The Department of Veterans states that there are around 19 million veterans in the U.S. From the frequent training, deployments, and traveling, our brave men and women who have served this country are susceptible to experiencing pain and stress. Luckily, the Veterans Health Administration recognizes the benefits of chiropractic for veterans. This holistic care is covered by the VA, which helps veterans receive the care and support they need to maintain their optimal health and performance. Let’s take a look at how chiropractic care can help veterans.
Chiropractic Care for Veterans
Veterans that receive chiropractic care are less likely to require drugs or invasive treatments to treat their health conditions. Since chiropractic is an effective treatment for reducing pain, this will also help reduce the need for pain-relief medications that can be unpleasant, addictive, and expensive. To receive chiropractic care, veterans must receive a referral from their primary care doctor. Indeed, the VA recommends chiropractic to veterans because it’s safe, effective, and more affordable than medications and surgery.
Reduce Your Pain Levels
Veterans that are suffering from chronic pain have other options than just pain medication and invasive surgeries. Traditional doctors generally provide temporary fixes by prescribing medications for pain-relief. These drugs can be addictive and don’t treat the problem itself. Chiropractors take a different approach by identifying the source of the patient’s pain. Oftentimes, this pain is caused by a spine misalignment. Licensed chiropractors can perform gentle, safe adjustments designed to restore the spine back into proper alignment. When the spine is properly aligned, patients typically notice a reduction or even removal of their pain. Indeed, veterans can achieve better health with less pain and discomfort due to their active lifestyles.
Improve Your Mobility
Aside from pain, veterans commonly experience reduced mobility. This may be due to aching or inflamed joints. Depending on how severe the pain is, a veteran can become immobile due to their chronic pain. Chiropractors can improve a patient’s range of motion, which will help them move more easily without restriction. Aside from receiving adjustments, a chiropractor may recommend special exercises designed to help patients improve their range of motion and ability to stretch and move their body.
Decrease Your Stress Levels
Veterans experience high levels of stress, as they go to war, leave family and friends behind, frequently move to different military bases, and maintain intense training schedules. If veterans also experience chronic pain, this can lead to anxiety or depression. A chiropractor can help reduce their pain and stress by treating any misalignments in the body that interfere with the vital brain to body communications. When the brain to body communications are working properly, this can help the body heal itself. As veterans start to feel better, they will find it easier to better manage their stress levels.
Decrease Your Headaches
It’s common for veterans to experience tension headaches due to their pain and stress they experience. A chiropractic adjustment can treat a patient’s pain, which will reduce any headaches. With regular adjustments, veterans may no longer need to reach for over-the-counter drugs that only temporarily mask pain. Indeed, chiropractors can effectively decrease or remove a patient’s headaches. As a result, veterans can live a better quality of life with less pain.
As you can see, there are numerous benefits of chiropractic care for veterans. Our brave men and women have safer, more natural options than just harsh drugs and risky, invasive surgeries. As always, it’s important to talk with your primary doctor to determine the best options for your unique health goals. If you are ready to begin your journey towards lasting health and wellness, contact Enlighten Chiropractic in Lakeville, MN today. We would love to help you heal from the inside out!
