But my back don’t hurt!?
This post is to address the fallacy that you should only visit your local chiropractor when you’re in pain or want something “fixed” or “popped.” To pop or not to pop—that is the age-old question. Two roads diverge in the woods, and I choose the one that doesn’t lead to degenerative disc disease or chronic back pain caused by preventable issues stemming from improper spinal mechanics. I think, therefore I am… someone whose spine is constantly being stressed by external forces, and it makes sense that I should receive regular chiropractic care to keep my nervous system functioning at its best.
I’ve scoured the internet in search of credible studies that validate the widely shared opinion among chiropractors: that regular chiropractic care is an incredibly effective way to prevent health problems before they arise. It’s difficult to prove definitively that a properly functioning nervous system has a holistic effect on the vitality of your entire body, but it certainly plays a crucial role in disease prevention.
Some clinical studies focus on the effects of chiropractic adjustments on electromyographic (EMG) readings of the paraspinal muscles. Most show an immediate response in EMG levels following an adjustment, suggesting that spinal adjustments influence nervous system function. These findings give some legitimacy to the idea that chiropractic care helps maintain nervous system health, which in turn supports overall wellness—because disease often results from a breakdown in the body’s innate ability to prevent it.
Do you only visit the dentist when you have a cavity? Do you only brush your teeth when your breath starts to smell? Hopefully not. Maintaining your health proactively—before injury, pain, or discomfort appears—is just as important.
BOOM! POSTURE CHECK!
Take a mental note of how your posture feels. Are your shoulders hunched in? Is your lumbar spine (low back) curved like a shrimp? How does it feel? Powerful and aligned, or stiff and achy? Stay aware of your spine so that going to the chiropractor is a walk in the park just like a check up with the dentist.
Do you experience brain fog? Are you taking medications to address hormone imbalances or nervous system function? These can all be signs of spinal misalignment or subluxation. Every signal from your brain to your body passes through the spine. When the spine isn’t moving properly and or causing compression of your nervous system, digestion, sleep, and much more can all be hindered. Keeping your spine healthy ensures your nervous system can communicate efficiently, supporting overall body function and vitality.
Loss of natural joint movement or gradual onset of bodily pain can be a normal part of aging, but it shouldn’t be treated as inevitable. You can prevent or delay pain and nervous system decline by being proactive and genuinely caring about your health and longevity.
A famous, very painful example of the effects of a nerve being “distorted” or “pinched” is sciatica, where the sciatic nerve is compressed either by the vertebrae in the low back, the sacroiliac joint, or even the muscles in the buttocks area. This example results in a shocking, radiating pain that goes down the leg and is very noticeable. It is important to recognize that nerve impingement or distortion does not need to translate to pain right away; it can lead to general numbness, weakness, reduced mobility, or subtle dysfunction in other parts of the body long before the pain becomes severe, and possible beyond what a traditional chiropractor can help manage.
You don’t need to see a chiropractor three times a week if you’re not in pain, but you do deserve a physician who looks at your body holistically; not just through the lens of symptom = prescription/surgery. If you experience low back pain or headaches, you should be encouraged to dig into the root cause, rather than limiting activities or giving up something you love forever.