Millions of people suffer from various types of pain. While medications can sometimes help with it, they don’t always fix the problem. Some might even worsen pain because they only temporarily hide it. Chiropractic care can naturally help with pain management by healing the source of pain and preventing it from occurring again.
Below you’ll discover more about chiropractic care and how it can aid with pain management.
What Makes Us Feel Pain?
When we feel pain, it’s because the sensory receptors in the skin are sending messages to surrounding nerves. The nerves submit messages to your spinal cord so they reach your brain. Your brain then registers the pain.
The main nerves that translate pain to the brain are the A-delta fibres and C fibres. A-delta fibres are the larger of the two and transmit stronger pain signals to the brain. On the other hand, C fibres are much smaller and their signals can sometimes be blocked by A-delta fibres.
What is Chiropractic Care?
Chiropractic care is a type of medical treatment that focuses on the body’s musculoskeletal system. This system is composed of nerves, joints, and the spine. A chiropractor will use manipulations to adjust tension or pain in certain areas. This is done as a natural alternative to medications and surgery.
Can Chiropractic Care Safely Treat Chronic Pain?
This medical treatment isn’t just for sudden injuries. Chiropractic care has long been used as a holistic treatment for numerous types of chronic pain, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia. Chiropractic treatments will reduce inflammation that causes this pain which can also prevent it from occurring often. While some chiropractors might use adjustments to relieve pain, a handful will incorporate ultrasounds and electrotherapy. They might also use a low-level laser which sends a soft light into the skin to naturally heal inflammation.
If you suffer from chronic pain but aren’t sure why, a chiropractor can help find the source of the problem. After asking a few questions and doing an examination, they can discover where the issue might be happening and give tips as to how it can be treated.
How Chiropractic Care Can Help with Pain Management?
You might be surprised to find that chiropractic care can significantly help with pain management.
It Will Release Tension
One of the best benefits of chiropractic care is that it can release tension. Tension is caused by a variety of different issues, such as stress, and results in your nervous system restricting blood flow to certain areas. This leads to a lack of oxygen which can then result in tense muscles.
By adjusting your body, especially the spine, a chiropractor can reduce tension. After each adjustment, blood flow will return to the area which can help the affected muscles recover.
The most commonly used adjustments for pain are:
- Direct thrust
- Myofascial release
- Cervical spine manipulation
- Spinal mobilization
- Functional technique
It Incorporates Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has been proven to help with reducing pain. This is because the soothing motions help to increase blood circulation while releasing tense muscles and knots.
Chiropractors will use a variety of different massages to heal pain.
Trigger Point Myotherapy
Trigger point myotherapy works to release various trigger points. Pressure will be applied to certain joints and held on that spot for around 30 seconds. This works to calm the painful muscle while releasing lactic acid.
Deep Tissue Massage
As one of the most popular forms of massage, a deep tissue massage uses different types of pressure to release pain, especially if it’s chronic. Its movements are designed to reduce inflammation while increasing blood flow to the area.
Swedish Massage
A Swedish massage incorporates gliding motions over your body to reduce pain. These motions are designed to increase blood flow back to your heart. This will encourage oxygen production, something which is needed to help heal pain and tension.
Reflexology
Reflexology invigorates the nerves to help calm surrounding pain receptors. A massage therapist will apply pressure on various reflex points on your body. While a reflexology massage might feel a little uncomfortable at first, this is because it’s releasing tightness throughout the body and adjusting it so it’s pain-free.
A Chiropractor Can Adjust Your Diet to Reduce Pain
A chiropractor understands the link between your diet and pain. If you eat inflammatory food, such as those high in sugar, MSG, and gluten, it can result in bodily discomfort. To help with this, they will usually adjust your diet so that it’s filled with anti-inflammatory options. This includes:
- Nuts
- Tomatoes
- Blueberries
- Turmeric
- Spinach
- Salmon
- Cherries
- Avocados
They’ll probably also recommend boosting your intake of water. Water will keep you hydrated and improve the fluid flowing around your bones, joints, and muscles. This will keep them lubricated and prevent inflammation. Drinking water will also flush out toxins in your bloodstream that could be leading to pain.
The right amount of water will vary depending on the person, but around 6-8 glasses each day is ideal. If you prefer to enhance the water’s taste to make it easier to drink, you can add some fruit or vegetable slices to it. For instance, lemon slices will give the liquid a delicious citrus flavor while also filling the water with vitamin C which is known for reducing pain.
It Uses Physical Therapy Techniques
Chiropractic care also uses physical therapy techniques to relieve pain. By training your body, physical therapy exercises can release painful muscles and teach them how to move naturally again. In addition to this, these exercises can prevent future injuries because they will strengthen your muscles and bones.
The techniques used will depend on where the pain is located. For instance, if you have neck pain, a physical therapist might suggest doing neck/head rolls or wall push-ups. On the other hand, if you have leg pain, they might recommend doing calf stretches or ankle pumps.
If you’re looking for natural ways to help with pain management, definitely consider using chiropractic care. It not only uses adjustments to provide pain relief, but incorporates a variety of other things to help keep you pain-free.
