Injury Prevention With Chiropractic
Care

Chiropractic care is a type of therapy that involves non-surgical, low-cost treatment that focus on disorders involving the nervous or musculoskeletal system. This is done through maintaining a unique focus on spinal manipulation and treatment of the surrounding structures. These treatments are administered by a professional chiropractor, who uses a series of quick yet gentle trusts to manipulate certain points in the human body.

And while you’ve probably heard of chiropractic care for treating injuries or addressing problem areas, they can also prevent some of these issues from ever occurring. Here are four common issues that chiropractors can help you avoid:

Back Pain

The most common function of chiropractic procedures is to treat lower back pain and other similar spinal conditions through manual therapy. This type of procedure, called a chiropractic adjustment, involves short lever arm thrusts on the backbone to improve functionality and reduce nerve irritability. This has helped the likes of decorated Boston Red Sox slogger Wade Boggs, who suffered from chronic back pain for almost a decade. He found that besides curing his condition, chiropractic care also helped him maintain nerve alignments so they won’t touch and cause more pain in the future.

Joint Degradation

With the aging population growing each day, falls are becoming a more common health problem in the country. In fact, statistics on Maryville University reveal how the number of U.S. citizens over the age of 65 has risen from 35 million in the early 2000s, to nearly 50 million in 2016. Fractures, dislocations, and head wounds are only some of the more common fall-related injuries that can happen to these seniors as a result of brittle bones and poor motor skills. A review by the University of Sharjah found that nearly 35% of people over 65 falls each year — a number that increases drastically for those over the age of 70. This is a major risk factor for injuries and joint problems. Chiropractic care, especially exercises that are concerned with keeping the joints and soft tissues in optimal condition, is one way to remain healthy and active even in old age.

Infantile Spasms

When administer by a licensed pediatric professional, chiropractic care can even be beneficial for babies. Dr. Douween van Staden points out how a pediatric chiropractor won’t “crack” or adjust a baby’s spine, like they would for adult patients. Instead, they apply softer pressure to make gentle alignments to a baby’s spine to help the nerves and muscles function better. This can help prevent a condition called infantile spasm, which is a seizure disorder that can make a baby’s arm and leg muscles stiff. This, in turn, can impact development in motor skills like babbling, sitting, or crawling, as well as accidents if not addressed. Chiropractic treatment can help prevent these spasms, which are often the result of mechanical restrictions in the baby’s spine.

Fatigue

Most injuries can occur when you push your body to the limit. Regular sessions cannot only help align your spine; they can improve your body’s innate ability to heal itself. A well-aligned spine and better circulation can help you fight off fatigue more effectively and manage your energy more efficiently. This way, chiropractic care can help in avoiding circumstances where your body is more susceptible to injury.

If you do visit your chiropractor to avoid these ailments, it is important to understand that similar to most hospital-based treatments, you may experience minor side effects after chiropractic adjustment. These symptoms can range from headaches and fatigue to mild pain and discomfort in the parts of your body that were treated. But don’t worry, these side effects are temporary and usually disappear after a few days to make way for a healthier spine.

Contributed by J. Louis for thespineandhealthcenter.com
(Featured Image Credit: Drravelling)