Many people know that chiropractic adjustments and therapies can help with physical pain and problems, but a large part of chiropractic care focuses on wellness and prevention. While they may seem like the same thing, wellness care and preventive care are different. It is important for us as chiropractors to make sure that you are feeling well and that we try to keep you from pain and injury as best we can. Chiropractors want to work with you to make sure, too, that you are involved in your care and know what steps you can take to keep yourself moving and feeling well.
Wellness Care
You don’t have to have a painful problem to visit a chiropractor. In fact, many people visit a chiropractor for wellness care to keep themselves moving, functioning and feeling well. Chiropractors can offer suggestions for what you can do to keep feeling well. For example, daily exercise is important and has many health-boosting effects besides helping you become physically fit—regular exercise can boost your immune system, give you “feel good” endorphins, and improve your muscle strength, heart and lungs. Nutrition is also an important part of your wellness care. Many chiropractors have experience in nutritional counseling and/or providing natural supplement recommendations for wellness.
Minimizing physical stress on your body will also encourage wellness. Whether you need help with posture, workstation setup or evaluating your exercise routine, talk with us about how everyday physical stress may be affecting you—we are happy to help!
Once you know what it feels like to have your muscles, bones and nerves functioning properly, you will want to continue feeling that way. A poll conducted in 2015 showed that 31% of chiropractic patients visited their chiropractor regularly even if they weren’t experiencing pain, and that 22% of chiropractic patients wanted to talk to a chiropractor about general health and wellness.
Preventive Care
Preventive care is very similar to wellness care; however, preventive care is more specific and goal-oriented. Most of the time, the goal of preventive chiropractic care is to maintain pain-free motion and keep pain from returning in a certain area (such as a repeat occurrence of lower back pain).
While chiropractors provide various modes of treatment aimed at preventing future pain and dysfunction, patients often participate in their own care. Chiropractors offer patients education and support to help them care for themselves between treatment visits.
If you have been following a preventive care program and schedule (which depends on your condition and lifestyle), your body will be tuned to heal naturally and recover from injury more quickly. Of course, your chiropractor will discuss your lifestyle/habits and goals for treatment before creating a preventive care plan with you. This preventive program can come only after your chiropractor has addressed any pain or functional problems you may currently have to create a solid foundation of health upon which to build.
Keeping your spinal health, and therefore the health of your nervous system, in good shape is a great investment in your overall health and wellness. Whether you have suffered an injury or painful condition or want to keep yourself moving and feeling well, chiropractic care can help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
