Chiropractic is an exciting form of healthcare that focuses on a non-invasive and comprehensive approach. It revolves around the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical problems within the musculoskeletal system. The core belief behind chiropractic is that misalignments in the spine and other joints can lead to discomfort and pain.
Chiropractors aim to address the root cause of pain rather than simply masking the symptoms with medication, leading to lasting relief. By integrating chiropractic treatment into your routine, you can enjoy a variety of beneficial effects that enhance your overall health and wellness.
Helps You Stay Active
Keeping your joints and muscles loose and flexible helps prevent the cartilage at the ends of your bones from prematurely breaking down. This reduces your risk of muscle strain, arthritis, and other joint problems.
A properly aligned musculoskeletal structure allows your body to function at its best, including fighting infections and illnesses. Studies show that incorporating chiropractic care into healthcare settings like community health centers can help decrease multiple physician and hospital visits for musculoskeletal pain conditions.
Incorporating chiropractic treatment into your pain management routine is a great way to get your muscles and joints moving again. When creating an activity plan, it’s important to select enjoyable activities to ensure long-term commitment. Increasing your daily exercise may seem difficult initially, but you will find it easier to maintain as you progress. Aim for 20 minutes of movement daily, or at least 10 minutes if that is more realistic.
Relieves Pain
Chiropractic treatment targets the source of your pain and teaches you how to manage it. Over time, this can reduce your need for medication and other medical treatments with chemical dependency and side effects.
Chiropractors are trained to use various techniques, including spinal manipulation (an adjustment), extremity adjustments, and soft tissue massage to ease pain. Spinal manipulation involves using hands or a device to apply a controlled thrust to correct misalignments in the spine, called spinal subluxations. It’s the only form of chiropractic that Medicare Part B covers.
Chiropractic treatment not only alleviates back and neck pain but can also enhance your breathing. Research suggests that spinal manipulation helps relieve pressure on the thoracic nerves that serve the lungs. This makes breathing more effortless and may decrease the frequency of headaches. It may even make it easier to exercise because it increases the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream, which improves your energy levels.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation is a hot topic in wellness circles because it plays a role in some of the world’s deadliest diseases. While inflammation is your body’s natural and healthy attempt to preserve itself, the problem occurs when it becomes chronic.
Regular inflammation is common in cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. It is also linked to weight issues, high cholesterol levels, and autoimmune disorders.
Your chiropractor may recommend dietary changes to help reduce inflammation, such as avoiding sugary and fried foods. They may also suggest taking nutrient-rich supplements, including fish oils, magnesium, and vitamin D, to prevent inflammation.
Chiropractic care helps reduce chronic inflammation by improving the function of your spine and nervous system. Studies have found that spinal manipulation can reduce inflammatory substances in the blood and increase infection-fighting proteins called immunoglobulins. It also decreases the production of inflammatory chemicals called cytokines and neuropeptides. It can also ease anxiety and stress, allowing the body to release serotonin, endorphins, and dopamine, mood-enhancing hormones.
Helps You Sleep Better
A good night’s sleep is essential for optimal health and wellness. However, many people struggle to get a restful night of sleep due to pain, insomnia, migraines and even sleep apnea. Chiropractic treatment can address the underlying issues contributing to these sleep problems.
Chiropractors undergo extensive training to manipulate the spine and nervous system, which can help alleviate various health issues such as headaches and sleep disorders. By manually manipulating the body, they can relieve back and neck pain that may cause sleeplessness, reduce stress and anxiety that can lead to insomnia, and enhance range of motion and flexibility.
Chiropractic care also decreases feelings of paraesthesia (unusual, uncomfortable sensations like tingling, skin crawling, prickling, and sharp electric stabbing) associated with conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and restless leg syndrome. Sleep problems associated with these conditions are common among adults and children and can be successfully treated by chiropractic adjustments.
