Our bodies are amazing machines that allow us to endure constant stress, motion, and injury, unfortunately sometimes that machine needs some tuning. We know that something is wrong once we notice a muscle tightening, a certain soreness, or a chronic pain. Those who have experienced constant pain are affected at their cores, impacting their quality of life as well as their personal freedoms. There are a variety of ways to manage and alleviate the pain, but first it may be beneficial to understand several facts and statistics regarding chronic pain management in the U.S. in order to determine the best course of treatment for you.
The Effects of Pain
A recent report found that as many as 1.5 billion people across the globe suffer from some kind of chronic pain. Chronic pain is not just physical pain, but can develop into something much more mental as many suffers of chronic pain experience acute depression and a diminished quality of life. Lower back pain is one of the most frequent sources of chronic pain with up to 31 million Americans experiencing lower back pain at any given time and estimates that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some point in their lives. Back pain’s impact is severe as it has become the number one cause of disability in Americans under the age of 45 with half of all working Americans admitting to having back pain symptoms every year. While many go to a surgeon to correct the issue, experts are instead suggesting that chiropractors ought to be the first point of contact.
The Resurgence of Chiropractors
Chiropractors have become more of an alternative option over the past few years thanks to findings in medical literature as well as the spike in new licensed Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) who treat over 27 million Americans annually. Many patients find that chiropractors are an alternative, natural option to heal the body through stretches and corrective manipulation; a majority of patients said that they thoroughly enjoyed their experience with a chiropractor and said that it was a preferable alternative to pain management than surgery. Chiropractic benefits include massages and other relaxing treatments to help naturally treat chronic pain without heavy, sedating painkillers or surgery. If you suffer from chronic pain, consider contacting a chiropractor in your area to see if you can’t alleviate your pain naturally.
The Benefit of Chiropractic Care for Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are some of the most intense that the body can take. The treatment offered through chiropractic care for sports injuries may help correct the injury without the need for surgery and recovery. Injured workers are 28 times less likely to have spinal surgery if their first point of contact is a DC rather than a surgeon. Chiropractic care for sports injuries was found to be a cheaper alternative to surgery as well; a recent study in fact showed that lower back pain treatment as initiated by a DC can cost up to 20% less than when started with a MD. For sports injuries, chiropractors are trusted and utilized by all 32 National Football League (NFL) teams to optimize the functionality, endurance, and overall conditioning of professional football players for the treatment of whiplash, strains to hamstrings and quads, lower back pain, neck pain, and other strain injuries. With so many risks involved with surgery, it makes sense why so many people are giving chiropractors a chance for a natural way to correct sports and related injuries.
