B. Atlas vertebra realignment and achievement of arterial pressure goal in hypertensive patients: a pilot study. Journal of Human Hypertension 2007;21(5):347-52.
Ogura T, Tashiro M, Masud M, et al. Cerebral metabolic changes in men after chiropractic spinal manipulation for neck pain. Alternative Therapies. 2011;17(6):12-17.
Strunk RG, Hawk C. Effects of chiropractic care on dizziness, neck pain, and balance: a single-group, pre-experimental, feasibility study. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2009;8(4):156–164.
Kendall JC, Hartvigsen J, French SD, Azari MF. Is there a role for neck manipulation in elderly falls prevention? – An overview. Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association 2015;9(1):53-63.
Miller JE, Newell D, Bolton JE. Efficacy of chiropractic manual therapy on infant colic: a pragmatic single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2012;35(8):600-7.
Engel RM, Vemulpad SR, Beath K. Short-term effects of a course of manual therapy and exercise in people with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a preliminary clinical trial. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2013;36(8):490-6.
Pepino VC, Ribeiro JD, Ribeiro MA, de Noronha M, Mezzacappa MA, Schivinski CI. Manual therapy for childhood respiratory disease: A systematic review. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics 2013;36(1):57-65.