Why do so many people see chiropractic as a non-negotiable?

One of the coolest conversations we often have with newer practice members is about the type of chiropractic care that we provide for many people. After a few visits, they see and hear about how we serve people who:

• Have been under care for years (sometimes decades!).
• Have their whole family under care, including newborns, children, and grandparents.
• Get regular chiropractic adjustments, even when they don’t have any issues going on.

At first, they are typically surprised to see these people because they themselves are often coming in to manage their neck pain or low back pain. You see, they often see chiropractic treatment as a safe and natural alternative to the medical approach’s pain management options. While their judgment of chiropractic isn’t wrong, it’s definitely incomplete when it comes to all that chiropractic has to offer. Their surprise typically turns to curiosity and so the question they often pose is ‘Why is it that so many people see chiropractic care as non-negotiable?’

Reframing when it comes to chiropractic care:

In order to understand why so many people consider chiropractic care to be as essential to their own health as brushing their teeth, we first have to understand that people’s perception of chiropractic is equivalent to one’s perception of the tip of an iceberg. At the top of the iceberg, we have what most people see: chiropractic care is a therapy that addresses musculoskeletal issues such as headaches, neck pain, and low back pain. Below that iceberg, hidden from general perception, is what we and our practice members often bear witness to, which is that the chiropractic adjustment can remove nerve interference, increase the functioning of someone’s nervous system, and in turn the functioning of the human body. While we don’t claim to treat specific conditions, time and time again we have practice members report the following (and more) after starting chiropractic care:

• Improved performance through range of motion, flexibility and strength when it comes to sports and physical exercise.
• Less pain, which leads to easier workouts and easier body weight management.
• Better digestion in babies, kids, and adults.
• Anxiety and stress reduction.
• Improved focus in school.
• Improved strength and self-assurance when it comes to movement in the elderly or disabled.
• Better immune function and a speedier recovery from colds and the flu.
• Fewer outbursts or behavioral issues in kids.
• Decreased blood pressure.
• Adequate sleep.

Chiropractic does help with pains and aches, but it does so much more by helping to minimize the negative impacts that our day-to-day life has on our body, and to maximize the functioning of our body so that we don’t feel like our body is holding us back from life and all the things we love.

The takeaway:

Health is what allows us to live our lives and we achieve optimal health when we take as many actions as possible to keep our body healthy. We only get one vessel in this life, and so it’s our responsibility to take care of it. The most difficult aspect about our choices when it comes to being and staying healthy is that these actions provide delayed gratification. During one day, we may:

• Wake up early to stay physically active.
• Eat a proper diet that may not be as delicious and is certainly not as cheap.
• Take time to meditate and address stress management.
• Set boundaries with family and friends.

The challenge lies in the fact that we don’t get to see the benefit of our actions until later: weeks, months, and sometimes years! There are SO many things we can do to be healthy today, but these actions are all an investment into our future health.

The reason why people see chiropractic care as a non-negotiable is that it has the potential to keep you mobile, keep you from injury, keep your cells, organs and systems healthy, keep you enjoying life and doing the things you have to do, but also the things you love to do. Because of this, just like most people won’t skip brushing their teeth, washing their hands, eating healthy, staying physically active, and seeking mental health, many of our practice members aren’t willing to compromise their health by skipping their chiropractic visits.