Benefits of Combining Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture

Both chiropractic care and acupuncture share the view that chronic pain and many injuries can be successfully treated without having to resort to drugs or surgery, treating the patient holistically. Each healing modality has its own benefits, but the two work together in a complementary and synergistic manner.

Acupuncture is a natural healing method that originated in China many thousands of years ago and is one of the central aspects of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The theory behind the practice is that energy travels through the body along what are called “meridians,” and these meridians periodically become blocked, leading to pain, tiredness and often illness. The acupuncturist uses whisker-thin needles to insert through the skin at important meridian points that correspond to the patient’s problem, releasing blocked energy and allowing it to flow again. The needles are so thin that their insertion can barely be felt most of the time.

Contemporary medicine has acknowledged the usefulness of acupuncture in the treatment of pain, and several peer-reviewed medical studies have proven its effectiveness. It is believed that the needles trigger the nervous system to release pain relieving and healing chemicals into the muscles, brain and spinal cord. The World Health Organization finds acupuncture to be useful in treating a wide variety of conditions, including neurological and muscular disorders such as headache, low back pain, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, sciatica and osteoarthritis; respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and chest infections; gastric disorders such as gastritis, diarrhea, constipation and spastic colon; and problems with the urinary and reproductive systems.

Chiropractic treatment works in a similar manner, using chiropractic adjustments to align a misaligned spine, which may be interfering with the proper transmission of nerve impulses throughout the body. The spinal cord is considered the main conduit through which all the body’s regulatory and pain signals flow, and when the vertebrae move out of place due to stress, muscle tension or injury, the body does not function properly and pain is a common result.

An acupuncture treatment can be useful when receiving chiropractic care, as it helps to reduce pain signals to a tolerable level, relaxes your muscles and increases blood flow to speed healing so that your chiropractor can more easily perform therapeutic alignments and manipulations to your spine and joints, avoiding the necessity of resorting to pain-killers or other pharmaceuticals.

Salt Lake City Chiropractors who also practice acupuncture should have certification from the American Board of Chiropractic Acupuncture. This certifies that the chiropractor has completed 300 hours of training in acupuncture from an approved college and passed the board’s written and practical exams. 

As acupuncture has been proven to be effective in treating chronic back pain and other musculoskeletal problems, which are also the most common problems treated by chiropractors, the two healing modalities work well together to help make pain a thing of the past.

Chiropractic for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that is occurring with greater frequency as the population ages, along with the skyrocketing rates of obesity that contribute to osteoarthritis by causing unnecessary wear and tear on the joints. Chiropractic care can help those who suffer from osteoarthritis by realigning the joints so they move properly, slowing their degeneration.

A normally functioning joint moves easily, supported by a cushion of firm, rubbery cartilage that allows the bones to slide smoothly over one another. Osteoarthritis is caused by a breakdown in the cartilage of the joint, which allows the bones to rub together as they move, leading to pain, stiffness and swelling.

It is estimated that 50% of the population over age 55 has some form of osteoarthritis. As a person ages the content of water in the cartilage decreases, hastening its breakdown. Some tissue from the breakdown of this cartilage can be released into the synovial fluid of the joint capsule, causing inflammation. Though any of the body’s joints may be affected, the most common complaints are of pain in the knees, hips and hand joints, the ones that bear the greatest load and do the most work.

Symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, swelling, stiffness and crepitus, which is a term for the clicking or popping sound the joint makes when the ends of the bones in the joint rub together due to an insufficient cushion of cartilage. The first sign you may have osteoarthritis is frequently waking with “morning stiffness” in your joints that gradually improves as the day goes on. Pain may become worse when you are active, improving with rest.

Though there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are things you can do to slow its advance and alleviate the pain. The least invasive treatments involve changes to diet and lifestyle, along with chiropractic care. Eating whole fresh foods and losing weight can take much of the pressure and stress off your joints. In addition, regular light exercise can strengthen the muscles that support the joints. Exercise can also improve range-of-motion, balance and posture. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise for those with osteoarthritis, as it allows you to exercise without putting stress on your joints.

A trained chiropractor can use a variety of safe and gentle methods to return your joints to proper alignment, which will help alleviate pain without having to resort to taking excessive pain medications. Studies have shown that chiropractic treatment can increase range of motion, improve joint coordination, relax tense muscles and reduce pain. A chiropractor can also recommend the best exercises and stretches targeted to your specific needs.

About the Author:

Dr. Matt Ramirez graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Human Biology in 2004 and received his Doctor of Chiropractic Degree in 2006. He specializes in auto injury recovery and rehabilitation and has enhanced and improved thousands of lives as well as treated people of all ages over the years. He is also an expert in health and wellness, massage therapy, chiropractic care, and more...