Getting Back In Line
“You do not have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Getting Back in Line: The Humerus Side of Chiropractic Care
I know personally the challenges of keeping that back loose, functioning and free of pain. Years removed from my egotistical days of squatting excessive weight, I’ve learned that if we don’t take care of our back, it will haunt us in our later years. Practically everyone I know has complaints about their back…mosltly lower and probably not a fun situation. many times our lifestyle contributes to this problem….limited movement in our lives, bad posture, a weak core and more likely than not…improper foot wear. It would be better to go to any doctor just to make sure we don’t have a problem like a checkup as opposed to being forced to because of an ailment. I would like to get to a place where I am going to a chiropractor to check in and confirm my spine is doing fine but I’m not there yet. We can get to this place if we pay attention to the key elements of taking care of this critical aspect of our health.
Chiropractic care is all about alignment, but not the kind you need for your car—though, let’s admit, sometimes it feels that way when this term is used. Imagine your spine is like the tires on your vehicle: if they’re not aligned, you might find yourself veering off on unnecessary tangents like accidentally driving to the grocery store...for the third time in a day. Yes, our bodies, much like our cars, work best when everything is perfectly aligned. Here’s the lowdown (or should we say, the *back*down?) on why chiropractic care is crucial and seriously deserving of a spot on your health team. So to understand why it’s necessary to handle it with care, just consider these basic benefits.
The Spine-Tingling Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Puts the Spring Back in Your Step - Regular chiropractic care is like spring cleaning for your body. Except instead of finding old magazines under your bed, you discover that you can actually bend over to tie your shoes without making old man noises. Sweet relief!
Turning Down the Volume on Pain - Your chiropractor is kind of like a fantastic DJ for your body, knowing just what to tweak so that everything tunes in just right, turning down the screechy feedback of pain your body throws out when things aren’t lined up right. Now, that’s what we call adjusting the sound levels!
Supercharging Your Nervous System - Chiropractic adjustments help ensure your spine isn’t putting undue pressure on your nerves—nerves that control just about everything in your body. When your spine is aligned, your nervous system can perform the way it was designed to.
Ditch the Pills - Chiropractic care offers an alternative to the practice of swallowing different medicines. It’s about treating the root of the problem, not just muting the symptoms with painkillers. Think of it as pulling out the weed, not just trimming it.
Boosts Your Immune System - A well-tuned nervous system contributes to a roaring immune system. Regular adjustments might just keep things flowing so smoothly that germs take one look and decide they’d rather crash someone else’s party.
What to Expect
In reality, as mentioned before, most people would never think of going to a chiropractor unless there is some obvious problem. It became apparent to me that many of the people in the office I was going to were there because they had been in an accident or had some fall which caused a significant back problem. I felt out of place considering I really didn’t have regular back pain but I continued with the visits. Turns out that x rays revealed I had a herniated disk which was worsening. While I didn’t have continuous or significant pain, the occasional discomfort I was experiencing was due to this condition. Without boring you with the specifics of the care and “exercises” I was instructed to perform, I was relieved that I was made aware of the condition and had the opportunity to address the problem and improve my overall condition. Ultimately chiropractic care extends well beyond your back. The spine is the gateway for the nervous system and the flow of blood throughout the body, so if blood doesn't flow as freely as possible, healing won’t be as effective or efficient. And of course we know the spine keeps us upright and the interconnectivity of the disks are paramount. We want to be upright as we progress in age so we have to pay attention to keeping ourselves properly aligned. If you’re new to chiropractic care, walking into a chiropractor’s office might feel different but what should be the thought is you are entering a level of health maintenance which is critical and unfortunately not appreciated until there is a problem. Let’s get ahead of the potential ills of a bad back.
Keep It Regular: The Art of Maintenance
Just like you can’t go to the gym once and expect to be in shape for life, you can’t get one adjustment and consider your spine sorted. Life continues to happen—you pick up kids, sit through another season of that show you pretend not to love, and maybe try snowboarding on a dare. Regular adjustments can help manage life’s physical demands.
Your Spine, Your Lifeline
Chiropractic care might seem like it’s all about the back, but it’s really a full-body tune-up. It keeps your spinal highway clear of traffic jams so that every part of you can function without a hitch. Yup, treat your body like the finely tuned temple it is, and it’ll make sure your inner deity is thriving, humming, and maybe even glowing.
Remember, chiropractors are the unsung heroes of healthcare—sort of like spine ninjas. They move stealthily, and you never quite see them coming, but boy, do they make a difference. So if you’re ready to get back into alignment without having to parallel park your wellbeing, it might just be time to give chiropractic a crack.