Four Ways Chiropractic Care Can Alleviate Neck Pain
Neck pain is a common affliction that affects more than 80% of the population over the course of their lifetime. Many people believe that neck pain is an inevitable part of life. Neck pain can develop gradually over time or manifest abruptly as the result of an injury, both instances leaving sufferers feeling as though they are left dealing with pain indefinitely. Fortunately, this is not the case. Expert chiropractic treatment makes neck pain highly treatable, and in some instances, completely reversible.
Depending on the origin of the pain, neck pain may require long-term treatment to realign bones and joints, or may be best addressed through intense, directed treatments designed for rapid results. At SpineWorks Chiropractic, we believe that each individual body has a unique story. For this reason, a comprehensive and thorough assessment is utilized to best understand the origin of pain or any other discomfort and unusual symptoms you may be experiencing. Once the origin of pain is pinpointed—it may be the result of an accident, injury, or poor postural habits—the treatment can begin. Here are four ways that chiropractic care can help alleviate neck pain:
1. Moving misaligned bones and joints back into alignment.
One of the leading causes of neck pain is misalignment in the neck and spine. This can occur from prolonged poor posture, excessive use of a cell-phone, a work environment with little-to-know no ergonomic support, an accident, or an injury. When bones and joints move out of alignment, they cause the muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the neck to become strained in an effort to displace the increase in pressure. The further the head moves out of alignment from its natural position on top of the shoulders, the more pressure increases in the neck. This can cause chronic pain that always returns, as well as a host of other symptoms—all of which can be treated through chiropractic care.
2. Decreasing inflammation.
Prolonged poor posture or injury can result in inflammation of the surrounding tissues, muscles, ligaments, and nerves. Chiropractic care can effectively decrease inflammation through a variety of treatments, namely adjustments and spinal traction. Chiropractic adjustments and spinal traction help to realign bones and joints, creating both immediate and long-term effects. As bones and joints move back into their optimal positions, the tissues, nerves, ligaments and muscles that were previously being compressed are released. This allows the body to downregulate immune response and decrease inflammation globally.
3. Relieving pinched and compressed nerves.
Chiropractic care emphasizes treatment of bones and joints, but a lesser-known fact is that it directly affects the nervous system and nerve networks, as well. When bones and joints are experiencing subluxation (misalignment), this can often limit the efficacy and function of nerves in the body, which transmit energy and messages to and from the brain, spinal cord, and physical extremities. The compression of nerves in the neck can inhibit movements, impair cognitive function, and create pain. If you’ve ever experienced shooting, sharp, or temperature-related (hot/cold) pain in your neck, then you’ve likely experienced nerve compression as a result of joint subluxation. Chiropractic interventions like spinal traction and adjustments are highly effective at resolving subluxation and restoring optimal alignment and posture over time. This can significantly reduce or eliminate neck pain, increase mobility, and improve cognitive function.
4. Improving circulation and detoxification.
Another way that subluxation (misalignment) in the neck can compromise the health and efficiency of the body is by inhibiting circulation and detoxification. Chiropractic treatments—for example, traditional chiropractic adjustments—can restore and improve circulation immediately. When an expert chiropractor facilitates an adjustment, this allows blood cells and lymph to be released from misaligned and compressed joints. This purging process can aid in detoxification and improved blood flow, delivering essential oxygen and nutrients to areas that were previously deprived or stagnant. The powerful detoxification effect that chiropractic care can give rise to is one of the primary reasons that increased hydration is recommended following a chiropractic treatment.
What kind of chiropractic care is right for me?
If you are experiencing neck pain, stiffness, a lack of flexibility and mobility in your neck, or you simply want to support the overall health of your neck and spine, you are right to seek chiropractic care! At SpineWorks Chiropractic, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver highly customized care to each person based on their unique symptoms, story, and lifestyle. Your comprehensive assessment will reveal what kind of chiropractic care is best suited to you, and may include a combination of traditional chiropractic adjustments, Chiropractic BioPhysics® based spinal traction, Denneroll spinal remodeling, and more! If you’re ready to experience relief from neck pain and to begin embodying your ideal vision of health, book your appointment today.
