There is more to living a chiropractic lifestyle than having a fully functioning spine. There are health benefits provided by chiropractic care that go beyond what is currently known through research. You see this in your office every day. I know it in my life as the son and grandson of chiropractors. My family sees it in their lives year in and year out.
While research is still trying to catch up with clinical experience, we have other ways to measure how chiropractic affects health beyond the spine. In a previous article, I suggested we conduct a survey of chiropractic patients to see if we could demonstrate (at least through a nonscientific method) that people who enjoy consistent chiropractic care are healthier overall than people who don't visit a chiropractor.1 Unfortunately, we weren't able to get enough DCs interested in volunteering their patients to participate in the survey. This is understandable given patient confidentiality, HIPAA, etc.
Instead, we surveyed DCs to see if they enjoy better health with chiropractic. Our metrics for this survey included fewer sick days, better sleep and more exercise than the general population - three variables generally regarded as among the more relevant when assessing quality of life / health. (See tables showing results of all three survey questions compared to the general population.)
As you can see from just three measurements, people who maintain their health through consistent chiropractic care generally enjoy more sleep, more exercise and fewer sick days. And while this survey does not meet the requirements to be scientifically valid, it does reinforce the potential for chiropractic to play a much larger role in the health of Americans and people everywhere.
Chiropractic remains the primary profession focused on wellness. This is something we need to keep reminding our patients - and the world.
Percentage of People Who Sleep 7 Hours or Less Per Night2
| Age | General U.S. Population | U.S. DCs |
| 25–34 | 39.4% | 21.6% |
| 35–44 | 39.3% | 24.5% |
| 45–54 | 39.0% | 35% |
| 55–64 | 34.2% | 29.7% |
| ≥65 | 24.5% | 29.8% |
Percentage of People Who Exercise at Various Levels3
| Gender | High Activity | Medium Activity | Low Activity | Sedentary Activity |
| U.S. Women | 27% | 13% | 24% | 36% |
| DC Women | 31.2% | 37.6% | 22% | 9.2% |
| U.S. Men | 31% | 21% | 20% | 28% |
| DC Men | 39.4% | 23.9 | 21.1% | 15.7% |
Average Number of Sick Days by Employment Category4
| Category | U.S. Employee | DC Employee |
| Salaried Exempt | 3.8 days | <1 day |
| Salaried Non-Exempt | 5.6 days | 1.1 days |
| Non-Union hourly | 4.8 days | .76 day |
| Union Hourly | 5.5 days | N/A |
References
Read more findings on my blog: http://blog.toyourhealth.com/wrblog/. You can also visit me on Facebook.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
