Chronic pain is widespread in the United States, particularly among military veterans, affecting between 40 to 70% of this population and serving as a leading cause of disability. Veterans experience chronic pain more often than civilians, with back pain being the most common. Up to 75% of older veterans report chronic pain.

Chiropractic care and a healthy lifestyle go hand-in-hand, with chiropractors often recommending lifestyle changes to enhance overall health and well-being. These changes, including nutrition, exercise, stress management, and posture, can positively impact spinal health, nervous system function, and general wellness.

Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system, while lifestyle choices can significantly influence their health and function.

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide with many treatments, such as medication, often failing to provide lasting relief. Researchers have uncovered a possible solution. Their study found integrating lifestyle support into back pain care could reduce disability and enhance quality of life.

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to treat spinal stenosis, including:
• Spinal adjustments: these adjustments aim to improve spinal alignment and reduce pressure on the nerves.
• Massage therapy: Massage can help to improve flexibility, reduce pain, and promote relaxation.
• Exercise therapy: specific exercises can help to strengthen the muscles that support the spine and improve range of motion.
• Lifestyle modifications: chiropractors may recommend changes to daily activities, such as posture, ergonomics, and activity level, to reduce stress on the spine.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has developed a new systematic review to summarize the evidence for epidural steroid injections and whether they reduce pain and disability for people with certain kinds of chronic back pain. With an epidural steroid injection, a steroid or corticosteroid medication is injected into a part of the spine called the epidural space. The goal is to help reduce certain kinds of back pain.

Different stretches have different functions. Some focus on a particular muscle or muscle group or limb and improve movement. Others, sometimes referred to as ‘active’ stretches, are intended to increase strength. These three exercises are designed to do both with your back:

We are living longer and, if you play your cards right and have taken care of yourself, this is a wonderful thing. Good genes certainly help, but healthy lifestyle practices are just as important in continuing to live a productive life. Here are some tips the American Chiropractic Association recommends for aging with grace and health:

Walking may be, pound for pound, the most accessible, beneficial and inexpensive form of exercise available. The American Chiropractic Association recommends it as a way to stay fit.

‘Frozen shoulder’ is a term sometimes used loosely in connection with any type of persistent shoulder pain. But specifically it is the loss of arm movement at the shoulder joint. The shoulder is the part of the body that is the third most common subject for chiropractic treatment, the lower back and the neck being the two most common.

Regarding many forms of health care, people will sometimes ask: "If I’m feeling good, why do I need it?" In terms of chiropractic treatment, one answer could be, “Are you feeling the best you could be? Are you reaching maximum capacity?"