Chiropractic care is a non-invasive, hands-on healthcare discipline that focuses on the neuro-musculoskeletal system. A Doctor of Chiropractic care is specifically trained to detect and correct problems in the spine, often before the patient is even aware they exist. Chiropractors use a manual approach to adjust or manipulate the spine into proper alignment. Spinal manipulation is one of the most common and well-known therapeutic procedures performed by chiropractors.
The purpose of spinal manipulation is to restore joint mobility and function by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypo-mobile. Hypo-mobile joints are restricted in movement due to injury or overuse. In the case of automobile accidents, there are injuries that aren’t always obvious. Whiplash is one example. A chiropractor is especially suited to diagnose and treat whiplash. By performing the necessary adjustments to the vertebrae, a patient with whiplash may only experience pain for a short amount of time – if at all. It’s important to seek chiropractic care soon after a car accident if you are experiencing pain in your neck or back.
If untreated, whiplash can cause long-term problems, such as chronic pain, sleep disturbances, and migraines. Severe whiplash may limit the mobility of the neck as well. Visiting a chiropractor helps alleviate immediate neck pain and prevent the potential for these long-term problems. Another common injury treated by chiropractors is torn ligaments and muscles. Right after an automobile accident, you may feel fine – only to wake up very sore the following day. The soreness can be a result of tears in your ligaments and muscles. When you visit a chiropractor to address this problem, they realign your spine. The realignment causes a release of the body’s natural healing properties to reduce pain and inflammation. Neck and back pain is often a result of torn ligaments and tendons. If left untreated, these injuries may lead to damage of the discs of the vertebrae and inflammation of nerves. A chiropractor checks for these problems and makes the necessary adjustments to the spine. When the spine is aligned, the pain subsides. An added benefit Doctors of Chiropractic care provide is relief from pain that lessens the need for medications.
When inflammation is not addressed, it causes problems both in the short and long term. Specifically, it leads to pain and loss of range of motion. Also, inflammation hinders the body’s healing process by restricting the proper flow of blood and nutrients. A chiropractic adjustment releases the blockage, restoring the range of motion and speeding up the healing and recovery process. Aside from automobile accidents, patients who drive for extended periods of time also experience pain in the neck and back. When poor posture is held for long periods of time while driving, the muscles and tendons of the neck and back tighten. As a result, the vertebrae in the neck and back are not in proper alignment. Or, muscle spasms become a problem. A chiropractor addresses these issues in a matter of minutes with spinal adjustments. Additionally, they may recommend stretches for the patient to help prevent similar problems in the future. The same problems occur to people who sit for long periods of time at a desk. While many people work from home now, they often don’t have an ideal ergonomic workspace. Eventually, they notice neck or back pain, which can be easily resolved by a chiropractor.
Chiropractic care is beneficial to many parts of the body. Several issues in the body are a result of spinal misalignment. For example, pain in the shoulders, hips, or knees may be resolved by a spinal adjustment. A spinal adjustment corrects vertebral subluxations, which helps reduce tension, spasms, inflammation, and pain. Chiropractors treat a variety of injuries in addition to those mentioned. From sports injuries to back pain from overexertion, a chiropractor knows how to solve these problems, promote healing and relieve pain. And a chiropractor knows when to recommend other therapies like massage or acupuncture. Chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, and acupuncture are often combined for excellent results.
In fact, chiropractic care is an ideal complement to massage therapy and acupuncture. Therapies like this release the body’s potential to heal itself and alleviate pain. In this day and age, addressing pain without the need for medication that has serious side effects is ideal. Whether you undergo these services as a combination or as an individual therapy plan, the result is a healthy sense of wellbeing. How the body feels affects many aspects of life. At Sean’s Massage Center, our chiropractic services, along with the other therapies we provide, are how we ensure you feel your best.
