Spinal Adjustments Instantly Relieve Muscle Pain

Spinal Adjustments for Muscle Pain

“Spinal Adjustments,” if you listen to people talking about going to a chiropractor, then you’re also likely to hear this word. They will often say that they needed an “adjustment,” or that the “adjustment” really helped. The “adjustment” they are talking about is referring to the chiropractor’s action used to realign the vertebrae in the spine or neck for muscle pain.

People often suffer from muscle pain when one or more of the vertebrae become misaligned. It can cause a little or a lot of pain, depending on the severity of it and the person who has it.

Spinal Adjustments: Causes of Muscle Pain

The basis of modern chiropractic treatment is on the assumption that the misalignment of the spine is the cause of muscle pain. Spinal adjustments involve physical pushing, pulling, and systematic repositioning of the head, shoulders, neck, back, or hips to help alleviate muscle pain.

The misalignment can be caused by many things, such as falls, sports, performing some activity when you are getting older, twisting the body, lifting incorrectly, sciatica, scoliosis, accidents, whiplash, etc. When these things occur, and it results in back or neck pain, it is most likely because the pressure is being put on a nerve or on muscles, which causes the pain, and possibly other problems.

Once considered a fringe medical treatment for muscle pain, the practice of spinal adjustments for low back problems is being adopted by more medical doctors. The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society, in their patient care guidelines, included spinal manipulation as one of several treatment options for trained practitioners to consider using. The groups’ guidelines specify that will consider spinal adjustments when ordinary, uncomplicated back pain (pain not caused by a more serious underlying problem such as compression fractures or a herniated disc) doesn’t improve with self-care. Adjustments may help with acute back pain of six weeks or less or with flare-ups of chronic back pain.

How Chiropractors Treat Muscle Pain via Spinal Adjustments

A chiropractor will realign the vertebrae through what is called an “adjustment.” They know how to put pressure on the spot where the misalignment occurred (point of muscle pain), and will realign your spinal column. using spinal adjustments. Of course, only the experts can do this, and it can often instantly relieve the pain.

An x-ray test can show the location of the misaligned vertebrae. The chiropractor may also use a device to detect temperature increases in the spine, which would reveal inflammation. It could be caused by a slight misalignment, which can happen quickly when the individual is not in good shape and does not have strong muscles to help keep the vertebrae in place. An injury can also cause it.

Chiropractors can do much more than just deal with muscle pain using spinal adjustments. They help patients get relief from carpal tunnel syndrome, whiplash, headaches, and more. They also do a lot more than just give adjustments, which allows a lot of people. Still, some of them will also provide massage therapy, hydro massage, electrical stimulation, rehabilitation exercises, and acupuncture.

Chiropractors perform spinal adjustments manipulation by using their hands or a device to apply a small amount of force-or a more forceful thrust-to readjust the bones in the spine and neck. Spinal adjustments is typically most effective when combined with more traditional therapies to treat muscle pain, such as:

Heat and cold therapies
Massage
Relaxation techniques
Electrical stimulation or ultrasound
Exercise and stretching
Patient education

Soreness After Spinal Adjustments

You may ask if you’re supposed to feel sore after a chiropractic adjustment for muscle pain. The simple answer to this is yes. It’s very typical to feel sore after a chiropractic adjustment. Nonetheless, the reason you’re feeling sore is unique for every person. To better understand why you may be hurt, check out the following reasons explaining soreness after an adjustment below!

Roused Under Stimulated Muscles

One of the first steps in your treatment plan is your initial adjustment. Feeling sore after this adjustment is typical for patients. Once your spine has undergone a correction, you’re changing what muscles are active and which aren’t.

For example, think about this correction in comparison to exercising. If you do the same exercises every day, you will only use specific muscles while other muscles can rest. The same can explain to your muscles after a correction.

Essentially, through this correction for muscle pain, you are stimulating inhibited, or inactive, muscle groups to bring balance to your body. It can cause some soreness in these muscles for a short time after a correction.

Overstimulated Muscles are Balanced

On the other hand, when bringing balance to your muscle use, the muscles that are overstimulated will be used less. In this case, you may not feel much soreness in these overstimulated muscles.

In fact, with muscles that are overstimulated, you’re more likely to feel relief after a correction. While some soreness can come from these muscles, a majority of your pain will come from your under-stimulated muscles more often used.

Your Body is Adjusting to Proper Alignments

By and large, your body wants to be in alignment. Think of the analogy of going to the dentist to get braces. After attaching braces, your teeth begin to adjust to the right position. This adjustment makes your mouth sore.

Thus, getting your spine in alignment is much like the above example of using braces to align your teeth. Your body adjusted to being out of alignment.

So, when your spine is back in alignment, it will take some getting used to, which may cause you to feel sore. It is why it’s essential to maintain your recommended treatment plan to hold your correction long-term.

You’ve Been in Misalignment a Long Time

If you’ve had a misalignment or subluxation, there’s a chance your body has adapted to the misalignment. You may not even feel pain while experiencing a misalignment!

The reason for this possible lack of pain is due to only one-third of the nerves in your neck, producing pain. However, just because you don’t feel pain from a misalignment, it doesn’t mean your body is not experiencing damages.

All in all, the longer you’re misaligned, the more likely you are to experience post-appointment soreness.

Remember, it is okay to shop around until you find a chiropractor you like and who is convenient for you to visit for spinal adjustments. Pain management will require an ongoing relationship, so you want to make a good match.