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Top Benefits Of Chiropractic Care For Mental Health

TOP BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Most people these days seek back pain relief from chiropractors. Back pain may arise from accidents, sports injuries, or muscle strains. These professionals use hands-on adjustments to relieve back pain.

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A chiropractic adjustment is a process in which chiropractors use their hands to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. This process is also known as spinal manipulation. It helps improve spinal motion and your body’s physical function.

Chiropractic Care And Mental Health

A chiropractor applies the holistic approach they are known for to mental health as well. Many people seek this care to address anxiety and depression. It is effective in solving problems related to mental health. However, you may be wondering how chiropractic care is linked to mental health. The spinal adjustments improve the flow of blood to the brain.

Mental illness is a range of mental disorders that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. Mental illness may result from inherited traits. Yet, environmental exposures before birth or brain chemistry can also cause mental illness. About one in five adults suffer from mental illness in a given year.

Examples of mental disorders include anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and addictive behaviors. This care treats cases of anxiety and depression.

Signs that you may be having anxiety and depression include:

Muscle tension and stiffness.
Headaches or migraines.
Aches and pains in the entire body.
Fatigue.
Inability to sleep.
Inability to relax.

What Are The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care To Mental Health?

Patients who opt for this type of care in relieving mental health issues experience:

Lower Blood Pressure

This care reduces high blood pressure associated with stress and anxiety. Various researchers have proved how the sessions have reduced blood pressure.

Relieves Insomnia

Insomnia is a common symptom of anxiety and depression. This care can help improve your sleeping patterns. A skilled chiropractor will teach you better sleeping positions and postural exercises. They will lead you to get a supportive mattress and an ergonomic pillow to improve your sleep.

This care helps improve sleeping patterns in the following ways:

Improving the functioning of the nervous system.
Relaxing the body.
Easing muscle tension.
Controlling pain and reducing discomfort.
Stimulating the flow of blood.

It Lacks Side Effects

Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a natural solution to mental health. This care helps prevent symptoms of anxiety and depression. So, this avoids the need for medication. Medication involving mental illness has side effects. These side effects include insomnia, nausea, weight gain, and fatigue.

Triggers Positive Hormones

Spinal manipulation increases the secretion of hormones such as neurotensin, oxytocin, and cortisol. These hormones help improve the functioning of the nervous system. Neurotensin neutralizes stress induced by pain. Oxytocin facilitates neuro-communication while cortisol prevents pain arising from inflammation.

Promotes Relaxation

One of these sessions may help a patient relieve stress. This care and massage therapy also promote muscle relaxation by reducing muscle activity. Spinal manipulation causes a significant reduction in muscle activity.

For more on chiropractic care and mental health, visit Charleston Chiropractic Associates. Our office is in Charleston, South Carolina. You can also call (843) 225-4357 today to schedule an appointment.

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What To Expect During A Spinal Decompression Treatment

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING A SPINAL DECOMPRESSION TREATMENT

Did you know that the FDA approved the spinal decompression treatment only ten years ago?

You might have struggled with steady back, neck, or sciatic nerve pain caused by degenerative or herniated spinal discs in your spinal column. There is another option for lasting relief other than drugs or a surgical procedure, which is spinal decompression.

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Spinal decompression is an innovative treatment that includes the careful mechanical extending of your spine. It is a delicate, non-surgical approach to reducing the pressure between your discs immediately. It also invigorates blood flow through your spinal column and prompts self-healing.

Spinal decompression therapy works when other treatments like chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and others have failed to offer complete relief.

Before You Arrive

As a rule, your doctor will suggest that you increase the amount of water you drink before the treatment. Appropriate hydration helps make the treatment more effective. Hydration guarantees that your body will not develop cramps or other issues while stretching. You might receive supplements from your doctor well before the treatment. The supplements will ensure that your body is well prepared to take full advantage of the stretching.

During The Session

The doctor will strap you down to a machine during your treatment. There are several designs of decompression machines. Your doctor will let you know how to lie down, whether facing up or down. When securely strapped onto the machine, it will start to apply delicate and slow traction. It will cause your spine to stretch.

The device will work with a progression of gradual stretches while heading to a full spinal stretch. It will depend on the range of mobility you are currently capable of. A spinal decompression session lasts as long as 45 minutes, employing relaxing and stretching in short intervals.

These are just some of the issues that non-surgical spinal decompression can treat. It is a very dynamic treatment, and its benefits are long-lasting.

After The Session

When you have finished your session, your doctor will advise you again to drink a lot of water. It will give the muscles on your back time to heal themselves. Furthermore, they will probably prescribe you a couple of exercises to practice while at home.

This will motivate constant advancement and prevent relapse during your daily routine. Sometimes, your doctor might suggest a heating pad or cold packs. They will assist with relaxing your muscles and avoiding inflammation after treatment.

Benefits Of Spinal Decompression Therapy

Reduces Pain And Tension

Spinal decompression relieves pain and tension caused by compression of the spine. With a few sessions, your chronic back pain can disappear, and you can return to your life.

non-surgical treatment

One of the significant advantages of this therapy is that it is noninvasive. It means that patients do not have to wait long to recover compared to surgery. While surgery might be the only option for some patients, doctors usually recommend this therapy first. With this therapy, patients can go back to their daily activities immediately.

long-lasting results

While you might need several sessions for the relief to set in, the results of this therapy are long-term. It helps improve the quality of life that you are living.

versatile treatment

It is a treatment that addresses the multiple causes of back pain simultaneously. Most of these cases respond well to the therapy and can be fully corrected.

