Why Generation Z and Chiropractic Are a Perfect Fit
Editorial Staff
We're still learning about what makes Gen Z – adults ages 18-24 – tick, but some of what we're discovering suggests they both need chiropractic care and are willing to use it. Case in point: new survey findings that reveal many Gen Zers experience chronic pain at a young age and are open to drug-free pain management, including chiropractic.
Here are some of the key findings from the survey, conducted by the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress:
"When asked about their neck, shoulder and back pain, 18% of survey participants reported they first felt pain before the age of 10; 36% between the ages of 11 and 15 and 37% first felt discomfort between the ages of 16 and 20."
"More than half (54%) of respondents classified their risk for persistent pain as ‘medium.' Meanwhile, only 36% of survey respondents said their chronic pain is improving while the remainder reported it is getting worse (36%) or staying the same (28%)."
"[N]early three-quarters (73%) of Generation Z survey respondents reported their chronic pain was caused by their sleep position, followed by sports or exercise (45%) and carrying a heavy bag (39%)."
"[M]ore than 63% of survey respondents reported being 'somewhat' or ‘very' interested in chiropractic care while 17% have already received such care."
"Nearly 64% stated they believe chiropractic care should be covered by insurers, followed by physical therapy (61%); and massage, cupping, reiki and reflexology (50%)."
"Nearly 31% of survey respondents stated the efficacy of drug-free, natural pain management methods was a more important deciding factor than cost (24%) and convenience (20%)."
"Younger Americans seem to be recognizing that pharmacological pain management methods alone deliver only short-term relief without addressing the underlying causes of chronic neuromusculoskeletal pain that can often start at an early age," said Dr. Sherry McAllister, executive vice president of the F4CP.
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.
The Romberg test is a neurological procedure used to assess balance and can be used to gauge a patient’s risk of falling. Unfortunately, the test itself is a fall risk. The fall risk is not huge, and falls are not frequent. However, I have encountered a few situations that have influenced how I use and teach the test.
Sadly, Japan now has over 12,000 chiropractic therapists (Zenkenkai/JCA chiropractors), dramatically outnumbering the fewer than 700 DCs who have graduated from accredited chiropractic educational programs. These chiropractic therapists have a clear economic and political advantage that makes appropriate chiropractic legislation nearly impossible. What if this same thing happenened in the U.S.?
