Do you ever wonder why many chiropractors focus on a wellness approach to healthcare? Are you one of those people who thinks that chiropractic is only good for pain relief, especially for the neck and low back?

You see, there is a common misconception that chiropractic care is only beneficial for neck and back pain. While chiropractic has been documented as the most effective, conservative care for such issues, chiropractic is about much more than just pain. (See partial list near bottom of article.)

Chiropractors are first and foremost experts in nerve signal interference, the result of which leads to the “pain expert” label. Many people feel better or experience pain relief as a result of chiropractic adjustments that have helped restore optimal flow of nerve signals.

And, the nervous system controls every cell of your body. With a healthy nervous system and clear communication signals to those very cells, the body has its best chance to function at its highest level, which affects all processes in the body. Not just neck and back pain.

It is important to note that that nerve signal interference has three main causes: physical, chemical, and emotional. It’s not just about spinal alignment in a wellness practice. Many wellness chiropractors support the adjustment process with other types of recommendations, such as diet, exercise, and stress relief techniques. This provides a robust healthcare model that is much more than simply relieving neck and back pain.

A wellness-based chiropractor will utilize education, clinical experience, and specific tools & techniques to identify interference in the communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body, and administer an impulse into the nervous system (an adjustment) to restore this communication cycle. This adjustment may or may not be at the site of pain or other symptoms, but it will always be at the location of poor nerve signal flow.

It is this communication cycle–free of interference–that allows the body to restore proper motion, lower inflammation, reduce pain, improve digestion, lower stress, improve sleep, reduce allergies, and much, much more. Add to this additional lifestyle recommendations often provided in the chiropractic environment and you have a whole-being approach to healthcare, not just one focused on tight muscles and achy joints.

Below are titles to specific, peer-reviewed case studies that demonstrate the potential impact a healthy nervous system can have on one’s life, all after receiving chiropractic care.

Depression
Neurological Function
Supporting Lifestyle Changes
Female Infertility
Pseudoseizures
ADHD
Care of a Battered Woman
Substance Addiction
Traumatic Brain Injury
Cervical Muscle Spasms
Hypertension

It’s important to note that chiropractic does not treat any of these issues. Chiropractic restores nervous system communication to its optimum level, which may allow the outcomes above based on the body’s incredible ability to heal, especially when supported with proper nutrition, healthy movement, and stress management.

Lee Ann Kalaba is a practicing Doctor of Chiropractic in Tucson, AZ. After a decade in Corporate America as a CPA, she experienced a severe injury that was the catalyst of her healing journey and put her on the chiropractic path. Now, her vision is to utilize chiropractic care and health coaching to help people improve their health so they can pursue the life of their dreams.