Chiropractic Care and Wellness

Wellness image.

Many people traditionally associate chiropractic care with the relief of back and neck pain. However, during the last several years, there has been a dramatic shift in the chiropractic profession; most of us now promote and deliver wellness care in our practices. What does that mean?

Generally, people first consult a chiropractor for a condition that is causing them acute pain or discomfort. Chiropractic care at this stage requires frequent patient visits designed to relieve the pain and reduce symptoms. As the patient begins to feel better, chiropractic care continues to improve nervous system functioning and promote healing. At this point, many patients begin to feel better, and discontinue care thinking it is no longer necessary.

However, this is the point at which it would be wise to move into wellness care to continue the healing process and to prevent a return of the symptoms that caused the problems in the first place!

True health involves much more than just the absence of pain or symptoms. It involves optimal functioning of our bodies on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Chiropractic wellness care helps the body to maintain nervous system integrity so we can enjoy our lives to the fullest. Routine chiropractic checkups, along with proper rest, nutrition and exercise are all components of the wellness lifestyle…and many people today are coming to view wellness care as a way of living their lives to their fullest!

Dr. Shelly Asks some important questions of interest to Boulder residents - Chiropractor Boulder Dr. Shelly Asks...

What's the difference between sick care and health care?
Sick care is largely about relieving or suppressing symptoms. Health care is about improving performance. While sick care is about how you feel, health care is about how you function. Sick care is what you do to treat an obvious problem, and health care is what you do to avoid the problem and advance your well-being.
What's a side effect?
It may sound like a bonus; something extra, but chiropractors know it should more accurately called an "unintended effect," and "unwanted effect" or in some cases an "adverse effect." A pill can't come close to matching your body's ability to create and deliver the essential compounds it needs. That's when it's important to make sure your nervous system is working correctly—the purpose of chiropractic care!