Can Chiropractors Help With Chronic Pain?

 

A 2011 report published by the Public Health Agency of Canada found that 55% of Canadians suffered from chronic pain, most commonly pain in their back, joints or head. Are you one of those people? If you’re one of the majority of Canadians who experience chronic pain, don’t just settle for a life of pain or limit your search for relief to over-the-counter pain medications and traditional medical care. A chiropractor in SW Calgary can also provide relief from chronic pain. They’ve done it for millions of Canadians, and you can add your name to that statistic, too.

How do chiropractors treat chronic pain?

Chiropractors and their support staff at a chronic pain clinic in SW Calgary can offer a wide range of therapies to provide relief from chronic pain. Just which therapy is right for your needs depends on the particular cause and presentation of your pain, your medical history and your goals. Therapies for chronic pain available from a chiropractor in SW Calgary include the following.

Manual adjustments

Chiropractors make manual adjustments by using their hands to apply force to joints with the goal of improving your range of motion, improving the function of that joint and reducing your experience of pain.

Cold laser therapy

Advanced technologies that chiropractors use to provide pain relief include cold laser therapy. Using cold laser therapy, chiropractors apply light energy to cells’ mitochondria to reduce inflammation and promote healing.

Physiotherapy exercises

Chiropractor-supported physiotherapy exercises can increase the flexibility and strength of individual muscles and muscle groups in your body to ease chronic pain.

Posture and ergonomic advice

One of the most common and easily addressed causes of chronic pain are poor posture and ergonomic set-ups of furniture and office arrangements. Poor posture will cause chronic pain by distorting and straining the position of your body and joints. Your chiropractor can relieve chronic pain affecting your neck and back by identifying those postural and ergonomic problems and recommending changes and exercises.

Soft tissue therapy

Soft tissue therapy is a hands-on active release technique that can provide pain relief benefits for people who engage in repetitive motions and undergo repetitive strains and sports injuries due to repetitive muscle use. Soft tissue therapy is also called myofascial release but, whatever you call it, it can provide relief for chronic pain attributable to exertion. 

Spinal decompression therapy

For the many people who experience chronic back pain due to slipped or bulging discs, for example, chiropractors can perform spinal decompression therapy using specialized equipment and methods. The goals of SDT are simple: To reduce compression in and upon your vertebrae and spinal discs.

How effective is chiropractic treatment for chronic pain?

A January 2012 report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine investigated the experience of 272 patients with chronic neck pain. The participants in the study were divided into three groups that received either spinal manipulation therapy from a chiropractor, medication or participated in home exercises. The results of the study support the value of chiropractic treatment for chronic pain by a chiropractor near you.

Thirty-two per cent of participants who only received chiropractic care ended up free of pain. Thirty percent of participants who performed home exercises also became pain free. The most striking result of the study was that only thirteen per cent of participants who treated their chronic pain with medication ended up free of pain.

If you have been living a life characterized and tainted by chronic pain, ask your physician and a chiropractor in SW Calgary if you are a good candidate for chiropractic treatment. You deserve a life free of pain, and chiropractors may be able to help you get there.