Reduce Pain and Increase Range of Motion

When it comes to taking care of your health, you have a lot of tools to choose from, and not all of them involve taking medication. Many older adults turn to chiropractors to relieve musculoskeletal pain without drugs, but benefits can go beyond easing aches. Chiropractic care can support overall health and physical function. Let’s talk about this treatment modality and how it could work for you.

Pain, especially lower back pain, is one of the top reasons patients will find their way to a chiropractic office and onto the table for an adjustment. Chiropractic adjustments involve quickly forcing a joint into proper alignment, which may sound painful in and of itself; however, chiropractors use a wide range of techniques and customize levels of force to manipulate the spine and joints into alignment. The goal of adjustments is to reduce pain and also to increase your range of motion, which can wane with age. This can make it easier to stay active, which can help with a number of issues. While adjustments might sound scary if you’ve never had treatment before, they can be tremendously helpful with your healing.

If an adjustment is the best treatment for you, you may lie face down on a table, and the doctor may raise your foot or ask you to move certain parts of your body, like putting one hand over your head and then the other.

The chiropractor may then feel your back or neck, or ask you to go into different positions, to see what needs to be adjusted. Depending on the technique, the chiropractor will then apply a quick, controlled force to a joint that needs to be moved, with their hands or an activator. They may also gently stretch joints and may put pressure on sore muscles to relieve the tension.

You may feel a crack or pop as joints move back into place. This occurs when oxygen, nitrogen or carbon dioxide is released from joints. It’s not bones breaking!

Chiropractors often provide a wide range of treatments, not just manual adjustments. Yours may suggest stretches and exercises, acupuncture, massage or bracing, or they may refer you for physical therapy or nutritional coaching. The goal is to give you the skills to manage your own pain and to recognize where you can be in charge of changes to your lifestyle to avoid future injury or pain. Chiropractic care not only provides relief from immediate pain but also offers long-term benefits. Regular visits can help maintain proper spinal alignment, improve overall wellness, and reduce the risk of future injuries. It’s a proactive approach to ensuring your musculoskeletal health. If you are interested in exploring chiropractic care as part of your overall wellness, get in touch with us today!