Chiropractic and Acupuncture for Chronic Pain: A Simple, Holistic Approach

Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting more than three months. It affects many people and lowers quality of life. Chiropractic care and acupuncture are natural, non-invasive treatments that can help.

Chronic pain, like ongoing back or neck pain, affects about 1 in 5 adults worldwide. Common treatments, such as painkillers, may not work long-term and can have side effects. Chiropractic care (adjusting the spine) and acupuncture (using needles to balance energy) are holistic options that focus on the whole person. 
 

What Are These Treatments?
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors use their hands or special tools to adjust the spine and joints to improve movement and reduce pain. Research shows chiropractic care is very effective at treating lower back pain, with many patients feeling better after a few sessions (Coulter et al., 2018). People like it because it’s personalized and hands-on approach. 

Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves placing tiny needles in specific body points to ease pain. It’s based on ancient Chinese ideas but works by calming nerves and releasing natural painkillers in the body (Vickers et al., 2012). Studies show it helps with headaches, arthritis, and other chronic pain.

Using Both Together
Some studies suggest combining chiropractic and acupuncture works better than using either alone. For example, a small study found that people with neck pain improved more when both treatments were used (Maiers et al., 2017). Both focus on helping the body heal itself, making them a good pair.
 

How Do They Work?
Chiropractic
Chiropractic adjustments fix misaligned joints, reduce muscle tension, and lower pain signals to the brain. This helps the body move better and feel less pain.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture stimulates nerves, which releases chemicals like endorphins to block pain. It also calms the brain areas that process pain, helping with conditions like migraines or fibromyalgia.
 

Why They Work Together
Chiropractic fixes physical problems, like stiff joints, while acupuncture reduces pain and stress. Together, they tackle pain from different angles, which can lead to better results.
 

What Does Research Say?
Lower Back Pain
Chiropractic care can reduce back pain by about 30%, more than standard treatments like medication (Goertz et al., 2017). Acupuncture also helps, with effects lasting up to a year (Xiang et al., 2019).
 

Neck Pain and Headaches
Both treatments help with neck pain and headaches. Chiropractic reduces pain for many patients, and acupuncture cuts down migraine frequency (Bryans et al., 2014; Zhao et al., 2020).
 

Fibromyalgia
For fibromyalgia, which causes widespread pain, acupuncture eases pain and fatigue, while chiropractic improves sleep and reduces sore spots (Vas et al., 2016; Hains & Hains, 2010).

Combining Treatments
Using chiropractic and acupuncture together fits a holistic plan that considers physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors. A typical plan might include:
•  Chiropractic: 1–3 sessions per week to improve joint movement.
•  Acupuncture: Weekly sessions to reduce pain and stress.
•  Other Support: Exercise, relaxation techniques, or diet changes.
 

Things to Know
•  Safety: Both are safe when done by trained professionals.
•  Cost: Some insurance plans cover these, but costs vary.

Chiropractic and acupuncture are effective, natural ways to manage chronic pain. They work well alone but even better together, helping people feel better without relying on drugs. More studies will help make these treatments more common in pain care. For now, they offer a promising option for those seeking holistic solutions.

References
•  Coulter, I. D., et al. (2018). Chiropractic for chronic low back pain. The Spine Journal.
•  Goertz, C. M., et al. (2017). Chiropractic vs. medical care for back pain. JAMA Network Open.
•  Hains, G., & Hains, F. (2010). Chiropractic for fibromyalgia. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.
•  Maiers, M., et al. (2017). Combining chiropractic and acupuncture for neck pain. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
•  Vas, J., et al. (2016). Acupuncture for fibromyalgia. Acupuncture in Medicine.
•  Vickers, A. J., et al. (2012). Acupuncture for chronic pain. Archives of Internal Medicine.
•  Xiang, Y., et al. (2019). Acupuncture for low back pain. Systematic Review.
•  Zhao, L., et al. (2020). Acupuncture for migraines. Randomized Controlled Trial.