Anyone who has experienced pain understands that it can be debilitating. Pain can make it challenging to manage everyday tasks and can affect relationships and physical and mental health in many ways.

Chiropractic care may be one avenue to pursue as a viable alternative to pain medications. While chiropractic visits are most often associated with back and neck pain, there are many different benefits - some of which may surprise those unfamiliar with chiropractic care - for this type of care.

Migraines and headaches:

In clinical trials conducted at Macquarie University, 72 percent of migraine sufferers had noticeable or substantial improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment.

Anxiety and stress:

The fight or flight mechanism that is activated when a person experiences stress and anxiety can take its toll on various parts of the body. Because stress involves nerve impulses, chiropractors may be able to work primarily with the spine where these impulses originate to help release tension and nerve irritation. In addition, adjustments can improve blood circulation, which may help signal the brain to turn off its "rally to action" response to stressful situations.

Accident injuries:

Chiropractors can assess musculoskeletal anomalies caused by motor vehicle accidents as well as slips and falls.

Fibromyalgia:

Fibromyalgia is marked by widespread musculoskeletal pain in the joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. It can be combined with temporomandibular joint syndrome, or TMJ, as well as irritable bowel syndrome, among other illnesses. Chiropractors can remove subluxations, which are misalignments of the vertebrae in the spine and joints that lead to pain responses. A Florida State University study found that those with fibromyalgia who combined resistance training with chiropractic treatment two times a week saw improvements in their symptoms.

Chiropractic care may be an asset for pain management, as well as a way to improve overall health.