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Benefits of Chiropractic Care

One of the main causes of pain and disease in the human body can be traced to improper alignment of the vertebrae in your spinal column. This is called a subluxation. Through carefully applied pressure, massage, and manual manipulation of the vertebrae and joints, pressure and irritation on the nerves is relieved and joint mobility is restored, allowing your body to return to its natural state of balance, called homeostasis. Put another way, when the bones in your spine are allowed to go back to their proper positions, the nerve energy can resume its normal flow and your body's natural healing processes can function properly.

In general, proper chiropractic treatment of your body's lumbar, or lower back, region, involves very little risk, and the rewards can be significant.

Chiropractic manipulations can be especially helpful in relieving pain for facet joint injuries, osteoarthritis, and sacroiliac joint dysfunction, because such conditions respond well to mobilization. Moreover, scores of patients with chronic headaches, sinus problems, high blood pressure, ear infections, leg pain, arthritis, and many other illnesses have reported significant relief after chiropractic therapy.

Increasingly over the past few decades, the medical community has come to accept and recognize chiropractic care as a valid form of treatment for a variety of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions, and as a conservative treatment option for patients with lower back pain. Moreover, many medical doctors recognize a chiropractic diagnosis and accept it as the first line of treatment for functional disorders of the entire musculoskeletal system.

Studies by leading medical journals in recent years have confirmed the benefits of chiropractic care:

  • A 1993 report by the Ontario Ministry of Health concluded that chiropractic care was the most effective treatment for lower back pain. The agency also recommended that chiropractic care be fully integrated in the Canadian government's health care system.
  • In 1994, the federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research published its Clinical Practice Guidelines, which asserted that spinal manipulation was effective in reducing pain and speeding recovery among patients with acute low back symptoms without radiculopathy.
  • A 1996 New England Journal of Medicine study of outcomes and costs for acute low back pain found that patients treated by chiropractors were significantly more satisfied than those who saw primary care, orthopedic or managed care practitioners.
  • A 1996 study in the journal Spine echoed that study, and found that patients who sought chiropractic care were more likely to feel that treatment was helpful, more likely to be satisfied with their care, and less likely to seek care from another provider for the same condition, compared to those who sought care from medical doctors.
  • In 2001, the Center for Clinical Health Policy Research at Duke University concluded in a study that spinal manipulation resulted in almost immediate improvement for cervicogenic headaches, or those that originate in the neck, and had significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief of tension-type headache than a commonly prescribed medication.


Since most of us spend at least a third of our lives lying down, a good quality mattress goes a long way in avoiding a whole host of musculoskeletal problems later in life. In addition, a quality mattress will help you get a good night's sleep, which most health practitioners agree is essential to a well-balanced, healthy life—physically and emotionally.

A quality mattress allows you to maintain the same natural spinal alignment that you have while standing. It can be an innerspring, foam, flotation (waterbed), or air mattress. The most important thing is choosing a mattress that offers you the most support and comfort.

Mattress criteria

  • Comfort – Before buying a mattress, "test drive" it by laying down on it in several positions you normally sleep in. It will pay dividends down the road and help ensure that your spine's natural curve is supported. "Orthopedic" mattresses are generally a marketing gimmick and nothing more.
  • Durability – This criterion applies both to the "guts" of the mattress as well as its covering. Ensure that the manufacturer guarantees the mattress at least 8 to 10 years.
  • Firmness – Softness and firmness are generally a matter of personal preference and have little to do with a good night's sleep or avoiding back problems. Overly firm mattresses don't support the body evenly, while overly soft mattresses tend to sag, preventing your spine from maintaining its proper alignment.
  • Foundation – The foundation, or box spring, absorbs the brunt of the stress and weight of your mattress and helps extend the useful life of your mattress. It is advisable to buy a new box spring when you replace your old mattress, and ensure that the box spring, or foundation, is suited for the type of mattress you are buying.

Replace your bed if:

  • The mattress is worn a frayed, or the box spring creaks.
  • The mattress sags, is out of shape or doesn't return to its shape after you lie down on it.
  • You are constantly waking up sore or irritable, which could be a sign that your body isn't getting the support it needs during sleep.

Best sleep positions

Believe it or not, the position in which you sleep can make a big difference in your waking disposition, and help you avoid skeletal, muscular, or nerve problems down the road.

Here's why: One of the best positions is on your side, with knees slightly bent and a pillow between your knees. Place a pillow under your knees if you are a back sleeper; this helps maintain the curve in your lower back. If you are a stomach sleeper and sleep with your head on an oversized pillow, it sometimes forces your lower back to curve excessively, putting pressure on your diaphragm and lungs.


Dr. Robert Pinto
Dr. Anne Pinto
5408 Discovery Park Blvd., Suite 200
Williamsburg, VA 23188
757-645-9300
 

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Chiropractor - Williamsburg, Dr. Pinto, 5408 Discovery Park Blvd, Suite 200, Williamsburg VA, 23188 757-645-9300