Chiropractic care is a safe and effective treatment for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions. By focusing on spinal alignment and removing interference to the nervous system, chiropractic adjustments help alleviate pain, improve mobility, and promote overall health and wellness.
During spinal manipulation, chiropractors apply controlled force to misaligned joints called vertebrae, or subluxations. This triggers proprioceptors to restore proper movement patterns and reduce pain.
Spinal Alignment
Spine alignment is a huge factor in how your body moves, feels and functions. More than 80% of your muscles, ligaments and joints anchor into the spine. It serves two primary functions: it supports your weight and carries your body, and protects our most vital organ, the central nervous system. Poor spinal alignment restricts movement, creates pain in your muscles and joints and can lead to long term posture issues and health problems.
The spine houses the spinal cord, which is responsible for sending messages throughout your entire body to coordinate all cellular function. Suboptimal spinal alignment due to poor posture can cause nerve interference, which significantly reduces the amount of energy that flows to your limbs and internal organs from the brain. Chiropractic adjustments help ensure your nervous system is communicating effectively, resulting in optimal musculoskeletal health and function.
Having the right spinal alignment is essential for good posture and healthy movement, but many people don’t realize they have a misalignment until it causes symptoms. Misalignments can come on gradually as a result of poor postural habits or can happen suddenly as a result of an injury. Either way, they can lead to serious health complications if left untreated.
During a chiropractic adjustment, your chiropractor will gently realign your spine to improve its alignment. Ideally, your spine should look like an “S” when viewed from the side with lordotic curves in your cervical and lumbar spine and a slight kyphotic curve in your thoracic spine (reverse C-shaped curve). When your spine is aligned properly, it absorbs shock and maintains stability and flexibility to support your weight, carry your body, and allow you to move with ease.
Nervous System Function
The brain and spinal cord comprise the nervous system that is the computer and wiring that monitors, controls, and directs every function in the body. Research has shown that chiropractic adjustments improve the way your brain and nervous system functions by removing interference. This allows your entire system to self-regulate and heal, rather than being directed by the outside world.
Chiropractors use gentle moves to return the bones in your spine back into proper alignment, allowing for improved communication between your nerves and the rest of your body. In addition, getting regular adjustments can help your immune system to work more efficiently and may even reduce symptoms like headaches and neck pain.
When spinal joints misalign, or become subluxated, they create interference within the nervous system and can cause a variety of musculoskeletal issues, as well as more serious health concerns. This is why it’s so important to see a chiropractor regularly. Chiropractors are trained to identify and correct these subluxations, preventing them from causing more problems in the future.
You may feel and hear a popping or cracking sensation during a chiropractic adjustment, which is normal. This is a result of gases, like oxygen and nitrogen, being released from the small cavities in your joint. Similar to when you crack your knuckles, this release helps your joint move better and can also help your muscles relax.
Beyond relieving pain, chiropractic adjustments can influence the release and regulation of neurotransmitters like endorphins, which are natural analgesics. This is why patients often experience a feeling of relief and wellness after receiving a chiropractic adjustment. In addition, optimal nervous system function may enhance immune system response, improve organ function and promote physiological balance, which is the foundation of overall health.
Endorphin Release
In addition to helping relieve pain, chiropractic adjustments also help boost mood by stimulating endorphin release. Endorphins are your body’s natural morphine-like chemical and are secreted in response to stress, exercise and physical or emotional pain. They create a “runner’s high” feeling and promote feelings of happiness and wellbeing. In fact, endorphins can reduce depression and lower your risk of anxiety and stress.
When your spine is misaligned, nerve communication can be interrupted and the brain may not receive the correct signals. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including muscle tension and joint stiffness. Fortunately, chiropractic care realigns your spine and other joints, restoring normal function and improving nerve communication. As a result, your body’s stress hormone levels decrease and your immune system is strengthened.
Many patients state, according to the Madison chiropractors, that they feel a sense of wellness after their chiropractic adjustment. This is likely due to the release of toxins and activation of endorphins. However, it’s important to remember that toxins may make you feel groggy or sick for a few days after your adjustment.
If you are looking to improve your overall health, it’s important to address any stressors in your life. Meditation, deep breathing exercises and other mindfulness practices are proven to help calm the mind and reduce stress. Exercise has also been shown to increase endorphin production and lower stress levels. And a diet rich in nutrients like Vitamin C, magnesium and Omega-3 fatty acids can improve your body’s ability to fight off stressors. If you’re struggling with chronic stress, it’s a good idea to consider counseling or therapy. Managing your stress levels can help prevent pain, illness and improve mental health.
Inflammation
The inflammation process is a necessary response to infection or injury that protects the body by activating white blood cells to fight off unwelcome invaders. However, when a person is under chronic stress, eats a poor diet or drinks too much alcohol, these natural defense systems can become overtaxed and trigger an ongoing cycle of sickness and pain. Several studies show that chiropractic adjustments can help fight this inflammation by enhancing nerve function, releasing natural painkillers and improving immune system health.
When the bones and joints in the body are misaligned, they can irritate nerves and interfere with the nervous system’s natural communication system with the rest of the body. In addition, they may stimulate the production of inflammatory chemicals called neuropeptides and cytokines that can cause an overreaction to foreign invaders in the body that causes chronic inflammation. Chiropractors adjust the spine to remove this nerve interference, allowing the nervous system to function properly and reducing an overactive inflammatory response.
During a chiropractic adjustment, you might hear and feel a cracking sound in your back or neck. This is the release of gas bubbles in your joint, similar to what happens when you crack your knuckles. This sounds like the body damaging itself, but this is a safe and effective procedure that does not harm the tissues of the body.
Chiropractic is a non-invasive, drug-free method of fighting chronic inflammation and healing the body. The benefits of chiropractic care are extensive and include improved spinal alignment, reduced nerve interference, enhanced immune system function, increased mobility and overall wellness promotion. By addressing the root causes of pain, chiropractic can reduce and prevent future issues, eliminating the need for long-term drug use.
Blood Flow
Many people who visit chiropractors do so to alleviate symptoms that affect the musculoskeletal system. However, chiropractic care has been shown to improve a variety of health concerns including circulatory issues. The prevailing theory is that spinal subluxations cause misalignments that restrict blood flow and lead to a host of health problems.
Whether the issue is cold hands and feet or chronic nausea, poor circulation can be very debilitating. Circulation is critical for delivering oxygen and nutrients to all the body’s cells and organs. Without adequate circulation, tissues and organs can begin to starve.
A chiropractor’s treatment techniques are designed to address all the elements of proper circulation. In addition to performing adjustments to correct vertebral misalignments, chiropractors often employ soft tissue therapies like massage and stretching to help relax muscles and break up adhesions that can impede blood flow. They also offer lifestyle guidance to encourage healthy eating habits and regular physical activity that support a good circulatory system.
According to one study published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, patients with cervical circulation issues and spinal misalignments were found to have lower levels of blood flow than those who didn’t have spinal misalignments. The study concluded that this indicates that spinal alignment has a direct impact on the body’s ability to maintain proper blood flow.
While it’s important to note that there are certain conditions and diseases that can negatively affect the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments, these are rare cases. In general, chiropractic has a positive impact on the entire musculoskeletal system and can provide an alternative to prescription medications. As researchers continue to uncover the biological, neurological, and immunological mechanisms behind chiropractic adjustments, it’s clear that this time-honored practice can be an important component of any holistic wellness plan.