WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC? CAN CHIROPRACTORS HELP POSTURE?
Can Chiropractors help posture? Let’s find out. Much like Physical Therapy and Osteopathy, a Chiropractor aims to manipulate your body in order to improve how you function. They tend to focus more on making Chiropractic Adjustments to the spine, which generally revolves around ‘cracking’ it. Cracking results from applying high-speed pressure to the spine in order to restore movement.
As with Osteopathy, there’s only limited evidence of efficacy for back and neck pain. There is apparently a very small increased risk of stroke associated with receiving Chiropractic treatment. You may expect to experience aches and pains, stiffness and tiredness. But to be fair, you can expect that from most if not all of the manipulative therapies, particularly sports massage.
CAN CHIROPRACTORS HELP POSTURE?
The stretches and soft tissue work can help lengthen and release tight muscles that may be pulling you out of shape. Cracking adjustments to the spine may also increase the flexibility and range of movement of the spine, which may help with freeing up your posture. All of these will help somewhat, more so than not getting help for sure.
However, I’m not aware of any studies that validate the efficacy of Chiropractic for improving posture. Alas in the UK where I live, there are far fewer Chiropractors than abroad, particularly the US where Chiropractic is much more common. So I haven’t met or worked with a Chiropractor myself.
I intend to try out a series of sessions as part of my “James tries” series and will be sure to update this section once I’m more in-the-know.
I’ll check with my doctor first as the NHS recommends talking to your GP for advice first. But in theory, a qualified, experienced Chiropractor should be able to help with the wealth of knowledge that comes from constantly working as a therapist.
If you do choose to visit a Chiropractor, take the time to find a good one. Try asking friends or family for a recommendation.
As before, it will be the quality of the therapist that makes the biggest difference, so be sure to find a good one, and check with your doctor before beginning any treatment.
A FINAL NOTE ON CHIROPRACTIC FOR POSTURE…
Can Chiropractors help posture? I personally haven’t worked with a Chiropractor, they are much more of a US thing than a UK thing. But by all accounts there’s benefit to be had if you can find a good one to help you. Expect your Chiropractor to want you to sign you up for a long series of sessions, at some cost. And of course, you have to go to visit a Chiropractor in person to find out for yourself, can Chiropractors help posture?
My personal recommendation is that you could use this as a potential choice from the available Posture Therapies, for your 5 ways to fix posture, but only if you know a good one who comes highly recommended, and who want to focus on a short series of sessions rather than an ongoing package.
Bye for now,
James.
