Spinal Cord Injuries and Chiropractic Care: All You Need to Know
Spinal cord injuries are serious ailments that can have a detrimental effect on an individual’s mobility, pain levels, and so forth. Often caused by trauma, osteoporosis, or specific conditions, the said injuries require a cautious approach to prevent complications from developing.
While conventional treatments are more concerned with pain management and surgery in severe cases, there is a holistic approach that has gained the approval of many, including medical practitioners: chiropractic care. It is highly recognized as a complementary treatment that can tap the body’s capacity to heal itself and improve one’s quality of life.
Spinal Cord Injury Statistics
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are over 15 million people who have spinal cord injury or SCI. Most of the cases are caused by trauma, which includes falls, violence, road injuries, and others, which means that they were preventable in the first place.
Consequently, it should be noted that individuals with the said injury are at risk of developing debilitating and even lethal secondary ailments that may increase their mortality rate. In fact, SCI patients have an in-hospital mortality rate that is three times higher in low-income and middle-income countries compared to those in high-income countries.
In the Philippines, the aforementioned hindrances subject patients to a lower rate of economic participation, substantially higher healthcare costs, and societal exclusion. Furthermore, they also experience a lower state of health that is often complemented by reduced access to education, work, social welfare, disaster management, etc. compared to their counterparts who have no disability. This is according to a study that was published in the National Library of Medicine.
To cope up with the SCI, self-care interventions that are provided by healthcare workers are directed to empower patients to care for their health, maintain optimum levels of functioning, prevent secondary conditions, and foster coping strategies. But, as mentioned earlier, because of the potential of chiropractic care, many of the said workers also include it as a complementary treatment to regular medical treatment programs.
Can Chiropractic Treatment Help with Spinal Cord Injury?
While chiropractic care, which usually includes chiropractic massage, is not known to heal SCI, its benefits when it comes to helping patients recover from the said condition are promising. Some of the most notable ones are as follows:
Pain Relief
Chronic pain continues to be a serious cause of concern for SCI patients. Recent data from a study conducted by the National Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems, which was also published in the National Library of Medicine, shows a pain prevalence that ranges from 81% at the first year of injury to 82% at 25 years. With regard to SCI pain relief, chiropractic care was one of the treatments that was performed to address pain and discomfort.
Of the 117 individuals that were involved in the study, 41% reported pain relief that lasted for days and 19% said that relief lasted for weeks.
Improved Mobility
One of the ways chiropractic care can boost the mobility of individuals with SCI is by fixing spinal misalignments, which is also known in the medical field as subluxations. They may take place because of trauma or injury, or sometimes, as a result of the body’s compensatory movements.
The said conditions may worsen symptoms that include but are not limited to pain, discomfort, and restricted movement, among others. In the process, chiropractic doctors utilize specialized techniques for spine adjustment. When employed, they can realign the spine and lessen the pressure on the spinal cord, together with surrounding nerves.
Consequently, enhanced spinal alignment can lead to refined posture, pain reduction, and increased range of motion. Contributory factors for improved mobility.
Accelerated Healing
In chiropractic treatment, the concept of accelerated healing is deeply rooted in the body’s inherent capacity to heal itself. It should be noted, though, that to achieve the said state, certain conditions need to be optimized. The said holistic method aims to create optimum conditions through the following:
Improved Blood Flow
Improving blood flow and circulation is essential for the SCI healing process since it ensures that the body’s tissues have access to the right amounts of nutrients and oxygen to repair themselves.
Chiropractic procedures that improve spinal alignment as well as muscle tension can also enhance blood flow, which in turn, may accelerate the healing of spinal tissues.
Reduced Inflammation
Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury, however, it can hinder SCI recovery, especially if acute inflammation is not immediately addressed and it turns into a chronic one.
Chiropractic care can safely aid in the reduction of inflammation via chiropractic massage, soft tissue techniques, gentle mobilization, and so on. They can promote lymphatic drainage and consequently cut down the build-up of inflammatory mediators.
When to Seek Chiropractic Care for a Spinal Injury
It is essential to consult with both a medical doctor as well as a chiropractor, especially after experiencing pain in the spine to ensure that proper diagnosis and treatment are performed.
As soon as the injury is stabilized and the healing starts, chiropractic care can be immediately implemented as a complementary therapy. In line with this, it is best to go for not just any chiropractor but one who has immense experience in treating SCI patients. This can guarantee that optimum recovery is achieved, all without compromising safety.
Summing up
Spinal cord injuries can be debilitating and can be greatly detrimental to one’s overall health and well-being. Plus, they can hamper mobility and quality of life.
The good news is that all is not lost if you are affected by the said condition. That is because there is always a chiropractic doctor out there who can support you on your healing journey. And for this reason, you should seriously consider consulting a qualified and licensed chiropractor to have your spine checked.
However, do not just go for any chiropractor and go for a highly experienced one who is backed by a long history of patient satisfaction, successful treatment, and so on. Remember, when it comes to chiropractic care, the one-size-fits-all approach does not cut it.
If you are still looking for a reputable chiropractic clinic that you can turn to for SCI treatment, Posture Perfect is the facility to be. We are made up of highly accomplished doctors that can help treat your spine issue in arguably the most effective and efficient way possible.
