What Are the Benefits of Combining Chiropractic Care and Acupuncture?
Peanut butter is tasty on its own, but adding jelly elevates it to a new level. The same is true of many other combinations, including acupuncture and chiropractic. Combining chiropractic with acupuncture may make treatments more effective, enhance pain relief, and even prolong the effects of the treatments.
Exploring Acupuncture and Chiropractic
Although both acupuncture and chiropractic are holistic health practice, practitioners use different techniques during treatments.
Acupuncture resets the body's balance by targeting and breaking up Qi blockages. Qi, an essential lifeforce, moves through the body in a system of pathways. Inserting hair-thin acupuncture needles at strategic locations in the skin eliminates blockages, restores balance, and relieves discomfort. Acupuncture offers an effective solution for chronic and short-term pain and can help you manage the symptoms of conditions ranging from allergies to stress to gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD).
Chiropractors work with the bones and muscles of the musculoskeletal system. In addition to adjusting the spine with spinal manipulation treatments, chiropractors use several other treatments to help their patients, including hot and cold therapies, massage, and other soft tissue therapies, traction, ultrasound, and electrical nerve stimulation. Chiropractic care relieves pain in the neck, back, and joints, and may ease symptoms of sciatica, arthritis, scoliosis, sports injuries, headaches, and other conditions.
The Chiropractic/Acupuncture Combination Offers Better Pain Control
Realigning the vertebrae with spinal manipulation decreases pain while improving circulation, flexibility, and mobility. Massage, spinal manipulation, and other treatments reduce pressure on nerves and the nervous system. By balancing Qi, acupuncture reduces pain and inflammation. Both acupuncture and chiropractic treatments activate your natural pain relief system, prompting your body to increase production of the pain-killing hormones endorphins and serotonin.
Acupuncture and chiropractic care are both recommended by the American College of Physicians for the treatment of low back pain. Combining the treatments (along with acupressure) could provide a beneficial effect compared to other treatments, according to systematic review and meta-analysis published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2017. Although more studies are needed to confirm the findings, the combination of acupuncture and chiropractic care could offer significant benefits for many people living with long- or short-term pain.
Acupuncture and chiropractic treatments are an excellent option for any painful condition, including headaches and migraines, fibromyalgia, and whiplash.
Combined Treatments Relieve Stiffness and Poor Range of Motion
Problems with flexibility and range of motion are common after injuries. By improving the alignment of joints and reducing muscle tension and spasms, chiropractic care enhances flexibility and range of motion. Acupuncture helps tense muscles relax and improves blood flow to injured muscles and tissues.
Acupuncture and Chiropractic Care Provides a Simple Stress Solution
Stress is a common cause of headaches and pain. Muscles in your neck, shoulders, and back tighten as your stress level rises. Unfortunately, muscles can remain tight even after stress subsides.
Chiropractic treatments address the physical effects of stress by reducing tension in the muscles and joints. Acupuncture treatments focus on calming the mind naturally, relieving anxiety and stress, and improving sleep. Endorphins and serotonin released during both treatments help you feel more relaxed and offer mood-enhancing benefits.
Living with a Chronic Condition? Level Up Your Results with Acupuncture and Chiropractic
Combining acupuncture and chiropractic could help you manage symptoms related to:
- Joint Conditions, Including Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Headaches and Migraines
- Asthma and Allergies
- Digestive Issues
- Hot Flashes
- Depression
- Herniated Disc
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sprains and Strains
- Overuse Injuries
- Patella Femoral Syndrome
- Hip or Knee Pain
- Golfer's or Tennis Elbow
- Whiplash
- Shin Splints
Improve your health with the healing combination of acupuncture and chiropractic. Contact our office to schedule your visit with the chiropractor.
Sources:
American College of Physicians: American College of Physicians Issues Guideline for Treating Nonradicular Low back Pain, 2/14/2017
Science Direct: Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice: The Effectiveness of Acupuncture, Acupressure and Chiropractic Interventions on Treatment of Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain in Iran: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, 5/2017
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1744388116302006
Frontiers in Neuroscience: Neuroimaging Studies of Acupuncture on Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review, 9/19/2021
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.730322/full
The Lancet: The Global Epidemic of Low Back Pain, 6/2023
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(23)00133-9/fulltext
Harvard Health Publishing: Chiropractic Care for Pain Relief, 2/15/2021
https://www.health.harvard.edu/pain/chiropractic-care-for-pain-relief