Unlike pain medications, which have many side effects and can lead to addiction, chiropractic is all about healing the body. People who visit chiropractors often report more energy throughout the day!
Chiropractors use many techniques to alleviate pain, including spinal manipulation and mobilization. They also have various therapeutic modalities that they can use to improve blood flow.
Spinal Adjustments
Spinal manipulations, or chiropractic adjustments, are a natural and noninvasive method of treating pain. They involve a trained practitioner using their hands to apply a sudden force to a joint in your body, often the spine.
Your muscles, ligaments, and discs are designed to hold your joints in place but can also move out of alignment. The joints can be reacquainted with their original position with a spinal adjustment, and the surrounding muscles will learn to support them again.
Studies have shown that spinal adjustments can reduce blood pressure by targeting nerves that send signals to your blood vessels to release chemicals. It aids in lowering inflammation and other high blood pressure side effects like bloating and acid reflux. It is an effective and noninvasive alternative to taking medication.
Muscle Stimulation
Electric muscle stimulation, sometimes called “e-stim,” might lessen pain by boosting blood flow to the treated area and inducing endorphin release. Your chiropractor will place small sticky pads, called electrodes, on the site that requires treatment. The EMS machine, which provides electrical current to the muscles and joints, is connected to the pads by wires. You will feel a tingling sensation during the treatment, which lasts 9-15 minutes and should never be painful.
Often used to treat patients with neuromuscular conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy, e-stim helps improve function and speed up recovery. It can also prevent or slow muscle atrophy, a common problem after injuries and certain diseases and conditions. It can even help patients learn how to contract their muscles if they are too weak or disabled to do so independently.
Massage
One of the methods of pain management with a chiropractor is a body massage. It focuses on loosening up stiff muscles and minimizing inflammation. It also encourages the healing of muscle fiber and nerve tissues.
Massage therapy can boost the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments. It is because it helps loosen muscles directly connected to bones and joints. It allows the chiropractor to manipulate these areas more easily.
Additionally, a regular massage can help reduce stress and improve sleep. It can lead to a more muscular immune system, which will help fight diseases and illnesses. It is especially true if you have high blood pressure, which can often be improved through massage. Moreover, it will reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Nutritional Guidance
Nutritional guidance is an effective way to improve your health and help you achieve the results you want from chiropractic treatments. It involves analyzing your eating habits and recommending healthier foods and supplements to promote overall wellness. Chiropractors can also offer nutritional guidance to assist with pain management by improving blood flow throughout the body and removing waste like lactic acid that can make muscles painful.
Nutritional guidance can also help prevent future problems by ensuring your body receives the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and function properly. It is crucial if you are recovering from a disease or injury. Chiropractic treatments can be more successful, and the healing process can move along more quickly when a balanced diet rich in proteins, carbs, and healthy fats is consumed.
Exercise Routines
A healthy exercise plan can prevent nervous system dysfunction, joint immobility, and spine misalignment when combined with regular chiropractic treatment. Additionally, it can increase overall flexibility and muscle strength.
Chiropractors encourage patients to get a routine in place so that their treatments work for them and their workouts. Adjusting before an exercise can loosen up the muscles and prepare them for action, while getting a quick adjustment after a workout will help them recover optimally.
Pay attention to your body’s signals, and consult your chiropractor about appropriate exercises. It’s also a good idea to start slow and gradually increase your exercise intensity as you get used to it.
