Seven Clear Signs You Should See a Chiropractor

By  //  March 21, 2020

People looking for a way to eliminate or reduce the different types of physical pain they suffer without having to go through surgery or use medication often consider going to a chiropractor.

In fact, around 22 million Americans visit a chiropractor every year. 

If you’ve been wondering whether you should see a chiropractor or not, here are 7 clear signs you should. 

What Is a Chiropractor?

Chiropractic care is an alternative branch of medicine that deals with spinal misalignment, which can be the cause of some of the most common types of physical pain, including backache, neck pain, joint pain, and even headaches. By using hands-on spinal manipulation to properly realign the spine, the body is then able to heal itself. The treatment can be used by itself or in conjunction with other treatments. It’s the least invasive approach to treating pain which is one of the main reasons behind its popularity. 

Besides reducing pain, chiropractic care can also restore your range of motion and improve your flexibility, as well as your balance by applying controlled pressure to specific areas on your body. Treatments are typically done in sessions. In North Carolina, the chiropractors at Carolinachirocare.com explain that the number of sessions you need depends on the particular area of your body where you’re experiencing pain. In addition to the sessions, these experts recommend doing supplement exercises at home to increase the benefits of the treatment. 

Here’s what indicates you might need to seek a chiropractor. 

1. Chronic Back Pain

Most of us have experienced some sort of lower back pain. The reasons behind it are too many to list, but lifting a heavy object, a wrong movement, bad posture, a poor mattress, and minor sports injuries are some of the most common causes. Usually, these reasons cause acute pain.

Acute pain is painful, but typically goes away in a few days or weeks, and it’s rarely a cause for concern.  Chronic pain, however, doesn’t go away, if anything, it could get worse with time. If you have pain lasting longer than 6 months and the pain is worsening, then that’s a definite sign you should see a chiropractor.

2. Headaches

One of the reasons for headaches is the misalignment of the neck or spine. In that case, you might not be receiving enough oxygen through the blood flow to your head, causing headaches and migraines. A chiropractor can improve the blood flow, which will lessen your headaches.

3. Joint and Muscle Pain

When we feel pain in our joints and muscles, our first reaction might be to take painkillers. That would reduce the pain temporarily, but if it just keeps coming back, that could be another symptom of spinal misalignment. The spinal adjustments made can increase the blood flow and nerve conductivity, which can reduce or eliminate the pain.

4. Limited Range of Motion

Assuming that you are otherwise healthy but are experiencing less flexibility in your range of motion, this could be another sign.

Your mobility could be limited due to an accident, for example. As a result, you might experience stiffness in the neck and the inability to turn it in one direction or another, which could be helped and cured with chiropractic care. 

5. Poor Posture

Given the way we use our phones with our necks bent down, it’s no wonder that cell phone use is linked to poor posture, back pain, and neck pain.

The stress on your neck can lead to shoulder pain and upper back pain as well. Also, you might be working a desk job where you spend long hours every day slouching in front of a computer, this is something that can also be treated with chiropractic care.

Over time, poor posture could become permanent, but a chiropractor who understands the link between cell phone use, poor posture, and physical pain can help you reverse or reduce its effects. 

6. Repetitive Injuries

If you’re an athlete who engages either in a team or individual sport, the minor injuries you suffer can take a toll on your body over time.

Even if you have reduced the amount of time you spend on sports, past injuries that seemed insignificant at the time can be affecting you now, causing you pain and discomfort.

7. Footwear 

Another indicator is how your shoes wear out. People that have an alignment problem can notice that their footwear doesn’t wear out evenly.  For instance, one heel might wear out differently, quicker or slower than the other heel. 

Pain is the main reason why people go to a chiropractor. But as you can see, there are other signs that have nothing to do with pain, but can still indicate that you should pay a visit to a chiropractor. If you’re looking for a way to relieve your pain without having to undergo surgery or be heavily medicated, chiropractic care is something worth considering and learning more about.

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