Chiropractic is a healthcare profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and nervous system. It can relieve back pain and certain types of headaches. It is a holistic approach to healing that reduces inflammation and improves your body’s overall performance. It also increases your bodily awareness.
Relieves Headaches
Headaches and migraines are debilitating and can affect people’s ability to perform or carry out daily tasks. Over-the-counter and prescription painkillers can offer temporary relief, leading many to seek alternative remedies. One such alternative is chiropractic treatment. This holistic approach to headache management has shown that it is a promising option for those suffering from these debilitating conditions. A chiropractor can relieve tension and migraine headaches by spinal manipulations and massage therapy. The spine houses the spinal cord, and when the spinal joints are misaligned, it can irritate or compress nerves in the neck, face, and head. This can trigger pain signals and induce a headache. The chiropractic adjustment relieves headaches by improving the spine’s alignment, reducing stress, and encouraging relaxation. The treatment also increases the body’s production of endorphins, natural pain relievers, and mood enhancers. These factors combined can significantly decrease the frequency and intensity of headaches and migraines.
Relieves Stress
Chiropractic adjustments reduce the impact of pain on the nervous system and improve function. This, in turn, helps to control the body’s response to stress. Reducing pain symptoms also helps decrease irritability and other negative emotions, resulting in a more positive outlook. This may help you avoid the vicious cycle of pain causing stress, which causes more pain. Regular chiropractic treatment can also help boost immune function by reducing the impact of spinal misalignments on nerve impulses and allowing the body to fight off illness better. To further enhance the effects of chiropractic treatment, seeking a chiropractor who works collaboratively as part of an interprofessional healthcare team is essential. These professionals include physicians, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, psychologists, and midwives. They can be found in private practice, interprofessional clinics, and family health teams. They can also provide support in patients’ homes or hospitals.
Boosts Immune System
In addition to relieving stress and alleviating neck and back pain, chiropractic care improves the body’s nerve function. This results in a dramatic boost to the immune system. Whenever the brain needs to send messages throughout the body to fight germs, it uses the nervous system. If there is any compression or misalignment in the spine, these communication pathways can get blocked. When a chiropractor examines your spine, they will ensure there are no obstructions that could be impairing your body’s immunity. In one study, researchers found that patients who received regular chiropractic adjustments had a 200% higher immune competence than people who did not receive chiropractic treatment. In addition, those who received chiropractic care regularly had higher levels of CD4 cells, which are the immune system’s response to incoming germs. The higher immune system functionality allows the body to fight illnesses and infections more quickly and effectively. This translates into fewer sick days and less medication dependence to feel healthy.
Reduces Muscle Tension
During chiropractic treatment, muscles are massaged, relieving the tension and stimulating positive hormones that boost well-being. In addition, spinal manipulation helps ensure that the bones of your spine are in proper alignment. This can soothe the flight or fight response that causes stress and help eliminate back pain, the number one complaint among patients seeking chiropractor care. Chiropractors can also help relieve tension by teaching you good posture and stretching tight muscles, allowing your spine to move correctly and eliminating the pressure that can lead to headaches and migraines. In addition, a chiropractor can help to reduce inflammation by using hot and cold therapy, which draws white blood cells rich in healing substances to the injured area. Regular chiropractic care can also increase your overall bodily awareness, allowing you to sense better and respond to changes in your body. This can be especially helpful in maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits, which can help reduce stress and improve your overall health.
