Movement is life
The philosophy I have at the core of my practice is to build strength through movement. Your ability to move freely without pain will dictate how healthy you are not only now but in the coming years and decades. This does not have to be a regular gym routine. If you are happiest walking outside, that is where you should be working on your movement. The problem many experience as they get older though is that the aches and pains that have come and gone, began to build up and prevent your enjoyment of daily activities. You start to have more movements that create discomfort or getting out of bed can feel more and more challenging. Arthritis can develop and your joints can feel like they're getting stiff and locked up.
Chiropractic adjustments are one of many therapeutic treatments that focus on correcting areas of restricted movement, by directing treatment to those regions so your body can function more efficiently. If an area is not functioning or moving as it should, there will be compensations from other areas to make up for that lack of mobility. This is often when the symptoms start to occur. Think about it as if you had an issue with the alignment of your car. You would see patterns of wear on the tires that are uneven. That is what chiropractic exams look for and from there develop a plan on not only addressing the symptoms (the wear on your tires) but look to figuring out WHY those symptoms are showing up in the first place (your alignment).
If you look at the most current research, conservative treatment like chiropractic, is highly recommended when treating musculoskeletal issues. It is especially important to try conservative treatment before surgery as the associated risks are much lower. Many insurance companies now require a round of conservative treatment before surgery is indicated. However, there is always a time and place for surgery. Your healthcare providers should be communicating with each other in order to come up with a plan of action that works for you in order to give you the best results possible.
Chiropractic adjustments should be tailored to each individual. If you are not familiar with chiropractic, you may think everyone gets their neck “popped”. Although this type of adjustment is very effective for the right person, it is not for everyone. You should be comfortable and relaxed when getting adjusted for it to be most effective. Bring up any hesitations you may have and discuss them with your provider. The adjustment itself is a high velocity, low amplitude thrust directed to an area of restricted movement. This is the classic “pop” adjustment. This “pop” sound is pressure inside the joint being released allowing for better mobility in that specific joint. Think about if you press your palms together building pressure between them, then quickly pull them apart. You will get a “pop”-like sound of the pressure escaping. Now imagine an area that has built up pressure over time, which is then adjusted to move again. This pressure release will not only get the joint to move more freely but will help the muscles and tissues around the joint to relax, often with an immediate reduction in symptoms. Instrument assisted adjustments are another option that feel little more than a slight tap directed specifically toward the restricted joint. Again, adjustments should be tailored to the INDIVIDUAL. The treatment you receive could be very different than what your spouse receives.
You’ve probably tried numerous modalities that may help in the short term but do not address the underlying problem, so the symptoms are likely to return. For example, a recent study investigated the affects of your body’s posture on knee osteoarthritis. They found that there is a direct relationship of your spine’s position relative to the pelvis to the amount of degeneration in your knee. If you’re too far shifted forward or backward, your knee has to counter this affect by flexing, thus leading to more wear on the joint. The goal of chiropractic treatment is to create balance in your body’s movements. Once pain and mobility are better, reinforcement of proper movement patterns is key to developing a long lasting affect. Like many of life’s skills, it is important to PRACTICE good posture and proper movement.
Movement has a profound effect when it comes to your overall health as well. There are many studies demonstrating how sitting affects your circulatory system, blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar to name a few. According to the co-director of the Mayo Clinic, Dr. James Levine, for every hour you sit your life expectancy drops by 2 hours! This is quite a shocking statement but the good news is that Dr. Levine also notes 90 seconds of standing activates the muscular and cellular systems that process blood sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol thus reducing your risks of diabetes and obesity. I bring this up to stress the importance of movement. Movement is life. Chiropractic treatment is one of many therapies I recommend to my patients to not only get their bodies more mobile but keep it that way!
Dr. Jeffrey Word, D.C.
Central Wellness Chiropractic
1400 20th Ave|Seattle|98122