For more on what to expect during spinal decompression treatment, call Charleston Chiropractic Associates at (843) 225-4357 to reach our office in Charleston

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How Long Should You Do Spinal Decompression?

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU DO SPINAL DECOMPRESSION?

Did you know that spinal decompression is the only treatment method to achieve negative pressure in the spine?

Millions of Americans each year suffer from chronic back pain. It can be very disruptive to your daily routine, taking away from your quality of life. It can also cause other emotional side effects such as depression, anxiety, and low moods. This means that back pain affects every aspect of your life.

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Back pain causes a limited range of motion that decreases your mobility. This can pour into your professional and personal responsibilities negatively. There are many advances in spine treatments that can reduce and relieve pain. Spinal decompression is one of these innovations.

What Is Spinal Decompression?

In non-surgical spinal decompression, the doctor employs motorized traction to elongate the spine. There are both surgical spinal decompression and non-surgical decompression treatments. Non-surgical decompression helps alleviate the spinal nerves and disks pressure.

Decompression of the spine is great for boosting blood flow and circulation. It promotes the exchange of healthy nutrients in the spinal column between the disks. During treatment, the doctor employs several cycles of relaxation and stretching.

What Does Spinal Decompression Treat?

The FDA approved non-surgical spinal decompression about ten years ago. Since then, doctors have used it to address various issues, such as:

Bulging discs.
Leg pain (sciatica).
Spinal stenosis.
Herniated discs.
Pinched nerves.
Degenerative discs.
Post-surgical pain.

These are just some of the issues that non-surgical spinal decompression can treat. It is a very dynamic treatment, and its benefits are long-lasting.

How Does It Work?

Spinal decompression is achieved by utilizing combinations of stretching and relaxing the spine. This combination is essential to attain negative pressure within the spinal discs. Reversal of spinal pressure creates a vacuum inside the disc, which does two things. It helps draw in extruded disc material and helps pull back bulging discs. Consequentially, this takes the pressure off irritated or pinched nerves.

The process works by directing oxygen, nutrients, and fluid back into the discs. Furthermore, this creates a revitalized environment. This allows the healing of degenerated and herniated discs.

What Are The Treatments Like?

During a non-surgical spinal decompression session, you wear a harness. You then lie on a motorized table, face up or face down. The upper half of the table does not move, while the lower half moves slowly. A specialized computer activates the movement of the lower half of the table. If you feel uncomfortable, you can use a patient switch to stop it.

Your treatment protocol is based on body weight, duration of symptoms, spinal condition, and sensitivity level. A single non-surgical decompression session lasts about 30 minutes. The whole treatment can last between five to seven weeks with 20 to 28 sessions. This depends again on the severity of the symptoms and the spine’s condition.

For more on the length of spinal decompressions, call Charleston Chiropractic Associates at (843) 225-4357 to reach our office in Charleston, South Carolina.

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When Should I Go To The Chiropractor For A Stiff Neck?

WHEN SHOULD I GO TO THE CHIROPRACTOR FOR A STIFF NECK?

You are likely to get a stiff neck when you wake up if you slept in an awkward position. Another scenario that might give you a stiff neck is a long and stressful day at work. These are common situations where a stiff neck might occur.

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However, you might get a stiff neck that does not disappear after a few days. This one might cause you excruciating pain when you turn your head. It is not just a stiff neck, and there might be an underlying cause.

Possible Causes For A Persistent Stiff Neck

Whiplash

Whiplash is a common neck injury that you mostly get from an auto accident. It occurs when the neck forcefully moves from front to back or side to side. This sudden movement stretches and sometimes tears the ligaments and tendons in the neck area. Most commonly, whiplash presents as a normal stiff neck at first, but it usually worsens over time.

Pinched Nerve

The neck comprises the vertebrae, and between them are the discs and nerves. Discs are usually gel-like structures that act as cushions between vertebrae. When the vertebrae shift out of position, they will most likely pinch a nerve running between them. This can cause neck pain and stiffness.

Home Remedies For Stiff Neck

Pinched Nerve

Sometimes, stiffness in the neck can result from inflammation. You can counter this by applying ice to the area. Use a cold pack or a bag of frozen veggies and wrap them in a towel. Place this on the neck for about 40 minutes, then remove for 20 minutes. Repeat this until you start feeling relief.

Change Your Pillow

Your stiff neck might be aggravated when you sleep because of the positioning of your head. Ensure you have a firm pillow and sleep on your side or back. A pillow that is too flat might cause your neck to bend unnaturally. This, in the long term, will cause your neck muscles to overstretch, causing a stiff neck.

Try Neck Exercises

Neck exercises done right can help alleviate the stiffness of the muscles. You can do light exercises like looking up and down and side to side while tensing and relaxing your neck. It would help if you were careful to do this within the limits of your neck. If you overextend, you might cause more damage.

How Do You Know It Is Time To See The Chiropractor?

If your neck pain does not improve after a few days
If you feel like you must use medication for your pain
If you cannot turn your head without excruciating pain
If you are worried that there might be a serious underlying cause for your neck pain
If your neck pain started after having a car accident.
If your neck pain has evolved to tingling or numbness in your wrists or hands
If your neck pain is worse in the morning after waking up and eases as the day progresses.

For more on going to the chiropractor for a stiff neck, visit Charleston Chiropractic Associates at our office in Charleston, South Carolina. You can call (843) 225-4357 to book an appointment today.

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