Seeing a chiropractor can be an excellent way to keep your body in good shape, improve your physical well-being and overall health, or to directly address ongoing symptoms and concerns. However, many people believe that the only reason to see a chiropractor is when there’s something wrong. There’s no doubt that seeing a chiropractor is a good idea when you’re struggling with back pain, neck pain, or headaches, but that’s not the only time you should book an appointment!
There are countless issues with which a chiropractor can help you, and back pain is just the tip of the iceberg. You might be surprised at just how connected our bodies are and what symptoms that may seem unrelated, can be helped by chiropractic therapy. With that in mind, here’s a list of good reasons you might want to see a chiropractor.
1. Joint and muscle pain
If you’ve been suffering from ongoing pain in your joints or muscles, your first instinct might be to simply grab an anti-inflammatory medication or cream out of the medicine cabinet and hope it gets better. While this can be a good way to initially address the problem, it doesn’t get to the root cause of the pain. For example, poor movement of the joints and little muscles around the spine and skull affect how the rest of your muscles and skeletal system function.
A symptom may be an indication of a much bigger problem lying under the surface. Symptoms can be likened to a fire alarm that brings your attention to the very real problem of fire. The joint and muscle pain may be due to dysfunction in a part of the spine that seems unrelated to the problem area.
For example, perhaps you have pain in your left knee. If your spine isn’t moving properly, the flow of information from your left leg to the brain and back again may be interrupted causing your left leg to receive faulty messages from your brain, which means it moves in a less than ideal way. Over time, poor movement can create an imbalance in your body that causes your knee pain. Put simply, your spine is moving “out of whack”, and the imbalance will create further problems in the rest of the body.
The objective of chiropractic care is to restore healthy communication between your brain and your body and to maintain this communication long-term. This leads to better function and a healthier you.
A chiropractor will help to ensure your spine is moving in proper alignment, which will relieve tension from the surrounding muscles and restore the communication from your brain to the rest of your body. Over time, this will not only help with your back but will lead to relief from pain in your joints and muscles.
2. Poor posture
If you work at a desk all day, whether you’re typing away at the office or sitting through online classes, you can attest to the impact that prolonged sitting can have on your body. We are not designed to stay in one position for so long. We tend to slouch forward when sitting for long periods of time since holding the good posture for so long is not something for which people have sustained energy. Poor posture puts a lot of stress on the shoulders and neck and can create muscle tension that gradually spreads throughout the body.
Seeing a chiropractor regularly can help to ease that muscle tension. Not only will this give you relief from pain and stiffness, but it will help stop your muscles from fatiguing, helping you to keep better posture while sitting, and reducing the possibility of problems in the future.
3. Uneven wear on the soles of your shoes
This is one of the less obvious signs that it’s time to see a chiropractor but it’s a good one to be on the lookout for. If one shoe wears out faster than the other, or the pattern of wear is different on one sole than the other, it could be a sign of poor function in your spinal muscles and skeletal system. A chiropractor can assess your body’s alignment, and help you improve your gait pattern, saving your body and your shoes.
4. Recent car accident
We don’t have to tell you how serious car accidents can be. Even the most minor fender-bender can be a concern for your skeletal alignment. The small muscles around the spine and skull can be affected very easily and this instantly affects the flow of information from your brain to your body and back again which leads to poor body awareness, poor body control, and poor function. Always make seeing a chiropractor a priority after a car accident, even if you’re just a little bit stiff or sore, to help nip any problems in the bud before they become more serious.
5. Problems with your range of motion
Range of motion is one of the ways we see if your body’s function is improving after a chiropractic adjustment. The most common places where the range of motion limitation can be noticed are in the shoulders, neck, and hips. You might notice that you’re not able to move your body with ease or how you’re used to. After an adjustment, many people report they can shoulder check easily or can turn to help the kids in the back seat without discomfort!
A chiropractor can help your spine move better, restoring you to your full range of motion and function. Not only will this make life easier, but it will also help your body perform optimally and prevent further issues.
6. Keeping up with your active lifestyle
If you’re an athlete, or if you simply like to live an active lifestyle, we can’t recommend an ongoing relationship with a chiropractor enough. All physical activity has the chance to put stress on your musculoskeletal structure, which can eventually lead to other issues such as chronic or acute pain or a limited range of motion. In more severe cases, the stress put on your body by frequent exercise can lead to repetitive strain and muscle injuries.
7. Proactive care
Ultimately, even if you’re not currently experiencing any pain or discomfort, there are only benefits to seeing a chiropractor. You can think of it as a tune-up for your body, to ensure your spine and joints are moving properly and healthy communication throughout your body is maintained, helping you correct any minor issues before they become major ones.
Good sleep, good movement, good nutrition, good thoughts, and a well-functioning nervous system are all pieces to your best, healthiest life. A chiropractor can be a valuable source of information and part of your health team.
Wondering if you should see a chiropractor?
Whether you are concerned with pain, stiffness, soreness, limited mobility, or you’re simply looking to make sure everything is in tip-top shape, it might be time to pay a visit to a chiropractor.
With our years of experience, the team at Strawberries and Sunshine is here to help with your chiropractic needs. After a thorough initial consultation, we create a personalized, holistic plan to help you achieve your goals on your health journey. We’ll meet you where you are at and walk with you every step of the way. We’re here to help!
