Chiropractic is a patient-centered, hands-on, regulated healthcare profession that deals with the spine, muscles, and joints. It can also help prevent health problems from developing. For more information, just click the Visit Website to proceed.
Chiropractors use spinal manipulation to improve the alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal system and relieve pain. They can also offer massage, acupuncture, and exercise recommendations.
When you slouch or stand with poor posture, your body has to work harder to maintain its position. This can cause muscle fatigue, joint stiffness, and even pain, especially in the neck and shoulders. Poor posture also changes the natural curve of your spine and can even lead to a hunchback over time.
Posture problems are caused by daily activities like sitting too long, carrying heavy loads, and bending forward repeatedly. These can tighten and shorten muscles in the back, weaken core muscles and change how your bones fit together (like a hunchback or swayback).
Many people have poor posture and don’t even realize it. But, if you’re noticing aches or pains, it’s important to look closely at your posture and make any necessary adjustments.
For example, slacking while reading on your sofa may overstretch and weaken your neck and shoulder muscles. This can lead to a forward head carriage, causing you to strain against gravity and leading to a hunchback. You can also develop a rounded, swayback spine, which is also known as dowager’s hump or kyphosis. This is caused when the upper vertebrae of your spine collapse in on themselves, creating a rounded shape that resembles an “s.”
Over time, poor posture can affect your internal organs, including your digestive tract and kidneys. According to 100% Chiropractics, slouching causes ribs to invade the space intended for your lungs and can prevent your diaphragm from working properly. This can negatively impact the amount of oxygen you breathe in and out, causing you to feel breathless.
If you are experiencing painful symptoms, it’s best to consult a chiropractor to determine the root of the problem. A chiropractor can help you find ways to improve your posture and eliminate the aches and pains that come with it. A chiropractor may suggest exercises, stretches, ergonomic furniture, or a yoga routine to help you keep your body in the right position. If you have a chronic condition that contributes to your poor posture, a chiropractor can recommend treatment strategies for that as well.
Car accidents can produce a wide range of injuries for drivers and passengers. Some, like whiplash, are minor, but others can have serious long-term consequences. Even relatively low-speed crashes can result in neck strain, lumbar spine injuries, sprains, and fractures of the knees or ankles.
Whiplash is the most common injury to the neck and back in a car accident. It occurs when the neck stretches and hyperextends to the side after being thrown forward in an impact. This can happen at speeds as low as 15 mph. Neck and shoulder sprains and dislocation are also common in car accidents. Spinal cord injuries are possible in all types of collisions. Spinal cord injuries may not manifest right away; they can sometimes take several days to show up. If you have a spinal injury, it is important to let on-site medical staff know as soon as possible.
Knee and leg injuries are common in car accidents, too. Bruises, sprains, fractures, and tears are all common in knee injuries. Knee ligament damage, such as meniscus tears, can be severe.
Arm and wrist injuries can also occur, especially when the dashboard, steering wheel, or window is hitting a passenger. These injuries can be quite severe and may require surgical intervention.
Facial injuries are also common in car accidents. They can be caused by contact with the dashboard, steering wheel, windshield, airbag, or car seat and can cause disfigurement that will need reconstructive surgery. Stomach injuries are also frequent and can be caused by seat belt trauma. These can lead to internal bleeding that may not be immediately evident and can be life-threatening.
Psychological injuries are also common in car accidents and can affect a person’s quality of life for years or even a lifetime. These include PTSD, anxiety, and depression. These symptoms can sometimes take months or even years to present themselves and are often overlooked in the aftermath of a crash. For this reason, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident. They can assess your symptoms and make an appropriate diagnosis.
Headaches are not only painful, but they can also affect your daily activities. A chiropractor is trained to use spinal manipulations to help relieve the pain in joints and muscles. These movements increase blood flow and nerve conductivity to the area needing relief.
Chiropractors work as part of a patient’s circle of care in interprofessional clinics, family health teams, hospitals, and sometimes even patients’ homes. They often collaborate with physicians, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, registered massage therapists, and midwives to support a patient’s overall treatment plan for back pain.
The International Headache Society categorizes headaches as “primary” or “secondary.” A primary headache is not a symptom of an underlying medical condition and includes migraines, clusters, tension, and sinus headaches. A secondary headache is a symptom of an underlying medical problem commonly caused by sinus infections, eye strain, neck injuries, and eclampsia.
Tension-type headaches (TTH) are the most common type of headache. These headaches are characterized by pressure or tightness, most commonly felt on the front of the head, neck, and shoulders. These types of headaches typically occur daily and may be episodic or chronic. They tend to be more disabling for women than men.
Migraine headaches are primary headache that causes intense, throbbing pain in one side of the head and is usually accompanied by a visual aura. It can be triggered by light, sound, smell, and touch, and it may cause nausea. Some migraines are chronic, meaning they happen more than 15 days a month, while others are episodic.
Cluster headaches are another primary headache characterized by sudden, severe pain in or around the eyes on one side of the face. Autonomic features like nasal congestion, watery eyes, runny nose, and teary eyelids accompany these headaches. They can also be triggered by light, noise, and certain foods or beverages.
Muscle and joint pain is a common health condition affecting muscles, bones, and joints. It is a more common problem for people over 40, especially women. It can cause issues with moving, walking, working, and playing. It can also be caused by injury, illness, or overuse. The main symptoms are pain, stiffness, and a limited range of movement in the affected body parts. It is sometimes referred to as body aches.
Musculoskeletal disorders can be acute, meaning they happen suddenly and are short-lived, or chronic, a condition that lasts a long time. They can affect one or multiple body areas, including the back, neck, knees, wrists, hips, arms, and shoulders.
A joint is where the ends of two or more bones come together and are held by other tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, and cartilage. The main joints in the body are the ankles, knees, hands, and hips. Joint pain is usually felt in the hands, knees, or feet. It can be constant or come and go, and it may feel tender to touch or have a burning, throbbing, or grating sensation. Joint pain can be made worse by activity and gets better with rest.
You should see your doctor if joint pain starts for no reason and continues for over a few days or if a fever accompanies it. Your doctor may want to do x-rays or other tests to find the cause of the pain and swelling.
Medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often used to ease muscle and joint pain. You can buy these over the counter or get them on a prescription. Your provider may also recommend topical treatments to rub into the affected area. You can also try dietary supplements, such as glucosamine. These may help with bone and joint pain but will not cure the underlying problem. UT Southwestern specialists can provide advice about lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of further joint and muscle problems.