By Dr Josh Murdoch
Most people only associate going to the Chiropractor with having a back ache, and they therefore often don’t schedule an appointment unless they’re in pain.
This should not be the case!
Like your car needs its annual service, your body needs a regular spinal check up - even when you’re not in any pain. This will mean that any issues will hopefully be identified before they cause you any discomfort. When people come to me with back pain, it’s actually quite common for there to have been dysfunction within the body well before the symptoms arise.
Let’s have a look at some of the signs, beyond just back or neck pain, that may indicate your body may not be functioning as well as it could be:
1. Inability to look over your shoulder (or turn your head to 90 degrees)
You might notice that you experience pain or tightness when checking your blindspot or while reversing your car. This may mean you have reduced range of motion in your spine, which Chiropractic care and stretching may be able to help with.
2. Struggling to fall asleep
If your body is highly strung and running on the ‘fight or flight’ response (sympathetic dominance), you may find it difficult to fall asleep. A Chiropractic adjustment may help to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can help the body switch off ‘fight or flight’ mode and turn on the ‘rest and repair’ one, resulting in a better night's rest.
3. Feeling stiff or sore
Whether in the morning when you wake up or after a long day of sitting, chronic stiffness and soreness in your body could be a sign that your spine and muscles might not be functioning properly. Seeing the Chiropractor is a good way to get to the bottom of this issue.
4. Regularly having a sore throat, runny nose or cough.
If you’re regularly experiencing signs of a cold, it’s an indication that your immune system isn’t firing properly. The purpose of a Chiropractic adjustment is to improve the connection between the brain and body, which may help improve the function of your immune system, and thus reduce cold and flu symptoms.
5. Feeling fatigued easily with little energy expenditure or effort
When you’re running in fight or flight mode, your body requires more energy to burn. If you’re feeling easily fatigued or tired, it could be a sign your body is working harder than it needs to. A Chiropractic adjustment may help to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, allowing the body to rest and recover faster, resulting in improved energy efficiency.
6. Being easily irritated
If you’re feeling irritable or stressed out, you guessed it - you’re probably running in fight or flight mode. When your body stays in this mode for long periods of time, it can have a negative impact on your overall health. Chiropractic care may be able to help your body out of this sympathetic dominance. This is more often noticed in children that do not yet know how to express themselves properly.
7. Muscles tightening back up following a massage
I often see patients who feel great after a massage, but within a matter of days, their muscles have tightened back up and they’re in pain again. The way I like to explain this is that if you don’t address the spine and get the spinal structures working properly, then muscles can continue to tighten up following a massage.
Issues that may seem small and insignificant now may develop into more serious (and expensive!) problems in the future. Hence why it is extremely important to stay on top of your health and wellness care to prevent small symptoms from compounding and becoming larger. Best protocol is to have them sorted asap before they develop into more serious problems.
If you’re having any of the above symptoms, myself or one of the other experienced Chiropractors at Back In Action would be happy to have a look. Give us a call today.
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