Routine chiropractic care can offer several benefits for individuals with disc issues (such as herniated or bulging discs) or degenerative spinal conditions (like degenerative disc disease or spondylosis). Here’s a summary of the potential benefits, supported by evidence-based research:
1. Pain Reduction
Benefit: Chiropractic spinal manipulation has been shown to reduce both acute and chronic low back pain, often related to disc and degenerative changes.
Evidence:
A 2018 systematic review in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) was associated with statistically significant improvements in pain and function for acute low back pain [Paige et al., 2017].
A Cochrane review (2011) also concluded that SMT provides a small, but significant, improvement in pain and functional status for chronic low back pain [[Rubinstein et al.]].
2. Improved Mobility and Function
Benefit: Regular chiropractic adjustments may help restore spinal mobility and improve range of motion affected by disc degeneration or herniation.
Evidence:
A 2014 study in Spine Journal found that spinal manipulation led to improvements in lumbar mobility and decreased disability scores, particularly in people with chronic lumbar disc herniation symptoms [[Leininger et al., 2014]].
Chiropractic care can also help maintain joint function, potentially slowing progression of spinal degeneration due to improved mechanical loading.
3. Reduction in Need for Medication
Benefit: Patients under routine chiropractic care may use fewer pain medications, including opioids.
Evidence:
A 2020 study in Pain Medicine found that adults with spinal pain who visited a chiropractor had 49% lower odds of receiving an opioid prescription compared to those who saw other providers first [[Whedon et al., 2020]].
4. Cost-Effective Care and Reduced Disability
Benefit: Chiropractic care is associated with reduced overall healthcare costs and fewer disability days.
Evidence:
A study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that chiropractic care was associated with lower total healthcare costs and fewer disability days for workers with low back pain [[Liu et al., 2018]].
5. Prevention of Recurrence
Benefit: Routine care (also called maintenance care) may help prevent recurrence of back pain episodes.
Evidence:
A randomized controlled trial (2011) in Spine found that patients receiving maintenance spinal manipulative therapy had significantly fewer days with low back pain compared to those receiving only acute care [[Senna & Machaly, 2011]].
Conclusion
Routine chiropractic care can:
- Reduce pain and inflammation
- Improve function and mobility
- Decrease reliance on medications
- Potentially prevent recurrence of symptoms
- Offer a cost-effective and drug-free management strategy for chronic spinal conditions
However, the effectiveness can vary based on the technique used and the specific spinal pathology. It’s best when combined with physical therapy, exercise, and lifestyle changes for comprehensive care.