A chiropractor is more than just a back doctor. Chiropractor’s realm of expertise is the spine, however, performing realignments of the spine can heal more than just a bad back or a kink in the neck.
The Chiropractic Touch
Aside from that bad back you may have, here is what else chiropractors can help treat:
1. Migraines and tension headaches
At some point, you may experience a headache in your life and taking a Tylenol and resting may work sometimes but what if that headache becomes more frequent? What is nausea presents? Is more medication the best option or is a holistic approach a better choice? These are all options you can discuss with your chiropractor and you might be surprised to learn just how effective a spinal manipulation can be.
A spinal manipulation, which is the primary technique used by chiropractors, has been proven to help decrease pain from those who suffer from tension headaches.
In a clinical trial conducted at Macquarie University, 72 percent of migraine sufferers experienced either “substantial” or “noticeable” improvement after a period of chiropractic treatment.
With most headaches stemming from muscle tension in the neck due to being stuck in the same posture for hours on end in front of a computer, an irritation in the joints can occur causing the headaches.
What Can A Chiropractic Do?
- Perform spinal manipulation or chiropractic adjustments to improve spinal function and alleviate stress on your system.
- Provide nutritional advice, recommending a change in diet or the addition of vitamins.
- Offer advice on posture, ergonomics, exercises and relaxation techniques.
2. Stress and anxiety
Stress is inevitable and can occur as a result of our environment, our body or our emotions. When dealing with environmental stress, noise, weather or physical threats may trigger anxiety. When our bodies do not perform the way we wish as a result of sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and disease, stress can become heightened. Dealing with emotional stress is unique to each person as we all handle and react to situations differently
Careers today are increasingly complex as the business world has become more and more competitive. Physical stresses in the environment such as sound, air, and water pollution have also grown worse over the last century. Emotional and psychological stresses caused by increasing awareness of troubles and tragedies around the globe are brought to our attention all hours of the day without a break.
Many illnesses are caused or worsened by stress, which activates our “fight or flight” reaction. This systemic reaction affects almost every part of the body, as the hypothalamus in the brain stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which causes an increase in heart rate, blood volume, and blood pressure, redirecting blood away from our digestive system and extremities.
Long term effects of these stressors can cause harm to our health resulting in high blood pressure, diabetes, infertility, and damage to the immune system.
With chiropractors focus primarily on the spine, this can be beneficial for many as the spine houses the nervous system where nerve impulses travel sending messages to the brain and the body. With a properly aligned spine, messages will be sent to the brain creating a healthier way for the body to handle stressful situations.
What Can a Chiropractor Do?
- Chiropractors have the ability to release muscle tension, one effect of chronic stress that leads to nerve irritation and creates uneven pressures on the body’s bony structures, which can cause the spinal column to become misaligned. This, in turn, helps the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state.
- Spinal adjustments can aid in reducing spinal nerve irritation and improve blood circulation, which can help signal the brain to turn off the “fight or flight” response and begin the healing process.
- A doctor of chiropractic can suggest nutritional supplements, like B complex vitamins, to help the body cope with stress.
- Chiropractors also specialize in relaxation techniques and teach the importance of posture and discuss how environmental changes can help you recover from chronic stress.
3. Fibromyalgia
Those who suffer from Fibromyalgia experience widespread pain and sensitivity throughout their entire body. When diagnosing fibromyalgia, doctors will determine if the condition is present based on the patient having 11 out of the 18 tender points on the body. Fatigue and disturbances with mood are also present with patients presenting with Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a widespread condition that affects about 2 percent of the United States, and medical science has yet to determine the cause of this condition.
As mood disturbances and depression present with this condition, many doctors begin by focusing on that symptom to help treat the rest. Others feel Fibromyalgia is more physiological and has its origins in physical trauma or chronic postural alterations. Some believe that Fibromyalgia is a central nervous system disorder rooted in neurochemical imbalances since those with FM are hypersensitive to even the slightest stimuli and often have a pain response to normally non-painful pressure or activity.
As the cause of this condition is still unknown, finding treatments for all the symptoms can prove to be difficult however, chiropractic adjustments have shown to be successful. When combining a spinal adjustment with a soft tissue technique called ischemic compression, those affected by this condition have reported relief from their symptoms.
In one study, 60 percent of the subjects treated by a chiropractor experienced a significant improvement: reduced pain improved sleep and decreased fatigue.
What Can a Chiropractor Do?
- Chiropractors are trained as neuromusculoskeletal specialists, and one of the main focuses of chiropractic care is the positive impact it can have on a person’s nervous system. Therefore, chiropractic adjustments can improve an FM patient’s nervous system, giving them a better chance of recovery.
- Chiropractic care is designed to treat pressure points, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, headaches and pain from musculoskeletal injuries.
- Chiropractors also have the ability to reduce a patient’s overall pain through spinal adjustments and increase the mobility between spinal vertebrae, which have become restricted, locked or slightly out of proper position, thereby increasing cervical and lumbar range of motion.
Our Atlanta chiropractors are more than just “back doctors,” as we specialize in treating a variety of conditions. Although our focus may be on realigning the spine, having a properly aligned spine goes much farther than just good posture. If you are suffering from a condition affecting your musculoskeletal system, contact our Atlanta chiropractors today for a consultation at (404) 889-8828.